Musical play honors South Korean woman's lifelong fight for victims of Japan's Pacific War

The life and unwavering fight of Lee Geum-ju, a woman who dedicated herself to seeking justice for victims of Japan's Pacific War, is being celebrated in a new musical play. Titled 'The Strong Woman of Conviction, Friend of Japanese Victims Lee Geum-ju,' the production by arts group 'Larbre Ensemble' aims to illuminate her tireless efforts to restore the honor and secure apologies for those affected by the war.

Lee Geum-ju, who lost her husband during the Pacific War, spent decades advocating for victims' rights. At the age of 69, after the fall of the military regime in 1988, she founded the Gwangju Bereaved Family Association for Pacific War Victims. Her activism led her to file seven lawsuits against Japan, seeking reparations and recognition for the suffering endured. These legal battles, though often ending in defeat, played a crucial role in bringing attention to the historical injustices.

Her persistent actions contributed significantly to the eventual declassification of documents related to the 1965 Korea-Japan claims agreement after more than 40 years. Furthermore, her advocacy laid groundwork for the "Special Act on the Truth of Forced Mobilization During the Japanese Colonial Period" enacted in 2014 and the landmark 2018 South Korean Supreme Court ruling that ordered compensation for victims of forced labor.

Organizations like the Citizens' Coalition for Forced Mobilization and the Gwangju Metropolitan City are now working to have Lee Geum-ju's extensive documentation, including victim testimonies, mobilization rosters, original lawsuit documents, and video footage, inscribed as UNESCO Memory of the World. Her legacy continues to inspire efforts for historical truth and reconciliation.