[APFF Echoes] In Solidarity, A Message of Unity from a #MeToo Survivor in Korea

_{By: Ji-eun Kim, Korea Network of Organized Women in politics, South Korea}

I am a #MeToo survivor from South Korea. At the APFF workshop, I delivered a presentation titled “Courage and Solidarity in the #MeToo Movement: Exposing Power-Based Sexual Violence in Korean Politics.” Thank you for allowing me to share my modest presentation at this workshop.

While some of you may have heard my presentation at APFF, I’d like to briefly introduce myself for those who haven’t. I worked as a public servant in South Korea for several years. In 2018, I came forward as a #MeToo survivor, exposing a case of sexual violence involving a prominent presidential candidate. This was the first #MeToo case in Korean politics, and the perpetrator was convicted by the Supreme Court and sentenced to prison.

Since then, I have been actively advocating for women’s rights in Korea through writing books and columns. My book, “김지은입니다(I Am Kim Ji-eun),” became a bestseller in Korea and was selected as a representative book of Korea in 2020. It is a journalistic account of my experiences, shedding light on the organizational structures and realities that led to violations of human rights and labor rights for women and workers alike.

*South Korean Presidential Candidate Ahn Hee-jung Sexual Assault #MeToo [Link: isupportjieun.blogspot.com]

I owe much gratitude to APWLD. During the trial, the solidarity shown by women’s rights activists worldwide, including those in Thailand, gave me strength. APWLD, as an international organization, supported me by signing an amicus brief for the Supreme Court. To repay the solidarity I received during my trial, I am here at this forum. I extend my heartfelt thanks once again to APWLD, whose support empowered me immensely.

Through APFF, I had the opportunity to give back, share solidarity, and pass on the support I once received. This experience has been deeply fulfilling and heartwarming.

APFF restored my strength and gave me a renewed sense of purpose. It guided me as a woman and survivor in the Asia-Pacific region on how to move forward. At APFF, I reflected on three things: first, gratitude for being alive; second, gratitude for the resilience of fellow survivors of sexual violence around the world; and third, gratitude for our shared vision of a better tomorrow for women.

Meeting fellow survivors was an emotional and transformative experience. It reaffirmed that we could be a source of strength for one another. This was one of the most moving moments of my life since the #MeToo movement began for me. Together, we became each other’s allies, embracing and comforting one another. It was a warm and healing time.

Living in the Asia-Pacific region, we are interconnected, and the strength of our solidarity is something I felt both physically and emotionally. For someone like me, still fighting against powerful figures in Korea, this solidarity was a source of immense energy. I realized we are not alone and that we stand hand in hand for women’s rights.

Although women’s rights in Korea continue to face setbacks, with power structures denying victims’ rights and perpetuating secondary victimization, I believe I can find the strength to carry on because of the solidarity I felt here.

I came to express gratitude for the international solidarity I received, but instead, I return with even greater strength. Attending APFF has been a tremendous blessing, and I will never forget the fall of 2024 and the APFF experience. To the feminists I met here and to everyone at APWLD, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

At APFF, I felt the immense power of solidarity. The warmth we shared will remain with me forever. My resolve has grown stronger, and I am determined to actively continue my advocacy for women’s rights. Solidarity leads to more solidarity, and the strength we derive from it is limitless.

If given the opportunity, I would like to attend future APFF forums and APWLD programs to continue connecting with other women in the Asia-Pacific region and share the strength of solidarity. I hope to spread the passion I experienced here, empowering more women and further uniting our collective strength.

As women in the Asia-Pacific, we must stand in solidarity because perpetrators are not confined to one country, and the conditions of victimization are often similar. We are interconnected and influence one another. With our shared cultures and close ties, I believe we can solve these issues more effectively through collective wisdom and unity.

Though I am an individual, I have consistently raised my voice for women’s rights and equal freedom without giving up. My book “I Am Kim Ji-eun” and my writings reflect this commitment.

It was a pleasure meeting all of you at APFF, and I hope we meet again. Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart.

In Solidarity,

Ji-eun Kim from South Korea

[Epilogue]

On the first day of APFF, I delivered a presentation titled “Knock Knock, Have You Survived? The Survival Story of Struggling Feminists in South Korea.”

For those who may have missed it, I am attaching my presentation materials below:

“Courage and Solidarity in the #MeToo Movement: Exposing Power-Based Sexual Violence in Korean Politics”