Kim Bong-nyeo
Born on May 20, 1919
Address: 151-1 Dong-ri, Sariwon-eub, Bongsan-gun, Hwanhae-do
Graduated from Hwangju Public Primary School
Married Ok Ji-jun in 1936
Baptized on December 16, 1938 and joined the Deungdaesa
Arrested at her home on November 10, 1940
First trial decision made on July 14, 1942
Sentenced to two years and a half years’ imprisonment, 300 days served before the verdict included
Made an appeal in July 18, 1942
Withdrew an appeal in February 8, 1943
Transferred to a “protective custody” camp in Cheongju after serving her sentence
Released on August 16, 1945
Died on April 5, 1994
Sariwon police report, December 6, 1940
The suspect’s reputation and behavior:
Zealous for work, unable to find fault in behavior, and an ordinary reputation socially
Possibility of rehabilitation:
No prospect of conversion as her husband and her parents are of the same Christian faith
Second interrogation at the Dongdaemun police station, December 7, 1940
Q: Have you ever paid tribute to the shrine?
A: No, I have not because the Bible says, ‘Don’t worship anything except Jehovah God and if you worship, you cannot become his believer.’
Second interrogation at the Dongdaemun police station, December 7, 1940
Q: Do you have a complaint against or are you dissatisfied with the current regime (of the Japanese Empire)?
A: As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I serve Jehovah God. I am not interested in the current regime of the Japanese Empire as I am engaged in sacred service.
Second interrogation at the Dongdaemun police station, December 7, 1940
Q: Do you recognize Japanese nationality and Japanese spirit?
A: I am not interested in it.
Q: Can you not change your mind and become a Japanese subject?
A: I will not change my mind.
Second interrogation at the Dongdaemun police station, December 7, 1940
A: Even if I have to be punished under secular law, since I cannot violate God’s law now, I absolutely have no desire to convert.
Third interrogation at the Dongdaemun police station, December 10, 1940
Q: Are you absolutely subject to the commandment of Jehovah God?
A: As it is written at Act 5:29, “We must obey God as ruler rather than men,” I am determined to submit to God, and I am ready to suffer martyrdom. So I am not able to obey even secular law if it is against God’s law and it is against his will. Therefore, I don’t care about a social position or fame and fortune. I leave everything to obey him.
Third interrogation at the Dongdaemun police station, December 10, 1940
A: What I have done to serve Jehovah as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is the right thing to do as a child of God, and I never think it is an evil thing.
Q: Aren’t you willing to convert and become a good Japanese subject?
A: Since I was baptized, I have tried to study the Bible as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I don’t have the slightest intention of becoming a good Japanese subject.
Hearing at the Gyeongseong (Seoul) District Court, December 16, 1940
Q: Your husband was arrested on the same charge. Doesn’t that matter to you?
A: Since humans are Jehovah God’s creatures, I think it is only fitting that we believe in the Creator, Jehovah God, and we should obey God’s commands.
Hearing at the Gyeongseong (Seoul) District Court, June 11, 1942
Q: Do you still believe the doctrine of the Deungdaesa is correct?
A: Yes, I do.
Q: Defendant, you said that you did not believe the Deungdaesa’s doctrine anymore at the preliminary trial. Was that a lie?
A: I have no memory of saying at the preliminary trial that I do not believe the Deungdaesa’s doctrine anymore.