Exclusive: BBC Meets Korean Survivors of the Hiroshima Bomb – Their Untold Stories

On August 6, 1945, Lee Jung-soon was just a child on her way to school in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb fell. Now 88, she tries to push away the horrifying memories. Her father had rushed back home to warn the family to evacuate. “I remember crying,” she recalls, “but the streets were filled with dead bodies.” The bomb killed around 70,000 people instantly, and countless others died later from radiation effects.

Over the past 80 years, the impact of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki has been widely documented. Yet, it’s crucial to remember that about 20% of the immediate victims were Koreans. At the time, Korea was under Japanese colonial rule, and many Koreans were living in Hiroshima, forced there by labor exploitation. More than 140,000 Koreans were in Hiroshima during the bombing, with many suffering long-term effects from the blast.

Survivors like Shim Jin-tae, who is now 83, express their frustration. “No one takes responsibility,” he says. “Not Japan, not Korea, and certainly not America.” Shim lives in Hapcheon, often referred to as “Korea’s Hiroshima” due to the number of survivors who settled there after the war. Both Shim and Lee live with the lingering aftermath of that horrific day, battling various health issues. Lee has skin cancer and Parkinson’s, while her son Ho-chang is facing kidney failure, which he believes is linked to their exposure to radiation.

Recent research indicates that these health issues aren’t just a first-generation problem. Studies have shown that second-generation survivors are more susceptible to depression and chronic illnesses. For example, a 2005 study revealed that second-generation victims were at a higher risk of heart disease compared to the general population. This generational impact highlights the urgent need for recognition and support from the government.

Historically, the aftermath for Korean bomb survivors hasn’t been easy. Many returned home only to face stigma and discrimination. They were often viewed with suspicion and labeled as “cursed.” As a result, many chose to remain silent about their experiences. The societal stigma, coupled with a lack of acknowledgment from authorities, added to their suffering.

Just last month, Hiroshima officials visited Hapcheon for the first time to honor the victims. While this gesture was welcomed, advocates like Junko Ichiba stress that true peace requires acknowledgment and apology. “Peace without apology is meaningless,” she states, emphasizing the need for a truthful reckoning of history.

As more aging survivors share their stories, there’s a pressing need to document their experiences and health outcomes. “These issues must be addressed while survivors are still alive,” says Heo Jeong-gu of the Red Cross. Lee and Shim believe that memory is more vital than monetary compensation. They fear that without listening to their stories, future generations may forget the horrors and lessons of nuclear warfare.

In recent days, social media has seen an uptick in conversations about nuclear history, with many younger people expressing a desire to learn from the past. It’s crucial that we remember these narratives, forging connections through shared humanity and striving for a world where such tragedies never happen again.

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