Former sex slave recording album

Gil Won-wok, 88, a former sex slave, records her album at a studio in Yeongdeungpo-gu in western Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun

A former sex slave has started recording an album, according to a civic group representing the victims, Sunday.

The group said Gil Won-wok, 88, recorded 20 songs ― which includes some of her favorites.

On the list were songs such as the Korean folksong “Arirang” and others about yearning for one's hometown in the North. Gil's hometown is in North Pyeongan Province and she was forced into sexual servitude in 1940 in Harbin, northeastern China.

The group selected songs that were familiar to Gil as it is difficult for her to learn and memorize new songs due to her age.

“The victims had their own dreams and talents, but when they were forced into sexual slavery, these were shattered,” said a member of the group.

“Gil has a special voice ― from her voice we hear the history and sorrow of her past. But her memory has started to falter, so we decided to let her dream come true, before it was too late.”

The group said the album is intended as a recording of the existence and voice of a sex slave victim to remember her.

The album will be completed within the year and sold at the weekly Wednesday rally held in front of the former Japanese Embassy in central Seoul.

Gil is among 40 remaining victims of sexual enslavement by the Japanese military before and during World War II.

It’s estimated that almost 200,000 women were mobilized to service Japanese troops. The biggest number came from Korea ― other countries included Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan and the Netherlands.

Last December, the Korean and Japanese governments reached a deal in which they agreed to put the disputed issue to rest with Tokyo providing 1 billion yen (10.7 billion won) to Seoul for the victims.

Seoul set up a foundation that will determine the use of the money, which was transferred last week. Many of the surviving comfort women are opposed to the deal, citing that Tokyo did not take legal responsibility for its atrocities.