Death of Slavery Victim

[Anchor Lead]

Another elderly victim of Japan's sexual slavery during World War Two has died. Kim Bok-dong passed away in the late hours of January 28th at the age 94. She has been the symbol of the movement exposing Tokyo's wartime crime, and to the end, she sincerely hoped for the resolution of the sex slavery issue.

[Pkg]

Kim Bok-dong, an elderly victim of Japan's wartime sexual enslavement, died late night on January 28th aged 94. She had been battling colon cancer since 2017. Her health deteriorated in recent days and she was checked into the hospital where she died 17 days later. Her fellow human rights activists who campaigned with her for dozens of years together were at her side when she passed. Kim did not forget her resentment against Japan to the very end.

[Soundbite] Yoon Mi-hyang(President, Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance) : "She asked for a resolution of the sex slavery issue by all means and support for children attending Korean schools in Japan. She also expressed strong rage against Japan."

The Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan will hold a citizens' funeral for Kim granting her the title of womens' human rights activist. Members of the general public can also visit the site and pay respects. Up until September, Kim has held solo protests demanding the breakup of a controversial foundation that was set up in 2016 after the then South Korean government and Tokyo reached a deal to settle the sex slavery issue.

[Soundbite] Kim Bok-dong(Sexual slavery victim (Sep. 2018)) : "Did we fight to receive some consolation money? We won't accept even KRW 100 bn in the name of consolation money."

The foundation has been disbanded under the current administration following public criticism but the elderly victim did not witness in her lifetime a formal apology and compensation from Japan.