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2 S Korean ex-sex slaves demand direct apology from Abe

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By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/12/japan-korea-comfort-women/422016/

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/28/japan-to-say-sorry-to-south-korea-in-deal-to-end-dispute-over-wartime-sex-slaves

http://atimes.com/2016/01/celebrating-the-closure-of-the-comfort-women-issue-is-premature/

I feel like I am in some kind of parallel universe. Seems pretty straightforward to me.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I'm still unclear on whether the apology and the fund agreement was ever completed or not. They announced that they had come to an agreement, but then just a couple of days later there were rumblings that the Japanese would not proceed with the agreement, because of the statue in front of the embassy in Seoul. This made it seem like the agreement had not been followed through upon.

Does anyone know what actually happened? Did Abe apologize and was money given to Korea for the fund? Or did it not happen?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida spoke of the Japanese prime minister's ''sincere apologies and remorse''

Reported speech, hardly sincere. Oh yes, and there's the little matter of Mrs Abe going to Yasukuni the moment her husband did something conciliatory. Again

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Everyone: Please read the books & journals written by Professor Park Yuha, Professor Chunghee Sarah Soh , and Professor Ahn Byong Jik: It will certainly bring to light what the 'Korean Councils' ulterior motivations are and ultimately how insincere their anti-Japan agenda is their abuse and manipulation of these poor old women are unfathomable to push forward their political agenda and attempt to sway Western public opinion against Japan... Seriously...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"TamaramaJAN. 27, 2016 - 10:46PM JST Hang on a sec.

I'm happy to be corrected, but on the 28th December, Abe officially gave his 'most sincere apologies' as Prime Minister of Japan to the Korean comfort women.">

This was a statement issued by MOFA, not by any means direct, and IMO most likely scripted, which he signed off on. Hardly most sincere.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It's irrelevant that "some" Japanese politicians in the past offered up apologies to the Comfort Women/Girls sex slaves -- although whether or not they were officially on behalf of the J government is a whole other matter -- these old ladies deserve Mr. Abe's personal apology because Mr. Abe is the one who personally denied Japan's culpability, insulted their integrity, belittled their suffering and whitewashed history. Too bad they will never get it. Abe will go to his grave having not even acknowledged that moral burden he carries.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I'm happy to be corrected, but on the 28th December, Abe officially gave his 'most sincere apologies' as Prime Minister of Japan to the Korean comfort women

I am pretty sure the same day abe "apologized" his wife went off like a shot to yasukuni, THERE is sincerity for ya! NOT!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

On the 28th of December the BBC news report......I did not catch the report on J - Media at this time.

Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida spoke of the Japanese prime minister's ''sincere apologies and remorse''

Japan and South Korea agree WW2 'comfort women' deal.....

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35188135

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Where did you see that he did that Tamarama?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Hang on a sec.

I'm happy to be corrected, but on the 28th December, Abe officially gave his 'most sincere apologies' as Prime Minister of Japan to the Korean comfort women. This was an apology accepted officially by South Korea and hallmarked by them as a 'new beginning by Korea and Japan'.

Why are people saying he has not apologized properly? Am I missing something?

That apology includes these women - and I feel they need to accept it for what it is, not demand more, especially from a man who has absolutely no personal responsibility for what happened to them. I really think their actions are just not constructive at all.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

"Your foot what? Stuck in your mouth again?"

We have a rapport or something ? You must have me confused with someone who has time to waste in here, day in, day out just like you do... You should try getting a girlfriend or just a life for a change.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

if they want apology they must get it. They are victims not rapist.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

