I rewrote about ‘I called a demon’. This one is cartoon that was published
in the Korean internet site [NAVER]. This cartoon describe about Wednesday
demonstration. Originally, this one is horror cartoon, so there are story about
demon. For this reason, original cartoon’s name is ‘I called a demon’. However,
I removed the story about demon, and changed the name to ‘I saw a demon’. That
demon is Japanese soldiers. Korea loses the sovereignty to Japan for 35 years. When Korea had Japanese colonial era, Japanese government dragged young
Korean girls for Japanese soldiers’ peace. When Japanese dragged Korean, they
said to Korean that you can work at Japan. But… It was a lie. Korean girl was enforced sex slaves, and had sex every day. Now,
Korea regained
independence
in
1945, but Japanese government didn’t apology about their brutality of 69 years
ago. So Korean does Wednesday demonstration for comfort women. The purpose of
this demonstration is not big. Just Korean wants to hear Japanese government’s
answer and apology of their brutality.
Original cartoon’s point of view was an omniscient,
but I changed to comfort woman (grandmother). I removed the story about demon,
and added the story about grandmother’s past story when grandmother was dragged
to Japan as comfort woman. Because I wanted to write from the position of
persons about Japanese did to Korean. Originally, there were many characters
such as grandson, officer of Japanese embassy, participants of demonstration
and so on. However I thought if I write from grandmother’s viewpoint, it can be
express easily about ‘Postcolonial, and Colonial
situation.’
I saw a Demon.
[July
31, 2013, in front of Japanese embassy in Seoul]
“Apologize! Apologize!”
“Apologize! The Embassy of Japan, apologize
about Japan’s things of the past!”
‘Many people came today also…’
I thought while seeing the people who
participate in the demonstration. My name is Sun-ok Lee, and born in Korea in
1926, and I’m 87 years old. I cannot do anything because I’m old. I don’t have
enough power to walk or do anything... I am just an old woman now...
Many people had gathered for me in front of
the Embassy of Japan in Seoul. I’m always grateful of them. Every Wednesday,
there is demonstration in front of the Japanese embassy to accept the apology
for the brutality of Japan to Korea 69 years ago.
“Today
is too hot. Isn’t it? Drink this one”
One of the participants of the demonstration
gave the water.
“Thank
you~ Take it easy for a while”
I said it like that but I know already that
Japanese government doesn’t want to hear our voices. This demonstration began
in 1992 and has exceeded 1,000 times by 2011. We’ve had a demonstration for more
than 10 years, but Japanese government has avoided our eyes since then and
until now.
“Excuse
me... Are you Sun-ok Lee?”
At that time, some people who look familiar
asked me.
“Yes...
Who are you?”
I asked again to him because I cannot quite
recall. Because of my age, my memory seems not good..
“Hi. I’m
too nice to you. I’m a son of Jung-mi Lee.”
After he said that, I suddenly remembered one
person named Jung-mi Lee. She is older than me and we were dragged to be comfort
women in the past. At that time, I relied on Jung-mi, and she gave me the
strength.
“Actually,
my mother died yesterday… she wanted me to give you this one...”
On the verge of tears, he passed a
handkerchief to me.
“Oh...
This handkerchief... ”
I couldn’t think about anything once I heard
the news that Jung-mi died… She was the hope of my life during that time. I
thought Jung-mi was sick because I couldn’t see her in here these days. When we
were dragged to be comfort women, I gave this handkerchief to Jung-mi to wipe
her tears. Jung-mi treasured this one until she died. This handkerchief seems
to be wet with her tears.
“Yes... Where is a
funeral hall?”
I thought I should to do final goodbye to her, so I asked him.
“Culture funeral
hall” he replied.
“Ok… I will go
tonight. Take care~”
I got the handkerchief, and I saw his weak steps when he was walking away.
“Oh… Today’s demonstration is finished. I am
hungry. Don’t they give snacks? ”
“Yeah… Let’s eat something.”
After the demonstration, Participants are
talking to each other. Korea has changed significantly as compared to 69 years
age. Many high buildings sprung up as they were competing to be the highest
building. People also looked bright. I thought that I am still isolated alone
like 69 years ago… I took a bus to go to Jung-mi’s funeral.
(This bus stop is the
Cultural funeral hall. Be careful when you get off.)
‘Oh, I’m going to get
off here.’
After I heard the announcement of the bus, I was getting off the bus while
holding a cane.
