Comfortless

sexual exploitation
documentary
history

In 1969, to cater for the needs of soldiers from the nearby US military base, the South Korean government supported the building of America Town in the city of Kunsan. About 1,000 men visited here nightly to find entertainment: bars, dance clubs, brothels. Prostitutes, officially called “US military comfort women”, were recruited nationwide. By depicting their daily routine, director Gina Kim presents life in America Town from their perspective. She aims to ensure that the experience of these women is not erased from the earth’s surface in the same way as America Town itself. Set against the background of what is now a ghost town, the filmmaker uses fragments of conversations, reflections in mirrors, hints and clues to evoke the painful memory of a place.

Author: Gina Kim

Countries: Korea (the Republic of)

Production year: 2023

Runtime: 16 min

Control complexity: No Interactions

Motion sickness level: Low

Premiere status: No Premiere

Program section: VR Exhibition: Beyond the Glass Ceiling

Location in DOX: Area C (Ground Floor)