1:One would think if the brothel were run by the Japan Military, the kidnapper would be soldiers ? not two big koreans men. 2: Two Korean Women then age 11 and 12 were sent to China in 1940. THere something wrong there with their dates. 3: force by WHO at that age. Again I would die fighting before anyone try to take my daughter away. No there parents allow them to go and were pay money. If this was fact I be wanting child sex abuse charges laid but they only want a apology? There is so many hole in the womens statements. how many men be them Japanese or Korean or Chinese would stand by and allow the child-sex abuse of 11 and 12 yo girls in a public Brothel ( Professor Park has show us the facts that the Brothels were not run by the Japanese Military in her book that the korean are trying to discredit ). Why would a Korean women , a Academic say it was not run by the Japan Military. Because her research is back up by Fact not Post war propaganda. The Japanese Military run Brothels is post war propaganda. I laugh at how gullible smithinjapan and other are thinking that these women were sex slave. When in fact they just paid comfort women. Smith your are always so sure of the fact. why don,t you read Parks book and get educated on the subject. this book can not be call bias because her facts are back up with historical evidence. Smith, all you got is backup by propaganda. Show me the evidence and you can not use the statemant of these two women because there date show us that they were 11 and 12 and are lying. The Japanese soldier was very dedicated and proud soldier, like all soldier and would dare not bring shame onto his country by committing sex child abuse or force himself onto a women without consent. Men and soldier had high moral be it American or Japanese in those day more moralistic then today. Smith why are you living in Japan when your hatred to this island and it people is so intense. Go peddle your american propaganda elsewhere.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Why was I under the distinct impression that this was all settled once and for all about three weeks ago, with sincere apologies given and sincerely accepted and all that? Again.

Realizing that apologies are worthless to some people, one wonders why they keep asking for apologies. I don't wonder at all, however, that giving them seems to be a huge waste of time.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

You can when he goes around talking about Japan as a beacon of peace and economic prosperity, or going around pushing a compact and cheap Olympic Games, or talking about how much Japan suffered, or talking about how Japan is a bastion of women's rights and where women are equal (then not so much touting the fact that it's a record low in his party, and his goal of 33% is really just 7%).

Why suddenly so quiet on issues where Japan was the aggressor, and why can't we expect him to apologize when so many in his cabinet are busy spitting on victims of Japan's war-time and pre-war aggression?

Wow, where does one start with this? Japan has a pacifist constitution and the 3rd largest economy in the world so that's 2 wrong. I cannot recall the last time Abe went on about Japan suffering or that Japan was a "bastion" of womens rights - he was just promoting improved womens rights at work - so there's another 2 wrong. And members of the cabinet "spitting on victims of Japan's aggression? Goodness me someone has real Korea/ Japan issues here..

1 ( +2 / -1 )

most people here would love to see him prostrate and begging forgiveness for something done more than 70 years and several generations ago...

This would no longer be an issue if Japan - as one of the instigators of WW2 - had properly made amends. Stuff like giving sincere apologies and not just blood money. Including atrocities in the school textbooks etc. Of course kneeling before the statue representing the sex slaves in Seoul, would work wonders for Mr Abe

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The constant, annual, request by Korea, China etc for apologies from whoever happens to be Japanese prime minister for things that happened over 70 years ago is getting REALLY boring.

And by the way, certain posters on here who constantly Japan-bash are Korean-related. Which is fine and all but it means they do not hold a non-biased, balanced, independent view.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Smith, anything I post about this will be immediately pounced on by your good self... except the opening comment in my previous post...

Really? 238? I thought it was in the thousands? Well, that's an eye opener.

Not going to dispute that?

There's little point in arguing about why Abe shouldn't apologise directly to the 40-odd survivors in SK... most people here would love to see him prostrate and begging forgiveness for something done more than 70 years and several generations ago...

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Your foot what? Stuck in your mouth again?

Highly likely

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Thunderbird2: "Anyway, Abe can't be expected to travel across Asia apologising face to face to everyone who suffered under the Japanese in WW2"

You can when he goes around talking about Japan as a beacon of peace and economic prosperity, or going around pushing a compact and cheap Olympic Games, or talking about how much Japan suffered, or talking about how Japan is a bastion of women's rights and where women are equal (then not so much touting the fact that it's a record low in his party, and his goal of 33% is really just 7%).