“Hey, grandma!! Get
off faster!! Behind cars are stuck in traffic because of you!!!”
The bus driver yelled to me that behind the car blocked.
“Oh.. sorry…”
After I replied, I try to go down the stairs of bus quickly. However, my
knees ache... So I cannot go down the stairs fast. As soon as I got off the
bus, the bus immediately closed the door and went away.
‘Ha… The old woman like
me is useless now… people do not need me…. ’
There is a funeral of Jung-mi on the second floor of the hall.
“Thank you for
coming.”
Son of Jung-mi who
saw me greeted to me.
“Yes…”
I replied and saw the Jung-Mi’s portrait. Her face is stained with tears.
“Jung-Mi.. Many people
who live these days say they understand us, but only you and I know... Who does know about
our heart…? You had such hard times… Please, make
yourself
comfortable
now.”
I wiped her portrait lastly with handkerchief that
Jung-mi treasured until she dies. Even though her sorrow of mind cannot be wiped…
“Hi. Thank you for
coming.”
The girl looks like student greeted me.
“This girl is my
daughter and Jung-mi’s granddaughter. Her name is Mi-ji”
The son of Jung-mi introduced to me about the girl.
“oh.. You’re so
beautiful. Grow up nicely”
Mi-ji is the same age as when I was dragged to Japan as
comfort women. I was also 18 years old. I want it so that this girl should not
receive the pain like me…
“I will go now.. Take
care and see you again.”
I greeted and opened the door to go back my home. Jung-mi
passed away even before her tears of 69 years ago not dried yet.
‘Seriously do our lives
just die even before we couldn’t remove the tears of 69 years ago…?’
[1 week later, August
7, 2013 in Japanese Embassy of Seoul]
‘Today also same.. I
will take a rest in home..’
Many participants
were dispersing after Wednesday demonstration. At that time, Mi-ji greeted to
me.
“Grandma~ what are
you doing in here?”
She is wearing a school uniform. Maybe she finished today classes.
“Oh. Hi. You are
Mi-ji. Did your school finish? ”
I asked to her.
“Yes! I have to go private educational
institute..
But I left 1 hour, so I am thinking where do I go. Are you going to home?”
She answered to me with bright face. Her smile was really
beautiful. Everything is beautiful in her age.
‘Were we also beautiful
girls 69 years age…?’
“Grandma! Let’s go
café!! Weather is too hot.. I will buy coffee for you~”
We arrived at the café. I haven’t been here… Mi-ji said to me that she
comes here once a week to socialize with her friends. She ordered coffee for
me. I wonder if I wasn’t dragged to japan, I would have this wonderful life.
“My name is Mi-ji. Mi’s meaning is beauty and ji’s meaning is wisdom in
Chinese characters. My Grandma gave my name. Her name includes ‘Mi’, and that
‘Mi’ means also beauty. ”
She said her name was given by Jung-mi. Mi-ji looks like when Jung-mi was
20 years old.
“What did you do today?”
Mi-ji asked to me.
“Ah.. There is Wednesday demonstration today, so we demonstrated in front
of the Japanese Embassy. ”
“Wednesday demonstration? What is that?”
She asked me with a dark look on
her face.
“Oh.. You don’t
know.”’
I felt bitter, but that’s ok because there are only few people who are
interested in matters of 69 years ago.
“The Wednesday demonstration is.. We demonstrate every Wednesday in front
of the Japanese Embassy. Many people like civic and religious groups, students
are helping us, but the Japanese government hasn’t given any answer… They have
no interest to us. More than 200 people of the victims died already. We are losing
witnesses to prove the Japanese brutality like your grandmother… ”
“Ah….” She is listening seriously.
“It is too bitter. Isn’t it? We didn’t receive any apology or answers, victims of Japan are
dying before our tears can dry…”
“Why do people call you as the victim?”
Mi-ji asked to me.
“Because of the brutality of Japan to Korea 69 years ago…”
[August, 1944 in Seoul]
My name is Sun-ok Lee. I am 18 years old and high school student. I have a
family of 5 including me, where I
have my mother, father and 2 older brothers. Because I grew up
in a wealthy family, I haven’t had a hard time even once. Our family was happy
every day. One day, Japanese soldiers who work in police office came to my
house. Korea is in the Japanese colonial era now, so Japanese lead in public
institutions.
“Why you didn’t bring the brassware?”
