Justice for Lai Dai Han: July 2025 Survivor Consultations
In July 2025, Tran Nhat, founder of JLDH, visited multiple Vietnamese provinces to document survivor testimonies and advocate for recognition.
During visits, survivors shared detailed accounts of their assaults by members of South Korean military units stationed in Vietnam. of their experiences.
Thạch Thị Hữu recounted being raped by Captain Lee of the 26th Regiment, Tiger Division, after he coerced her into repeating a Korean phrase “Chonundangsinunsaranghamnida” (meaning “I love you”). She described the enduring psychological trauma, saying “I became afraid of men, I resented men, I hated men – and I especially hated South Korean soldiers”.
Nguyễn Thị Nhãn shared her own story of assault, telling Tran Nhat that “Mr. Kwon Soo encountered me, he raped me with force”. Decades later, her daughter – born from that assault – still grieves her unknown parentage. Nguyễn recalls that her daughter keeps “two photos of Mr. Kwon and cries silently, hoping to meet her father again. Her grief has caused her to fall ill many times”. Her account reveals not only her own suffering but the intergenerational impact of these crimes.
During visits, survivors shared detailed accounts of their assaults by members of South Korean military units stationed in Vietnam. of their experiences.
Thạch Thị Hữu recounted being raped by Captain Lee of the 26th Regiment, Tiger Division, after he coerced her into repeating a Korean phrase “Chonundangsinunsaranghamnida” (meaning “I love you”). She described the enduring psychological trauma, saying “I became afraid of men, I resented men, I hated men – and I especially hated South Korean soldiers”.
Nguyễn Thị Nhãn shared her own story of assault, telling Tran Nhat that “Mr. Kwon Soo encountered me, he raped me with force”. Decades later, her daughter – born from that assault – still grieves her unknown parentage. Nguyễn recalls that her daughter keeps “two photos of Mr. Kwon and cries silently, hoping to meet her father again. Her grief has caused her to fall ill many times”. Her account reveals not only her own suffering but the intergenerational impact of these crimes.
These conversations serve as both personal acts of defiance against decades of silence and public demands for recognition, accountability, and dignity that these women and their children have long been denied. Tran Nhat’s visit serves not only to gather testimonies but also to support long-term advocacy for formal acknowledgment and redress. JLDH remains committed to centering survivor voices in its efforts, ensuring their experiences inform both public awareness and policy engagement.
As JLDH moves forward, these firsthand accounts remain vital reminders of the human impact behind this ongoing campaign for justice, and will continue to lead our work.