Why suddenly so quiet on issues where Japan was the aggressor, and why can't we expect him to apologize when so many in his cabinet are busy spitting on victims of Japan's war-time and pre-war aggression?

G.Mal.O.Q: "Smithinjapan my foot."

Your foot what? Stuck in your mouth again?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Of the 238 South Korean women who were formally recognized as victims of Japan’s wartime sex abuse, only 46 are still alive — most of them in their late 80s and 90s.

Really? 238? I thought it was in the thousands? Well, that's an eye opener.

Anyway, Abe can't be expected to travel across Asia apologising face to face to everyone who suffered under the Japanese in WW2. It's like me asking for Merkel to apologise for the German Army capturing my great uncle at Dunkirk and forcing him (against the Geneva Convention) and his fellow British POWs to work in factories in Germany. I wouldn't expect nor demand such an apology.

The Japanese have made reparations and apologised. What individual members of the government do to undermine it should be seen as nutjobs shooting their mouths off. I feel for these old women and what they went through, but this is getting silly now. What next... the Emperor to kneel before them and prostrate himself in formal apology? Even that wouldn't be enough for them.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Whenever a Japanese official apologizes, another one denies it. No wonder the Chinese and Koreans keep on demanding sincere apology from Japan. Japanese of conscience keep apologizing, and Japanese right wingers keep denying. This give impression that the apologies were not sincere and the victims keep demanding for sincere apology. This cycle has no end in sight. It is typical vague comments by Japanese politicians which are meant to satisfy both parties in an issue. So, if you expect an apology over the matter you are clearly going to be disappointed. When the Japanese politician apologizes, take it with a grain of salt. They were only trying to make “people think they apologized" but it is not their real intention.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Smithinjapan my foot. You're some troll from China or Korea. Keep up the work though, your voice really, really, really matters...

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

It is truly sad how BOTH the Korean & Japan govts have totally disregarded these women in coming up with the supposed end of the sex slave issue, its has been an epic FAIL

And to all the cold callus SO... you know whats posting about these victims the way you have, shame on you all!!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

CH3CHO: Nice links! You incriminate yourself with the cherry-picking, though, since immediately after the paragraphs you post it's made clear she was abused and raped, etc. Well done!

With all the hate on here against these women, do you really wonder why people question the sincerity of apologies, let alone deride those who deny what happened?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Ch3cho:

What was the title of the article you posted? "My 3 years as a sex slave for Japan"

And again, the groove says:

The kidnapping

I was kidnapped while running errands in the late afternoon. Two men — they were big — in their 40s grabbed my wrists and held me from behind. I protested but they covered my mouth. They said, “be quiet and let’s go.” I was dragged away.

Ulsan was a rural town, so there was no one around. They took me to Ulsan Station on a truck. There were several other kidnapped girls at the station. Five girls, including me, were made to get on the train. There were civilians and soldiers. We were put into a freight compartment, so we couldn’t see or do anything.

It was dark when we arrived at Tumen Station. I don’t know how many of us got off. Five, including me, were locked up near the station, where we spent the night. I was the only one locked up alone — I still don’t know why they separated me from the rest.

Locked up alone in the dark. Does that sound like a prostitute or a sex slave?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Lee Ok-sun, 88,

Another version of her testimony. http://groovekorea.com/article/my-3-years-sex-slave-japan/

My family was very poor. My father was a laborer, but he didn’t earn enough money. He drank a lot, so my mother had a very hard time. My mother did everything she could to make money; she cleaned bean sprouts in the market, sewed and sold vegetables in the street. She worked hard. One time we didn’t have anything to eat, so she brought us bean sprout roots that were thrown away at the market.

When I was 15 my mother surprised me with a question.

“There is a noodle restaurant in Busan, and the owners want to adopt a daughter. Do you want to go there?”

I asked if they would let me go to school, and she said they would make me study and give me a lot of food. I said yes and was adopted. But when I arrived, they made me do all the chores and wait tables in their restaurant. I told my foster parents that I had to earn money to study, but they didn’t listen.

