During the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of Korean civilians, along with thousands of others in the occupied territories, were conscripted for Japan’s war effort, a topic that is only on the periphery of Western historiography and education.

During their visit to Seoul, members of the Alpha Education Peace Tour were able to meet with the progeny of one of these onetime forced labourers, Sim Jintae.  Mr. Sim was in Japan and experienced the effects of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945.

Translation for this interview was done by Ahn Minseob, a former student of Mr. Masters, and Pastor Lee Daesoo, of the Asia Citizens’ Network for Peace. 

Please note that this interview is in Korean, with the English translation at the end of each segment.