A Tribute to Gloria Steinem and Her Legacy in Korea
On Sept. 2, 2026, the feminist author and activist Gloria Steinem passed away at her home in New York at 92. Most will remember Gloria’s lifelong contributions to women’s rights. Few will know her legacy in Korea.
She was an icon to millions. My nickname for her was “Super” — more like a building super with a massive set of keys that opened doors. She spent real political capital, and used many of those keys, to advance peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Gloria and I clicked the moment we first spoke in 2011 over our effort to stop the naval base on Jeju Island. She had just returned from Gangjeong, and I had been supporting the protesting villagers from afar. We published back-to-back op-eds in The New York Times, bringing global attention to their plight. When I later learned I was pregnant with a daughter, Gloria told me the spirit of Jeju — the island of peace and women — was in my womb. I named my daughter Jeju.
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