I ran away twice, but was caught both times and beaten.

They sold me to an inn in Ulsan after a few months. I couldn’t even visit my family and had to work until midnight.

So, the Koreans sold the poor girl to an inn.

takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.comJAN. 27, 2016 - 03:02PM JST

According to the link, she was kidnapped and taken to Manchuria

She was already sold. Isn't it more natural to think that she was sold again to a brothel in Manchuria than was kidnapped?

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

A never ending scenario.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@Ch3cho:

Great link. Kindly look at the paragraph following the one you posted. According to the link, she was kidnapped and taken to Manchuria along with other girls. On the first night she was raped. She was held captive for 3 years, servicing roughly seven or eight men a day on weekdays, and up to 50 on weekends.

I'd say your feeble attempt to victim blame failed pretty badly.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Lee Ok-sun, 88,

The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology P490 https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=VY1yCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA490&lpg=PA490&dq=yi+okseon&source=bl&ots=CadIJDczRa&sig=Sm4Ag5GD1WFNlyZpCpKxqhKGUgE&hl=ja&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwikw9eansnKAhVn5KYKHdcPD4QQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=yi%20okseon&f=false

Yi Okseon was born in 1927 in the southeastern port city of Busan, the second of six siblings, to a poor family. She wanted to go to school, but the family couldn't afford tuition. When she was 13, a small drinking house recruited her for work, promising to send her to school in exchange. The proprietor, however, took her on as a servant and made no signs of sending her to school. Over the next two years she moved around between drinking houses, often asked to pour drinks and keep customers company, narrowly avoiding being pressed into sex work. All the same, she was glad to be making money to send home.

One day in 1942, while on her way home from a department store, Yi Okseon was abducted by a burly man and put in a truck with other girls in the back.

At the age of 13, she left her home and started to live in a "drinking house". Then, she was sold and sold again among drinking houses. It would be a miracle that she "narrowly avoided being pressed into sex work".

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

i can't decided which side is worse in this case. not only were these women used brutally by the japanese gov't, but now they are being used by their own people. a large segment of korean society does not approve of the new agreement brokered between abe and park. and these people are treating the few survivors like puppets, sending them to japan in hopes of furthering their own cause.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Because he didn't institute the sex slaves system, which forcibly recruited up to 200,000 women. That might have something to do with it

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

StrangerlandJan. 27, 2016 - 10:26AM JST

These two women were likely coached by the anti-Japan establishment

Yeah, because it's not like things could have actually happened the way they said, right?

Note - the above comment is entirely sarcastic, in order to point out the stupidity of the theory."

What "stupidity of the theory?" That they were sold into prostitution by their own families in not beyond the realm of possibility, and I understand that the recruiters of those so-called "comfort women" were Koreans. I doubt that those two women decided all on their own to travel to Japan to demand a "personal apology from Abe," which is ludicrous anyway - how can Abe give a "personal apology" for something that happened before he was even born?

South Korea made an agreement with Japan that the issue of the "comfort women" was settled, and obviously lots of Korean special-interest groups do not like it and are not satisfied with the agreement. Nevertheless, it was negotiated and signed by the South Korean government. Why don't they demand a meeting with Park?

Isn't this statement kind of fishy?- " Lee and Kang were forcibly sent to China when they were teenagers in the early 1940s and could not return to their homes until decades later." Why not? WWII was over in 1945 and I doubt Japan had anything to do with their not being able to "return to their homes until decades later." Why aren't they in Beijing demanding a personal apology from President Xi Jinping?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Yes indeed. However as they don't manage the affairs of Japan directly, it is the opinions of Abe and his cabinet that will be assumed to reflect Japan's sentiment regarding reconciliation

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Hi Christopher Glen, there is certainly an opportunity for Lee Ok-sun, 88, and Kang Il-chul, 87,quite rightfully be given a platform to share their harrowing experiences. The Korean Ambassador must step in as an intermediary. Ahn Shin-kwon, should return to Seoul whose role is best served 'Directing' the shelter 'House of Sharing'. This will enable a meeting not only with the PM but also Foreign minister Kishida.

