KIM Bog-deug 김복득

KIM Bog-deug

김복득

Born in South Gyeongsang, Korea, Drafted year: 1939, 21y/o, for 7 years

I sprayed powder down there

to prevent sexually transmitted disease,

and got a shot #606 in the forearm.

It was painful.

We were poor but I grew up in my parent’s love. I worked at a factory that made nets when I was young. On my day off, I was waiting for a boat to go to my aunt's house in an island.

A man approached and forcibly took me to Busan, saying that he will help me make money. I couldn’t even tell my family. I was boarded a ship

and the place I arrived was Dalian大连, China. There were ten small, shabby rooms lined up. I was put into one of them. I was scared.

Suddenly, the door opened and a soldier in a yellow military uniform came in. He swooped on me. Soldiers lined up in front of my room every day.

At least 10 came a day. I sprayed powder down there to prevent sexually transmitted disease, and got a shot #606 in the forearm. It was painful.

3 years later I was sent to the Philippines. Not only were there Korean women, but also 1-2 Japanese women, too.

When the war was over, I came back to Nagasaki on a Japanese warship. From there, I came home through Busan. My mother had passed away,

and my life in my hometown was difficult because rumors went around that I was a “comfort women” and people gave me sharp looks. I became a concubine, but the first wife understood my situation.

* In 2000, I met 4 Grandmas in Tongyoung통영, but now, Bogdeug Kim is the only one left. Not long ago, she had her 100th birthday party at the nursing home. Even then, she prepared to go out, doing her own makeup.