Photo: RogerK (talk) / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Public records list Loung Ung as a memoirist, screenwriter and writer. Loung Ung was born on April 17, 1970 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The age as of 2026 is 56. Education on record includes Essex High School and Saint Michael's College. Awards on record include Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship (1997) and Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature (2001).
My Take
I find Loung Ung extraordinarily hard to write about lightly, because her story carries such weight. Born in Phnom Penh and a survivor of one of the darkest chapters of the twentieth century, she turned unimaginable memory into testimony with First They Killed My Father. What moves me most is that she refused silence, channeling her pain into landmine activism and human-rights advocacy. That choice, to keep speaking so others remember, is a rare kind of courage. I admire writers who bear witness rather than look away, and she stands among the bravest of them in my eyes.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Loung Ung
- Name (Japanese)
- ルオン・ウン
- Reading
- るおん・うん
- Born
- April 17, 1970 (age 56)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Dog
- Origin
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Occupation
- memoirist / screenwriter / writer
2. Background
- High school
- Essex High School
- University
- Saint Michael's College
Awards & achievements
- 1997 Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
- 2001 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | First They Killed My Father | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttps://loungung.com/
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/loungung.author/
- Xhttps://x.com/UngLoung
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loung%20Ung
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2330022
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-24
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Loung Ung born?
Born April 17, 1970 (age 56).
Where is Loung Ung from?
Loung Ung is from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
What does Loung Ung do?
Loung Ung works as memoirist, screenwriter, writer.
What is Loung Ung known for?
Notable works include First They Killed My Father.