I have the utmost respect for Abe san skills as a politician, a orator.

The legitimacy to Abe sans apology has to be weighted in context the influence his maternal grandfather had and still has over Abe san the man.

Also factor in the right-wing revisionism of at least half of his cabinet, putting it mildly, does not inspire confidence. My humble opinion would be to turn to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Because...............people keep denying the apologies. Unlike with Germany where that doesn't happen

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

even abe offer apology, this will not end, always new comers with the same subject. why even bother?

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

2 S Korean ex-sex slaves demand direct apology from Abe

I wish them luck with that. In a just world they would get it. Of course if Abe did apologise, he would send Mrs Abe to Yasukuni the next day to "pray for peace"/ show he didn't really mean it

2 ( +5 / -3 )

They certainly can bring about change, Strangerland on a level of political negotiation, however a long term solution won't emerge from any Politician or Government.

Formation of a commission, outside the cynical world of politics under direction of the judiciary would be a start. in conjuction with ia requirement that every politician in both houses undertake a oath to the principals of both the Kono and Murayama statements.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Well, if Abe is the man he is attempting to be he would apologise to these women to show his formal apology was sincere. It would only take him an hour to do and it would go a long way to resolving a 70 year old issue.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

This LDP government has no authority or mandate to issue 'apologies' on behalf of the people of Japan for atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan prior to and during the Second World War.

Sure they do. They are the elected representatives of the country, it's exactly their job to issue such apologies.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

This LDP government has no authority or mandate to issue 'apologies' on behalf of the people of Japan for atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan prior to and during the Second World War.

The constitution of Japan limits any government to a term of office. This is how, The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military sexual Slavery by Japan is able to feed resentment and retribution. As soon as the current leadership of J Government steps down the Korean Council just targets the next....

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Hence, he should not be issuing personal apologies.

No one is asking him to issue a responsibility on behalf of himself (a personal apology), they are asking him to apologize in person, on behalf of Japan, to the people receiving the apology. There is a major difference.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Is there no end to the torment and abuse these two dignified, wonderfully resilient but frail old comfort women have to endure?

Even in the twilight years of their life, Lee Ok-sun, 88, and Kang Il-chul, 87, have been and will continue to be subjected to the indefensible frankly deplorable and cynically motivated political shenanigans of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military sexual Slavery by Japan, whose sole function and purpose is to fan the flames of discontent and hatred against Japan as a nation people.

The 'Korean Council' masquerading as a 'civic group' responsible for the "peace monument" for former "comfort women" outside the Japan Embassy in Seoul, has hounded, harassed, using donations for the welfare of, Lee Ok-sun, 88, and Kang Il-chul, 87 to engage in the malicious persecution and prosecution of, Professor Park Yuha, Professor Chunghee Sarah Soh , and Professor Ahn Byong Jik, for simply questioning the 'Korean Councils' motivations, highlighting a pattern of physiological abuse to former comfort women that decided to accept money from the Asian women fund.

Ahn Shin-kwon, is a political activist, to describe her role, as Director of the shelter 'House of Sharing', is to legitimise this inexcusable and appalling spectacle, a text book example of the theory of fear, obligation, and guilt, as a means of emotional blackmail.

Foreign minister Kishida must directly challenge the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military sexual Slavery by Japan, calling for the publication and full disclosure of funding and donations is compliant with applicable NGO regulations and policies.

The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military sexual Slavery by Japan is unconcerned with redemption, or any form of forgiveness , there are pathologically committed in derailing any form of agreement between the peoples of Japan and Korea. To subject Lee Ok-sun, 88, and Kang Il-chul, 87, to participatein public displays of this nature is totally unnecessary and shabby.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Um, did you forget that Abe already apologized and admitted guilt, like 2 weeks ago.

And did you even read what I wrote?

