Phan Thi Kim Phuc

Date of Birth: April 6, 1963

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Biography

Phan Thi Kim Phuc is a Vietnamese-born Canadian activist best known as the child featured in the iconic photograph taken during the Vietnam War. Born on April 6, 1963, in Trảng Bàng, South Vietnam, she became a symbol of the war’s brutal impact on civilians. The photograph, taken by Associated Press photographer Nick Ut, shows a nine-year-old Kim Phuc running naked down a road after a napalm attack. The image captured global attention and became a powerful anti-war symbol. Kim Phuc suffered severe burns and underwent numerous medical treatments. Despite the physical and emotional scars, she has dedicated her life to advocating for peace and helping children affected by war. In 1997, she established the Kim Foundation International, which provides medical and psychological assistance to children injured in war. She and her husband Bui Huy Toan sought political asylum in Canada in 1992 while on a layover in Newfoundland during a trip to Moscow. They eventually settled in Ontario, where they raised their two children. Kim Phuc continues to speak around the world, sharing her story and promoting messages of forgiveness and reconciliation.

5 Interesting Facts about Phan Thi Kim Phuc

1. Phan Thi Kim Phuc was only nine years old when she was photographed during the Vietnam War.

2. The photograph of her running from a napalm attack won a Pulitzer Prize for photographer Nick Ut.

3. She has undergone 17 surgical procedures to treat her burns.

4. Kim Phuc converted to Christianity in 1982, which she credits with helping her find peace and forgiveness.

5. She was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace in 1997.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Phan Thi Kim Phuc

1. “Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs, I would tell him we cannot change history, but we should try to do good things for the present and future to promote peace.”

2. “Forgiveness made me free from hatred. I still have many scars on my body and severe pain most days, but my heart is cleansed.”

3. “I realized that if I could not escape my past, I could not consider my future.”

4. “From that time on, I realized that my life was not for me; it was for helping others.”

5. “Pain never disappeared, but I learned to live with it through love and forgiveness.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Phan Thi Kim Phuc is not publicly disclosed. As an activist, her focus has been more on humanitarian efforts rather than personal financial gain.