A woman forced into sexual slavery during World War II and who dedicated her life to bringing attention to Comfort Women just like herself has died at the age of 93.
The Straits Times reports Kim Bok-dong died of cancer in a South Korean hospital Monday.
She took part in weekly protests in front of the Japanese embassy in calling for both an apology and compensation. The Japanese Imperial Army enslaved as many as 200,000 women into sexual slavery during WWII.
Fox News reports a memorial in her honor will be held Sunday at the Comfort Women Memorial in Glendale, CA.
“We are deeply saddened by this news because so many of us – including the members of the Glendale City Council – remember her powerful presence and testimony, as well as her unbelievable courage and determination to educate the next generation about the atrocity she endured so that it is never repeated,” the Korean American Forum of California said.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited an altar at the hospital set up to remember her. He commended Kim for “restoring human dignity.”
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