First of all Abe has already agreed to issue an apology AND compensate S. Korean comfort women. These women just want to dig their claws in deeper to see what else they can get amid all of the attention.

A leader of a nation should not be responsible for going on some apology tour to keep a couple of old women happy.

You do realize that Abe is the primary representative of the country, and not just some random individual, right?

Hence, he should not be issuing personal apologies. If he is going to issue any apology at all, it should be a blanket apology to all victims and not just a couple of individuals because they feel hurt that they are not getting enough attention.

you really think these elderly women are somehow politically motivated at that age? At 90 something they are 'gold digging'!?

um...ye-ah! S.Korean people that age pretty much all hate Japan, and would love to see Japan apologize.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

did you forget that Abe already apologized and admitted guilt, like 2 weeks ago.

I don't think so.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

First of all, it would be wrong because he would be admitting guilt and involvement, neither of which Abe is or was.

You do realize that Abe is the primary representative of the country, and not just some random individual, right?

Secondly, it would set a bad precedence for him and future PMs, because the other countries will demand apologies and compensation

If they deserve the apologies and compensation, then they should ask.

Your argument is along the lines of 'well, I don't want to admit I'm wrong to everyone, so I'm not going to admit I'm wrong to anyone, as that would just be too much of a hassle'.

No world leader should be held responsible for war crimes that they were not involved in, and were committed generations ago.

As the representative of the country that perpetuated the crimes, the leader of the country is the one who needs to speak to that. No one is asking him to take personal responsibility as Shinzo Abe, they are asking him to be the leader and take responsibility for the country.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

What's so hard about it. Abe could do it in a minute - does it hurt to apologies or something?

First of all, it would be wrong because he would be admitting guilt and involvement, neither of which Abe is or was. Secondly, it would set a bad precedence for him and future PMs, because the other countries will demand apologies and compensation, and future PMs will be on the hook for apologizing to these women and their children, and their grandchildren...so on and so forth. No world leader should be held responsible for war crimes that they were not involved in, and were committed generations ago.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Why Abe? Why not former prime ministers like Kan or Aso? I'm just wondering if they have kept demanding that Japanese a prime minister should apologize to them, or they started to demand that only recently.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Alex80JAN. 27, 2016 - 08:47AM JST I mean, apologizing to each victim, face to face. It's not possible.

Really? What's so hard about it. Abe could do it in a minute - does it hurt to apologies or something? Sheesh, unbelievable childishness Japan.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

And they deserve it, if not for the actions of Japan's past governments, but for Abe's personal denial and his allowing of lawmakers to make comments like one did just after his attempt to secure an agreement -- proving the agreement is not at all meaningful.

First of all Abe has already agreed to issue an apology AND compensate S. Korean comfort women. These women just want to dig their claws in deeper to see what else they can get amid all of the attention.

See article here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-28/abe-offers-apology-compensation-to-south-korean-comfort-women-

My first reaction looking at that photo was, 'wow, such incredible bravery'. Speaking publicly to a suspicious Japanese media on something so painful and embarrassing. Never seen that kind of guts in Japan. Respect.

Really? Bravery for what? Gold digging and clamoring for attention? Abe wasn't even alive during WWII, why does he need to personally apologize to these women? Why didn't they ask for personal apologies from the other PMs? Or the Emperor for that matter...after all, it was Emperor Hirohito who raged war throughout the region and not the prime minister.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

These two women were likely coached by the anti-Japan establishment

Yeah, because it's not like things could have actually happened the way they said, right?

