Disfigured, shamed and forgotten: BBC visits the Korean survivors of the Hiroshima bomb
Published: Mon, 04 Aug 2025 22:04:35 GMT
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Disfigured, Shamed, and Forgotten: BBC Visits the Korean Survivors of the Hiroshima Bomb
Meta Description: Discover the untold story of Korean survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb—disfigured, shamed, and long overlooked. Explore their struggles, survival, and ongoing fight for recognition 80 years after the blast.
Introduction: The Forgotten Victims of Hiroshima Eighty years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, much of the World remembers the devastation and the Japanese victims. Yet, an estimated 50,000 Koreans were present in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, many as forced laborers under Japanese colonial rule[1]. While the World commemorates the hibakusha—atomic bomb survivors—the unique traumas and struggles of Korean survivors have often been disfigured, shamed, and forgotten by mainstream narratives. As the BBC and recent reports highlight, their stories are crucial for understanding the full humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and the lingering scars of war.
Key Facts & Updates on Korean Hiroshima Survivors
- As of August 2025, about 1,600 Korean atomic bomb survivors are believed to be alive in South Korea, with only 82 residing at the Hapcheon Atomic Bomb Victim Center—the country’s main support facility for these hibakusha[1]. - Korean survivors have suffered lifelong health complications from radiation exposure as well as profound social stigma, fueled by myths that radiation sickness could be contagious[1]. - Records of Korean victims are incomplete due to the obliteration of Hiroshima’s city office in the blast, colonial policies banning Korean names, and decades of neglect by both Japanese and Korean authorities[1]. - The average age of atomic bomb survivors (hibakusha) is now over 86, making the preservation of their testimonies increasingly urgent[2][3].
Bullet Point Highlights
- Estimated 50,000 Koreans were in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, mostly as forced laborers[1]. - Records are incomplete due to wartime destruction and Japan’s colonial policies[1]. - Social stigma and neglect have followed Korean survivors for decades after their return to Korea[1]. - Only 1,600 Korean hibakusha are believed to be alive today in South Korea[1]. - Average age of survivors across all groups is now 86 years old[2]. - Korean hibakusha faced barriers to Japanese government recognition and medical care for decades[3]. - First-person testimony is rapidly disappearing as survivors age[2].
The Hidden History of Korean Hibakusha
Forced Labor and Forgotten Names During World War II, the Japanese empire conscripted tens of thousands of Koreans for forced labor in Japan’s military factories and construction projects. On the morning of August 6, 1945, when the American B-29 dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, as many as 50,000 Koreans were in the city[1]. Many were working at military sites or living in the poorest districts closest to the bomb’s epicenter.
After the bomb, chaos and devastation obliterated entire communities. The Hiroshima city office, which might have held records of Korean residents, was destroyed[1]. Complicating matters, Japanese colonial law banned the use of Korean names—making it nearly impossible to track or identify Korean victims in official documents[1]. Many survivors returned to a newly independent Korea, but their suffering did not end with the war.
Disfigurement, Stigma, and Silence Survivors like Bae Kyung-mi and Kim Hwa-ja, who were children in Hiroshima, describe fleeing through burning streets, hiding under blankets, and witnessing horrors that left them traumatized for life[1]. Upon returning to Korea, instead of receiving sympathy, many hibakusha faced deep social stigma. There were widespread, unfounded rumors that radiation exposure was contagious, which led to discrimination and social isolation for survivors and their families[1].
Healthcare and Recognition Challenges Japan’s hibakusha have long struggled for recognition and support, but Korean victims faced even greater obstacles. Although Japan passed laws in 1957 to provide free medical care for hibakusha, non-Japanese survivors were initially excluded[3]. Only after decades of legal battles, including a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1978, did Korean survivors gain limited access to medical care in Japan[3]. Still, most remain in South Korea, often without the full support or recognition granted to their Japanese counterparts.
Current Realities: Aging, Advocacy, and Remembrance
Dwindling Numbers, Urgent Testimonies As of March 2025, fewer than 100,000 hibakusha remain worldwide, with an average age of over 86[2]. In Korea, only about 1,600 survivors are still alive[1]. The aging population of survivors means that their direct testimonies—a vital Record of the horrors of nuclear war—are at risk of being lost forever[2]. Organizations like the Hapcheon Atomic Bomb Victim Center work to preserve these voices and advocate for survivor rights[1].
Ongoing Health Issues Medical Research continues to reveal the long-term health impacts of atomic bomb exposure on Korean survivors, including increased risks of cancer, chronic disease, and psychological trauma[4]. The children of survivors also face elevated health risks and social stigma, compounding the tragedy across generations[4].
Recognition and Reconciliation Although Japan has recognized more than 650,000 people as hibakusha, only a small fraction are Korean, and even fewer have received full medical and financial support[3]. Memorials in Hiroshima and Nagasaki now list the names of more than 540,000 known victims, but the Korean names often went unrecorded or unnoticed for decades[3].
Practical Takeaway: Honoring the Forgotten and Learning from the Past
The story of the Korean hibakusha is a stark reminder that war’s devastation extends beyond borders and generations. Their experiences highlight the importance of:
- Comprehensive historical memory: Ensuring that all victims, regardless of nationality, are remembered and included in historical narratives. - Combatting stigma: Educating the public to dispel myths and prevent discrimination against survivors of trauma, war, or disaster. - Advocacy for survivor rights: Supporting organizations and policies that provide medical, psychological, and social care for survivors and their descendants. - Preserving testimony: Recording and sharing the stories of hibakusha before they are lost to time, so future generations may learn from the past and strive for peace.
As the World marks the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima, it is more vital than ever to listen to the voices of those who were disfigured, shamed, and forgotten—and to ensure that their suffering is neither overlooked nor repeated[1][2][3][4].
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