VIDEO Ex-comfort woman becomes singer at 90
By Chyung Eun-ju, Park Si-soo
Former “comfort woman” Gil Won-wok, 90, will make her debut as a singer with an album containing her favorite 15 peace-themed songs.
The album “Gil Won-wok’s Peace” will be released on Aug. 14, the eve of the 72nd Liberation Day, which celebrates Korea’s independence from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule. The Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan supported the production.
/ Photo by Yonhap
Gil is the first former comfort woman to release a music album. It is not for commercial purposes, but to raise money for surviving victims of sexual slavery during World War II. People who donate over 100,000 won to the Foundation for Justice, a charity working for ex-comfort women, will be given an album.
Gil had a press briefing about her album on Thursday at the Women and War Museum in Mapo-gu, northern Seoul.
“I enjoy singing, regardless of those who like or don’t like it,” she said. “I want to pursue singing as a career.” She sang two songs -- “Regretful Taedong River”and“Spring Incident at Namwon.”