More than 100 South Korean women who were forced to work in military brothels serving US soldiers have filed a landmark lawsuit accusing the United States of human rights violations, their lawyers said Tuesday.
The plaintiffs—117 women in total—are demanding an official apology and financial compensation, marking the first time the US military has been directly named in legal action over its involvement in the controversial system that operated for decades.
Historians and women’s rights advocates say tens of thousands of South Korean women were coerced into working in state-sanctioned brothels for American troops stationed in the country between the 1950s and 1980s. These arrangements were designed, in part, to maintain morale among US forces tasked with defending South Korea against North Korean aggression.
In a landmark 2022 ruling, South Korea’s Supreme Court found that the government had illegally “established, managed, and operated” these brothels, ordering compensation for around 120 victims. However, the new lawsuit breaks ground by formally holding the United States accountable.
Each plaintiff is seeking 10 million won (approximately $7,200) in damages.
“We were treated like tools”
Unlike the better-known “comfort women” exploited by the Japanese military during World War II, the women forced into US military brothels have received relatively little attention—due, in part, to Washington’s long-standing alliance with Seoul and the strategic sensitivities surrounding their presence.
“The US military ignored South Korea’s Constitution, stripped these women of their freedom, and destroyed their lives,” a coalition of women’s rights groups supporting the lawsuit said in a joint statement.
One of the plaintiffs, now in her 60s, recounted in a statement to AFP how she was deceived into the system at just 17 years old. Believing she had been hired as a bartender, she was instead forced into sex work and told she couldn’t leave because of mounting “debt.”
“I still can’t forget being slapped by US soldiers, sometimes just for not smiling,” she said. “Every night, we were dragged to them. Every week, we were forced to undergo STD tests. If there was even a minor issue, we were locked in a small room and injected with thick penicillin needles.”
“The shots were so painful I couldn’t even walk.”
During the height of the military brothel system in the 1960s and 70s, the economy surrounding US base towns—bars, restaurants, barbershops, and other establishments—accounted for roughly 25% of South Korea’s GDP, according to some historians.
Despite the size and scope of the system, public discourse on the issue has long been muted, as Washington remains a key security partner. Today, around 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea to deter threats from the North.
Legal implications
The lawsuit technically names the South Korean government as the defendant, since under current legal frameworks, Seoul is required to provide compensation for crimes committed by US military personnel on duty—before potentially seeking reimbursement from Washington.
“This lawsuit seeks to hold both the South Korean government and the US military jointly responsible for their unlawful actions,” said Ha Ju-hee, an attorney representing the plaintiffs.
The United States Forces Korea (USFK) told AFP it was “aware of the reports regarding the issue,” but declined to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
“We affirm that we do not condone any behavior that violates Republic of Korea laws, rules, or directives, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of good order and discipline,” the USFK said in a statement.
AFP
