Transcript
Doug (0:00)
Neighborhood.
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (0:02)
And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual, even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.
Doug (0:11)
Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (0:15)
Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.
Doug (0:22)
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.
Liberty Mutual Spokesperson (0:23)
Anyways, get a'@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.
Jiang Han (0:27)
Liberty. Liberty.
Doug (0:28)
Liberty. Liberty.
Alison Stewart (0:39)
This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. This hour we're interviewing debut authors as part of our coverage for AIP Heritage Month. Aaipi, aapi. Got it. AAPI Heritage Month. We turn next to a story inspired by the present perseverance of Korean women. During the Japanese occupation in the 1930s and 40s, the Japanese military occupied Korea and forced thousands of women into sexual slavery. They were known as comfort women. As of April, there were only five survivors still alive in Korea. Arthur Jeong Han was born in Korea but raised in the Midwest. And in 2023, when she learned about the final survivors, Jung was inspired to write a generational story of Korean women resisting the occupation and finding joy amidst the suffering and despair. The book is called Honey in the Wound. It's out now. Author Jiang Han is here to talk more about her book. Welcome to wnyc.
Jiang Han (1:38)
Thank you so much for having me.
Alison Stewart (1:39)
Alison Jiang, what was your level of understanding of the Japanese occupation of Korea before you started this book?
Jiang Han (1:46)
Yes, so that's a great question. As you mentioned, I grew up in the Midwest. And while I am very grateful for the quality of education that I had in the Midwest going through the public education system, I think Asia was maybe mentioned three times and it was all in the context of American imperialism. So first was the the atomic bombs dropped on Japan and Pearl harbor, so World War II context. Second was Korean War. And third was the Vietnam War. So I don't think I actually knew that Korea was colonized by Japan until I was in my late teens and had entered college. And of course, as soon as I discovered this history, I dove into as much self education that I could. And by the time, of course, 2023 rolled around many, many years later, I had a pretty good understanding of this history. But as you mentioned, when I saw that there were only a handful, literally, I could count the number of survivors on the fingers in my hand. There were nine. At the time that I started writing this book, I was so Possessed with grief and rage. I wanted more people to know about this history and to fight for justice in the way that these grandmothers are
