Grandmothers, Our Grandmothers

Recommended by the New York Public Library among its list of ‘50 Best New Comics for Adults’ in 2023“For 75 years, Korean women have fought for recognition of the war crimes they endured as ‘comfort women’ enslaved by Japanese soldiers in WWII. These are their stories.” —Publishers Weekly“With poignancy and grace, Han Seong-won honors the dwindling populations of ‘comfort women,’ or survivors of the atrocities of sexual slavery of WWII. Through amazing illustrations, this book offers a snapshot into the impact these injustices had on their lives and families.” —New York Public Library

Han Seong-won has been writing and drawing books and articles about modern Korean history for over twenty years. A documentary project on women and war led him on the path to exploring the “comfort women” problem, a still fresh example of the long arm of war. During this journey, through collections of written accounts and participation in the Wednesday Protests, he had the opportunity to speak with surviving Grandmothers who experienced this still unresolved, ignominious moment in human history. This book is his gift and tribute to the Grandmothers and all victims of human rights violations.