Manchukuo Imperial Army
Lee Soon-ja was born on March 24, 1939 in Hsinking, Manchukuo to Lee Gyu-dong and Lee Bong-nyeon. She is the second daughter of a family with three daughters and one son. Her father is originally from Seongju County at North Gyeongsang Province, and is the descendant of Lee Jo-yeon, a scholar and writer during the Goryeo Dynasty. He was originally an officer within the Manchukuo Imperial Army.