"See, think, act!"

This quote from Maria Chol Soon Rhie, one of six women activists from the Republic of Korea (South Korea) nominated as part of the 1000 women for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize project, reflects the spirit, thoughtfulness and drive of Korean women activists over the past half-century. Individually and collectively they have worked for democracy, women's and children's rights, peace and the unification of the divided Korean peninsula without foreign (USA) military presence. Korean women are also leaders in Asian networks.

Click on the nominee's name at right to link with a short profile.

The Korean women's movement, background:

From Women Taking The Initiative: The Women's Movement In South Korea
Arm The Spirit, 9 March, 1995

"The women's movement in Korea began with the national liberation struggle against the Japanese colonial regime. After the division of Korea in 1945 and the Korean War, the women's movement in South Korea was dominated by conservative/elitist women's organizations. The women's movement stagnated and adapted itself to the status quo in South Korea. At that time, the 'loyalty and service of women to the nation' took priority. During the period of industrialization in the 70s, the movement received new impulses from women workers who began organizing themselves and fighting for their rights.

The women's movement at that time began to struggle for a democratic society which would meet the needs of the majority of women workers, both in factories and on farms, and of the urban poor. In the last few years, the women's movement has become one of the most significant forces of the South Korea's national- democratic movement..."

See also: The Role of Women's Organization for Gender Equality and Challenges Emerged
By Young-sook Cho (Secretary General, Korea Women's Associations United) on the formation (1987) and work of the umbrella organization: Korean Women's Associations United (KWAU)

Women and Tigers: Effects of Rapid Industrialization on Women in Asia
By Anna Gyorgy, Green Korea, Synthesis/Regeneration 16 (Summer 1998)

Organizations in which the Korean peacewomen nominees are active:

Korean Women's Associations United (KWAU)
"The KWAU was created on February 18, 1987 to unite the power of women's organizations working for women's rights and democracy. Currently KWAU has 5 regional sections and 28 member organizations, representing the progressive women's movement in Korea.

KWAU strives to achieve three primary goals : 1) to build an equal society free from institutional discrimination so that women can enjoy equal rights with men and live with dignity and pride. 2) to build a democratic society where everyone's political, economic, social and cultural rights are fully guaranteed. 3) to build a reunified Korea, where South and North Korea become one nation."

Korea Women's Hot Line (KWAU member group)
"Established in 1983, Korea Women's Hot Line is a national organization working for women's human rights. KWHL helps women fight against oppression, eliminate violence against women and to become full members of a gender equal society. KWHL empowers women by providing counseling as well as regal and medical support to the victims of gender violence. KWHL played a major role in legislating Sexual Violence Act and Domestic Violence Act. It has 21 branches across Korea, with 15 Sexual Violence Counselling Centers, 5 shelters and 1 House for Working Women.
In order to realize this goal, the Hot Line works for: elimination of domestic violence, sexual violence and other forms of gender violence legislation and reform of the legal system providing assistance to victims of gender violence equal rights in employment democratization and unification of Korea building solidarity on national, regional and international levels."

Korean Women Workers Associations United - KWWAU (KWAU member group)
"KWWAU works to improve women workers' political, economic and social status, to build a true democracy and to bring about reunification of Korea.
KWWAU represents women workers' voices and fights for women workers to resolve their various problems."

Korea Women Farmers Association (KWFA) (KWAU member group)
"KWFA has 8,000 members and 23 regional branches. It has four aims: to realize the labour value of women farmers and higher welfare policies for the women farmers, to expand the women farmers' role in the communities and to secure the farmers' rights to live. Its goals are to promote the women farmers to become a expert and appeal to government's support and expanded enforcement of the direct payment system on the dry-field production."

Women Making Peace (English section) Women Making Peace (Korean-Hangul) (KWAU member group)
"Women Making Peace is a specialized movement organization formed to realize reunification and peace on the Korean peninsula and to make peace in Asia and the world. Our organization was founded on March 28 1997. We conduct research on the conditions and methods necessary for the peaceful reunification of Korea, and present policies toward that goal from a feminist perspective..."