One Left: A Novel

The novel "One Left" is a powerful tale of trauma and endurance that tells the story of Korean comfort women who were forced into sexual servitude for Japanese soldiers during the Pacific War. Only 10% of them survived to return to Korea, where they lived as social outcasts. The book is based on the testimonies of dozens of comfort women and recovers the overlooked and disavowed stories of Koreas most marginalized women.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2020
Publisher: University of Washington Press

During the Pacific War, over 200,000 Korean girls were coerced into sexual servitude for Japanese soldiers. They were subjected to horrendous conditions in "comfort stations" scattered across Japanese-occupied territories. Shockingly, only about 10 percent of these women managed to survive and return to Korea. Upon their return, they were shunned by society and lived as outcasts. However, in recent years, self-declared comfort women have come forward, sharing their harrowing experiences and demanding compensation from the Japanese government.

Kim Soom's novel, "One Left," tells the story of a young woman named Kim Soom, who is abducted at the age of thirteen while collecting snails to feed her starving family. The atrocities she experiences as a sex slave follow her back to Korea, where she lives in isolation, haunted by the fear that her past will be revealed. However, when she learns that the last known comfort woman is dying, she makes a courageous decision to tell her that there will still be "one left" after her passing. This sets off on a painful journey that brings her face-to-face with the harsh realities of her past.

"One Left" is a groundbreaking novel that delves deep into the experiences of comfort women. It is the first Korean novel to focus on this subject, reigniting conversations about the comfort women and the violent legacies of Japanese colonialism. The novel is based on the testimonies of dozens of comfort women, providing a unique and powerful perspective on their experiences.

This first-ever English translation of "One Left" is a significant contribution to the literature on comfort women and Korean history. It sheds light on the stories of the marginalized women who were forced into sexual servitude and their struggle for justice and recognition. The novel offers a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of these women, who have faced immense trauma and discrimination but continue to fight for their rights.

In conclusion, "One Left" is a powerful and important novel that sheds light on the dark history of comfort women. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of these women, who have faced immense trauma and discrimination but continue to fight for their rights. The novel's English translation provides a valuable opportunity for a broader audience to understand the experiences of these women and the ongoing struggle for justice and recognition.

Weight: 264g
Dimension: 141 x 216 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295747668