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| Hong Seung-hee, second from left, an activist of the Good Daughters' Federation (GDF), speaks at a recent rally to protest the Dec. 28 Korea-Japan agreement on sexual slavery in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. / Courtesy of GDF Facebook |
Good Daughters' Federation to hold rally on March 1
By Chung Ah-young
Every Wednesday, Hong Seung-hee, 26, known as an activist of "Hyonyeo Yeonhap" or Good Daughters' Federation (GDF), has been attending the weekly rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul after Korea and Japan reached an agreement on wartime sexual slavery on Dec. 28.
Instead of shouting slogans, she portrays herself as a victim, wearing a black-and-white hanbok (traditional Korean dress) or dancing and holding flowers at the rally in a way of expressing the anger and plight of the victims.
The recent demonstration for the former sex slaves is part of her social participation ― she has taken part in numerous rallies for various issues such as the Sewol ferry disaster and the government's budget cut for transport facilities for the handicapped.
"The recent Korea-Japan deal over sexual slavery made a concession to power at the cost of human beings," Hong said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "I always stress that human dignity cannot be conceded."
She said the nation has repeated the same mistakes throughout history by putting other things before people.
"In the same way, the Sewol ferry disaster was caused by an ignorance of human dignity," she said. "All social problems occur by compromising the lives and safety of human beings to other seemingly more important concerns." The Sewol ferry sank in April 2014, taking more than 300 lives.
She began participating in demonstrations against the government's policies because she realized that if there is no participation, there will be no change in society.
"I have been volunteering to help the needy since I was 17," she said. "But there has been no change in politics and society, even though I have tried to serve others." Then, she decided to come out to the world to raise her voice to change society.
Hong launched the GDF on Jan. 6 to oppose the Korea Parent Federation (KPF), a radical conservative association that called for sexual slavery survivors to accept the government's deal.
Hong's calm, peaceful response to radical and aggressive KPF members drew public attention, which swiftly spread through the Internet, creating thousands of supporters on social network services.
"I am pleased to see that a slew of similar groups have joined us to call for the government to withdraw the agreement," she said.
For a "social artist" who tackles issues using art and creativity, rallies are one of the most effective means of social artistry, Hong said.
"This way of expression is very close to the public," she said. "Anyone can join a rally to raise the awareness about social issues. Social issues are our important sources of inspiration."
She teaches social artistry to students at an alternative school that opened last March in Sinchon, Seoul.
"The world is like a stage or screen or a canvas in which I deliver my messages for a better society," she said. "I hope that my work will connect people with other people regardless of whether they have different opinions."
Hong said her aim is to talk to the KPF or other conservative groups that have different opinions and ideas from hers.
"I won't give up communication with people having different interests," she said. "Attempting dialogue with them is important to change society."
In line with the ongoing protest against the deal, she plans to hold a flash mob on March 1, the Independence Movement Day.
"We and other members of similar groups are planning to hold a massive flash mob for the former sex slaves," she said.
Eyeing women's issues
While coming into the spotlight through the GDF, Hong has felt as if she has been consumed as a "product."
"The media coverage that distorted my image as a woman with making a good appearance was like violence to me," she said. "I realized how a woman is treated in this society.
"Many people paid attention to me as a woman, not an activist. I was actually shocked. Few people were interested in my activities."
Hong said that some newspapers, blogs and social media portrayed her as a "protest doll" or a "protesting woman," which denigrates the purpose of her demonstration.
She said this social bias defining women in terms of appearance is prevalent in
Korean society.
"I learned a lot from it," she said. "I am strongly motivated to fight against this social injustice toward women."
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