Japanese police officer who have a long mustache asked to my father. That
officer looks
threatening.
“Why do I have to give the brassware to Japan? I will
never give to Japan. You would rather take me than steal.”
Father replied.
Japanese police really took my father. My family prays
for him every day for him to be well. I heard a lot of
rumors that Japanese kill and hit Korean for fun…
1 week has passed.
“Who is in the house?”
Head of a village visited my home suddenly.
“Hello. Has he been doing ok?”
I asked to him about my father firstly.
“Your father is ok. Don’t worry. I say out of pity to you, there are not
enough people who can make Japanese military clothes in company. I think you
should go there for just 2 years. This is a good chance. When you go there,
your father can come out in the jail that day. If you go there, you can earn
money. Also if you want come back home, you can come. Nowadays, your father is
tired and your 2 older brothers are university student, so you can help your family
earn money. ”
I have no choice.. I just want my father out of jail…
“Yes. I will go…”
I answered, and my mother looked at me.
A week later, that day has come.
“I’m ok. I will come back soon~”
I said to my mother so she shouldn’t worry. I sat in head of village’s car, and
the car departed to the port to go to Japan.
I arrived at the port. There are many women like me.
“Go ride ship. It will depart now. ”
Korean who lead us rushed.
I arrived in a place called ‘Smarang’ after being in the ship for a few hours. We were 13 people.
When I arrived here, I recognized that here is not Japan. At that time,
Japanese soldiers greeted us and put us in private rooms. I entered my room.
Until now, I was expecting a lot because I can earn the money for family from
tomorrow.
“Oh~ there is beautiful girl in here~~”
Suddenly one of the Japanese soldiers came into my room. He was drunk of
liquor.
“What are you doing?”
Of course he can’t understand my words because he is Japanese. I resisted
him. He dragged me to the pharmacy and held my arms. He injected opium in me.
And… he dragged me to my room again..
I was raped.
Such life has passed since several weeks. Every day, soldiers lined up in
front of my room to have sex with me. Soldiers don’t work on weekends, so I had more sex than weekends. If I resist them,
they would inject opium in me and
hit me. They didn’t remove their clothes properly and had sex one by one with
me. If I tried to escape, they caught me and hit. They laid me on bed again and
spread my legs. It was too hard…
I collected sleeping pills that got from Korean surgeon, and I tried to
suicide by swallowing 40 pills. I fell
down. I thought I can escape from those demons. I felt sorry to my family, but
it was a faint hope to me that I could see them again. Japanese soldier who
wanted to have sex with me found me. Jung-mi who was dragged like me told me that when I fell down, the blood
was flowing from every hole in my body. I couldn’t wake up for 3 days. It was
too hard and tiring… I couldn’t even die. I was so miserable… I don’t know what I want and who am I… I just
want to give up everything. The head of village lied to me that I can work in factory.
“Are you ok? It is too hard.. We have to live.”
Jung-mi who nursed me for 3 days said to me. Jung-mi also is weary… As
soon as I heard her consolation, we cried hugging each other.
Jung-mi also had hard time. Because of Japanese soldier’s indiscriminate
sex, she became pregnant. Japanese soldier found out that, so he caused
abortion of her baby forcibly. There wasn’t even a proper surgical instrument.
After Jung-mi fell down because of the opium, her baby was aborted already.
When Jung-mi told me that story, she cried as she almost fell down. I couldn’t
say anything. I just gave my handkerchief to her, and said while wiping her tears. I
could only say that just live.
3 Korean girls died, but Japanese
soldiers didn’t mourn the girls’ death. They throw away dead girls on the floor
and burned them like dead dog. We were fully abused by Japan. When we were useless,
soldiers killed us. We were a machine made in order to have sex…. If we resist,
we were abused, injury with a knife and seared with cigarette.
Once a week, I went to hospital out
of the barrack to inspect my body. I went there today. Village’s landscape was
completely different outside the barracks. Polynesian India lived there, they
looked happy. I saw only men every day, but there are many smiling children and
mom who sat the baby. When I saw that people, tears came out unintentionally.
One day, the Allied
Forces
explode bombs in Hiroshima in Japan, and Japan said surrender to them. I knew
that because Jung-mi said to me. At that time, Korea could regain independence
from Japan. That day was August 15, 1945. However, Japan wanted to hide our
existence. Soldiers put 3 alive Korean girls in their air-raid shelter, and
shot when they felt bored. 8 girls died… Just 5 Korean girls remained. I
thought I’ll die in here. I wanted to see my family’s face at least. However, I
anticipated as much that I can’t see family’s face.
