Standing beside a memorial statue at St. Mary's Square in San Francisco, Sinmin Pak reflects on her ongoing mission to educate Americans about one of history's most painful chapters. As the founder of Unforgotten Butterflies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about wartime sexual slavery, Pak has made it her life's work to ensure the stories of thousands of women forced into sexual enslavement by the Imperial Japanese Army during the 1930s and 1940s are never forgotten.
The butterfly symbol holds deep meaning for Pak's advocacy work. During a recent visit to the San Francisco memorial, she encountered an American couple who had stumbled upon the statue without understanding its significance. "Like butterflies that go through many hardships before taking flight in their beautiful form, survivors of wartime sex enslavement endured immense pain, but that suffering did not diminish their beauty – in fact, it made them even stronger and more beautiful," Pak explained as she offered them butterfly bracelets. The couple gladly accepted the bracelets and promised to share their meaning with others.
Pak's journey into activism began unexpectedly in the 1990s while taking an Asian history course at a California college. Learning about Japan's military sexual slavery system was so disturbing that she could barely finish the assigned readings. For years afterward, news about survivors and their deaths brought her guilt and heartache, though her responsibilities as a stay-at-home mother kept these feelings somewhat suppressed. The death of both her parents served as a catalyst for action. "After my parents died, I realized life is short. If I don't do something about this issue before I die, I'll regret it," Pak recalled.
In 2016, Pak organized groundbreaking events in North Texas featuring talks by Lee Ok-seon, a wartime sexual slavery survivor and advocate who was then in her 80s. Lee's powerful testimony left a lasting impact on American students who were unfamiliar with this historical tragedy. "Lee told her story and said to students, 'Because my country was weak, I suffered these things and because my country is still weak and hasn't resolved this, I'm traveling the world at this age, telling my story and asking for help.' After her talk, students hugged her and cried," Pak remembered of that emotional moment.
The battle for recognition remains far from over, as the Japanese government continues to maintain that its military never systematically forced women into sexual slavery. Japanese officials claim there is insufficient evidence and argue that any offenses were covered by previous reparations. Lee, who passed away in May at the age of 97, never received an official apology from Japan, much like other survivors across the Asia-Pacific region. Pak and organizations like hers continue to demand a formal apology and work toward greater global awareness of the issue.
Pak has expanded her advocacy efforts significantly since founding Unforgotten Butterflies in 2018. The organization, dedicated to education, advocacy, and remembrance of sexual violence, has organized film screenings, survivor talks, and campus events. Her efforts have gained political recognition as well – the mayor of Carrollton, Texas, officially recognized August 14 as Comfort Women Memorial Day in 2022. Former U.S. Representative Mike Honda, a longtime champion of victims' rights, has also supported Pak's mission.
Global recognition remains challenging to achieve, as Pak discovered when she invited a Cambodian woman to an event, only to learn that the guest was unaware that Cambodia had its own survivors. This moment reinforced Pak's commitment to dispelling the myth that wartime sexual enslavement was exclusively a Korean issue. "At our events, we always emphasize this isn't about blaming any one nation," she said. "There were Japanese comfort women, too. Our focus is on fighting for women's rights and standing against human trafficking."
Pak draws parallels between historical atrocities and modern-day human trafficking, particularly noting that Texas consistently ranks second nationwide for human trafficking cases in the United States. She observes that the experiences of contemporary victims – who are sold by family members, kidnapped, or deceived by false job offers – mirror those of wartime sexual slavery survivors. "Their stories are frighteningly similar," Pak noted, highlighting the continued relevance of her advocacy work.
Looking toward the future, Pak envisions a time when the history of wartime sexual violence will be as familiar to Americans as Holocaust memorials, and when people will travel to memorial sites in Asia with similar reverence and recognition. "I truly believe ordinary people, more than those in power, have the ability to create real change by sharing genuine empathy," she said. "Every single voice, every small gesture – like raindrops gathering to form an ocean – adds weight and meaning to our cause."
Despite the scarcity of official acknowledgments, Pak and her fellow advocates remain undeterred in their mission. "Getting global recognition may be a long shot," she acknowledged. "But even if I reach just one person at a time, that's enough to spark change." Reflecting on survivor Lee Ok-seon's visit to North Texas, Pak sees it as planting a seed of remembrance – a promise she is determined to nurture. "I want to keep her message and spirit alive here in Dallas and help it grow far beyond North Texas. That's my promise, and a responsibility I hope to uphold."
