Dear Someone

Poster Design & Illustration
London, UK, 2024

Dear Someone Poster for the 14th Annual International Illustration Research Symposium <Illustration and Heritage>.

Through this poster, I shared the untold and deeply moving stories of the Korean “Comfort Women”—victims of sexual slavery during Japanese colonisation.

As a South Korean who spent much of my life abroad, my understanding of my country’s history was limited. At 14, I began independent research into the lives of these Halmeonies (할머니, a term of endearment for grandmothers, referring to the survivors), but I often wondered: beyond the obvious need for justice and honour restoration, what do they truly need?

In 2020, I returned to Korea during the pandemic and joined Peace Road, a research group dedicated to this history. This journey inspired my book <Dear Someone,>, a cross-sectional, research-based illustrative essay. Over six months, I collaborated with Korean and Japanese socio-political researchers, immersing myself in the survivors’ stories. As the illustrator, I aimed to amplify their voices, focusing on their lived realities rather than solely on public narratives.

Despite decades passing since their suffering first became known globally, these Halmeonies (grandmothers) still face historical distortion and ongoing societal and political challenges. Through my storytelling, I aim to highlight the pressing concerns of these grandmothers today, creating a vast meadow—a literary space where their voices, my perspective as a storyteller, and the dedication of those who uncover and cherish their stories coexist.

This meadow is not a shortcut but an invitation to those willing to embark on an enriching journey through the profound layers of human resilience and experience. Within the pages of Dear Someone, their voices echo, ensuring their pain, strength, and legacy endure for generations to come.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Jayoon Choi for her invaluable support in bringing these stories to life.