[Sounds of the airplanes]
“Ah? What’s that?”
2 days later, Japanese solder yelled looking at the sky suddenly. Many
bombers were flying towards us in the air. The planes landed on the ground, and
door was opened.
“Where are the Korean girls?”
American soldiers looked for us. It was a good thing. They are a coalition
of Korea. They’ll rescue our life. I shed tears in hope that we can live.
Jung-mi was also wiping her tears with the handkerchief that I gave her.
I was able to come back to Korea again.
“Jung-mi.. we’re alive.. It was really hard.. I relied on you, so I could
have a hope. Thank you… ”
I greeted with Jung-mi lastly.
I ran to my house to see my family. Did my father get out of jail? Did my
2 older brothers study well? I kept running to my house when I thought of those
blissful questions. My family can be happy again now!!
Korea has regained
independence from Japan.
“Ah…?”
When I arrived at home, I dropped on the ground. There was nobody in my
house.
“Excuse me, where is my
family?”
I asked to the lady next
door.
“Oh! Are you Sun-ok? You
are alive!!... but… your family was…”
She couldn’t say more.
“What happened in my
house?” I asked to her with my remaining tears.
“Ha… actually… your father died in the jail… The Japanese didn’t take out
your father… Moreover, Japanese dragged away your 2 older brothers. At that
time, your mother cried out in tears. There were not enough people who fought
in the war in Japan, so the Japanese dragged your brothers…”
The lady answered with tears. I couldn’t stand up… I was alive... I just wanted
to see my family... Where are they……?
“Then… Where is my mother?”
I asked carefully. Actually
the answer was very scaring…
“Ah… Your mother did suicide… because her husband died and 2
brothers were dragged… Moreover, your mom thought you also died because of
losing the touch with you…”
After I heard that, I fell
down.
3days later, I woke up in the house where the lady next door lives.
“I will go home… Thank you.”
“Ok... Take care~”
The lady greeted me while giving food.
“Tut, tut…
she went to Japan to do drugs and enjoy with Japanese soldiers while Korea was
colonized by Japan. Definitely she came back to Korea because Korea regained
independence. Dirty prostitute….“
Villagers,
exclude lady next door, talked in whispers and pointed a finger at me. Maybe
Jung-mi is also having hard time like me.
‘Even if
my body was taken away… if I live, I won’t be deprived of my heart.’
After 3 months I came back, I thought I must
survive. My 2 brothers came back by corpses. I couldn’t do a decent burial… I
cried next to brothers’ corpses endlessly. I just thought that I have to live.
“Oh… how did you live? I would have died maybe…” after Mi-ji heard my
story, she asked.
“Just… I just thought I have to survive.” I answered.
“Grandma! I will
participate in the Wednesday demonstration with you. If you die, I will do this
until Japan apologize to Korea. I am very angry now… bad Japanese…” She said to me with tears.
I haven’t told this story to anyone. Because I thought they don’t
understand. However, I wanted to talk to Mi-ji… I don’t know why. As I expected
Mi-ji understood and comforted me. She is granddaughter of Jung-mi. Many people
just understand the surface of us, and they don’t understand us inside. Simply,
because Korea was colonized by Japan, some Korean hate only because of that
reason. They don’t know how wet
out tears…
[August
14, 2013, in front of Japan embassy in Seoul]
“Apologize! Apologize!”
“Apologize! The Embassy of Japan, apologize
about Japan’s things of the past!”
Because tomorrow is National Liberation Day
of Korea, many people gathered. I just watch those people and sit on a chair
also today. Japanese embassy official came out, but he didn’t look at us. He
went out by his car. Can our tears be wiped…..?
“I came~”
Mi-ji greeted me. She really came. She brought her many friends for me.
“Grandma! I brought my friends! Let’s go in front of Japanese embassy!! We
have to receive apology from Japan. We will help you!! We will wipe your tears
surely!!”
However, Japan
has not apologized to South Korea mistakes of
the past even now. This story
was written based on the
fact.
Every Wednesday, there is demonstration in front of Japanese embassy in
Seoul until now. However Japan has not apologized to Korea for its past
mistakes. Comfort women are dying nowadays…
I don't know why that part is white...........:T.T
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