By Eniola Amadu
More than 100 South Korean women who were forced to work as prostitutes for American soldiers stationed in the country have filed a lawsuit accusing the United States of abuse.
The case is being described as a landmark step in a decades-old issue that has received little international attention.
Historians and rights activists estimate that tens of thousands of South Korean women were compelled to work in state-sanctioned brothels from the 1950s to the 1980s, serving U.S. troops who were deployed to deter North Korea.
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In 2022, South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled that the government had illegally established and operated such facilities, ordering compensation for about 120 plaintiffs.
Last week, 117 victims filed a fresh lawsuit, for the first time formally accusing the U.S. military of responsibility and demanding an official apology. Each victim is seeking 10 million won (about $7,200) in damages.
The women, sometimes referred to as the “U.S. comfort women,” have received far less recognition than the so-called “comfort women” who were forced into Japanese military brothels during World War II.
Activists say Washington’s role as Seoul’s key security ally has contributed to the silence around their stories.
One plaintiff, now in her 60s, recalled being 17 when she was tricked into the trade.
“I thought I was going to be a bartender, but I was forced into sex work. Every night we were dragged to U.S. soldiers and abused. Every week we were tested for venereal diseases and locked up if anything was found,” she said in a statement.
Activists backing the suit argue that the women’s constitutional rights were violated and that their lives were destroyed by the system.
Lawyer Ha Ju-hee said the case seeks to hold both the South Korean government and U.S. authorities accountable, noting that under South Korean law, Seoul is obliged to compensate victims of illegal acts committed by U.S. soldiers and later recover costs from Washington.
At the height of the military brothel economy, businesses linked to U.S. base towns—including bars, restaurants, and barber shops—accounted for about a quarter of South Korea’s GDP in the 1960s and 1970s, according to researchers.
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The United States currently has about 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea. The United States Forces Korea (USFK) said it was aware of the reports but declined to comment while the case is ongoing.
“We do not condone any behaviour that violates Republic of Korea laws, rules, or directives, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of order and discipline,” the USFK said in a statement.