Note - the above comment is entirely sarcastic, in order to point out the stupidity of the theory.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

These two women were likely coached by the anti-Japan establishment (search House of Sharing) to embellish their ordeal and blame it on the Japanese when in fact they were likely sold into the system by their own family members and abused by the Korean owned brothels and brokers who took them to the front line comfort house establishments. Recent book by S. Korean professors paint a very different picture and the blame must be shared by all and not just pointed at the Japanese. It is very clear that there are ulterior motives to continue the comfort women issue and the S. Korean government should really crack down on them as it looks bad that these organisations will continue to keep the atmosphere to perpetually keep the issue alive. (It the far left establishment in S.Korea with ties to N.Korea that doesn't want to see Japan and S. Korea reconcilliate and create a stronger U.S., Japan, S.Korea alliance against N. Korea, China.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Abe making a personal apology would set a good precedent for other countries. German chancellors should meet and apologize to each and every death camp survivor before they are all gone. US presidents should meet and personally apologize to every survivor of the US bombing of Vietnam. Putin should meet and personally apologize to every survivor of the USSR's gulags. This could be a real opportunity for Japan to show leadership.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

They are among tens of thousands of Asian women sexually abused in Japan’s military-run brothel system during World War II.

Hearsay, not factually proven at all.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

Haha, typical. It's never enough for these Koreans.

2 ( +14 / -12 )

I sympathise with them heavily but this request is absurd and nonsensical

7 ( +14 / -7 )

Even if these women are sincere, setting the bar higher and higher will only result in more disappointment and anger. But maybe that's the design of some in South Korea. Keeping this issue alive long after the women are gone would suit their purposes.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

I mean, apologizing to each victim, face to face. It's not possible.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Lee Ok-sun, 88, and Kang Il-chul, 87, told reporters Tuesday that the agreement neglected the victims’ feelings and was “wrong.”

I don't have any problem with these two people not wanting to forgive. I cannot imagine what it was suffer what they did. I do know what it is like to lose half a family, because that is what the Nazis took from my father and my father's father. And I think, for the old Nazis still clunkering around, and their modern defenders, well, they can go to hell.

But this is not about these two old women alone. My compassion for their deep anger and hatred for Japan does not, indeed cannot, make me lose sight of the goal here. The ROK should not hold these two women as honored heroes, but broken victims who should be pitied.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

And they deserve it, if not for the actions of Japan's past governments, but for Abe's personal denial and his allowing of lawmakers to make comments like one did just after his attempt to secure an agreement -- proving the agreement is not at all meaningful.

-15 ( +10 / -25 )

What good is demanding an apology from Abe? If they want an "apology" they should get it from President Park whose father actually made use of the comfort women as an officer in the IJA. Seems that makes a hell of a lot more sense.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's like to ask every single leader around the world to apologize directly to each victim of WWII that their country did. Seriously, it's not possible this way.

7 ( +16 / -9 )

I believe the J-Gov has done so in the past so why do these ladies need the current PM to do so? Are they going to require every sitting PM after him until they die off to offer an apology. Having read a few books on this subject, though I understand their plight during the war, and I do feel sympathy for them, but they also need to point a finger right back at the post war Korean governments as well. Since they viewed these women with contempt as compared to the rest of the "good women" of Korean society just as they viewed the women who had to work outside the US bases set up after the war in the camp towns that boomed there. The treatment those women suffered by their own in regards to the shame they were forced to feel, even though they were providing badly needed foreign currency through their work, just like the "pan-pan" girls in post war Japan did to the GIs in Japan. They looked down on their work, but delighted in the money they brought in. Time for both governments to acknowledge this in my opinion.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

“Not only has Abe not apologized but he hasn’t even tried to meet us,” Kang said angrily, sitting next to Lee. Both were in wheelchairs. “Why doesn’t he come out and apologize? We want him to meet us face to face,” she said.

Abe has a habit of not meeting with people who he has a hard time dealing with and can not control. One thing though, I was a victim many many years ago of a crime, the perpetrator is no longer living, yet I never once thought to ask his father ,who still is alive, for forgiveness nor compensation.

Yes it is a different story, but the people these women need to hear the apology from are no longer alive. However that being said Abe could be well served by meeting these women privately, no press, nothing, and talk with them, hear their stories and show compassion for the problems they have suffered. I wonder if they would accept that?

-11 ( +7 / -18 )

Geez give it a rest already....as if Abe was the one who raped them.

13 ( +30 / -17 )

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