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S Korea to dissolve Japan-funded 'comfort women' foundation

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Disolve it all you want the matter was settled, apologized , and money paid. Korea is the one that wants to keep this crap around and not move on. If Korea does not want to pay the victims while they are still alive that is on them.

Korea cannot say Japan hasn't tried to fix this in the future. The answer will be 2015 everytime.

27 ( +36 / -9 )

I think the Korean government prefers having the issue unsettled, as it provides them with a convenient way to whip up jingoistic patriotism when needed. Likewise, there is little to no political advantage to actually helping these women.

Half of the elderly in Korea (which these women are) live in absolute poverty, many collect recyclable rubbish for 12 hours a day to make about $2 per day. In their 80s. The government is clearly more interested in stirring up nationalism than in caring for their most vulnerable citizens. So this is no surprise.

36 ( +44 / -8 )

The deal was signed and agreed to. Why are they making it so difficult.

Seoul's Foreign Ministry plans to consult with Tokyo on what to do with the 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) Japan funded to the foundation that was formally launched in July 2016.

What to do with it? Shouldn't this been given to the victims in the first place?

37 ( +38 / -1 )

Well, if they can’t find a home for the cash...I suppose I could help out.

Realisticaly the way to solve it is for Japan to admit the wrongdoing, and make it a capital offense for any politician to say, or even hint otherwise.

-23 ( +5 / -28 )

This is quite a disaster for Japan/Korea relations. This means Korea has thrown out the 2016 ‘irreversible’ agreement and will inturn start a new campaign about compensation for these women.

Korea has received compensation from Japan many times for war time atrocities, but most of the money has never reached the victims. It was spent by the government on infrastructure.

This is happened over 70 years ago. I really wish both sides would just let it go. On one side you have the Koreans asking for more and more money and on the other side you have the Japanese downplaying and, in some cases denying this ever happened. It’s difficult for Koreans to move on when you have Japanese historians claiming these women (10’s of thousands of them) all volunteered to be sex slaves for the imperial army.

-5 ( +12 / -17 )

The sex slave issue certainly is something that needs resolution, but surely, compared to Imperial Japan's atrocities before and during WWII, it is comparatively minor.

-29 ( +6 / -35 )

If one wishes too help elderly women in Korea, this group is trying to help. The video is eye-opening. https://kr.give.asia/campaign/asian-boss-x-klc-support-korea-s-povertized-elderly

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Let them dissolve the 8.8 million dollar fund. Too bad none of the women who were involved didn't see any of it yet.

Sure would've gone a long way in helping them out. It's not like they have much time left. Korea still playing political ping pong on the backs of the comfort women.

31 ( +34 / -3 )

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.”

13 ( +16 / -3 )

what to do with the funds? Simple return them all to Japan, including funds already allocated to so called victims! S. Korea, I suspect has no interest in resolving this matter and likes to keep it as a stick to bash Japan about with as often as possible. Also keeps it alive while the women in question are still alive. The familes of which know they wont have a leg to stand on once they go and don't want to miss out on potential riches as a result. You want to talk about exploitation, the families of these women are the ones exploiting them for profit. Japan has upheld its end of the bargain on many occasions its only Korea who has failed to live up to its end!   

However I fail to see how by cancelling the fund any hope of resolving the issue in the future could be made, as this hardly builds trust and any future deal is going to be increasingly unlikely as Japan will have every right to say "no as you will regain upon it in a few years anyway"

This reeks of Moon and his failing government who want to distract from issues affecting them at home and want to build up the nationalist cause. Pathetic really! Perhaps if Moon needs a lesson in what real atrocities look like he should ask his new friends in the North, or has he been so dellusioned that eh thinks they are a just like the south and never do anything wrong.

28 ( +30 / -2 )

Unfortunately any agreement with Korea has become meaningless.

26 ( +30 / -4 )

Everyone loves an underdog story. Wait till China comes to collect for the atrocities committed against them.

And the historically challenged, this one's for you

https://youtu.be/lnAC-Y9p_sY

-20 ( +3 / -23 )

SK redefining the meaning of 'irreversible'.

25 ( +28 / -3 )

SK pandering to China and NK!

What interest do they have in doing this actually? No doubt they are doing the bidding of their powerful neighbors.

21 ( +24 / -3 )

Persistent cuss. Beat it already SK.

21 ( +25 / -4 )

Japan penetrated into Korea’s Peninsula so Japan has tied the knot with Korea like it or not. I’d settle this before the two Korea’s reunify and pay you back.

Japan has not shown the ability to settle the past. Yes, Korea won’t let it go, but in the Japan has not solve these issues.

-22 ( +2 / -24 )

What is being asked for by the Koreans ? (I guess North Koreans should also have a say too).

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

The real reason why Japan/Korae relation is still on the rock is not because the apology/reflection/compensation by Japan is not enogh but because anti-Japanism in Korea has been institutionalized and instilled into the deep psyche of Korean, which has been almost their state religion. So it's literally endless. The world people do need to know the unique mentality of Korean.

21 ( +26 / -5 )

Here we go again...

This is getting old. The South Korean government needs to abide by their words, no matter if it was the prior government or not.

25 ( +27 / -2 )

What does Korea want? And what do those who are victims want?

The reality is that it’s a complex issue.

First, there were women who volunteered knowing they would be offering sexual services.

Then there were those who were tricked.

Then there were others who were already prostitutes who were sent.

But the reality is that in those days, prostitutes weren’t college girls trying to make easy money. Most of them were basically slaves - often sold by their parents.

But once comfort women were sent overseas it wasn’t like they could just say they wanted to quit.

They suffered terribly.

And that includes some Japanese comfort women, though they usually had it better.

Their stories should not be forgotten.

But, arguing back and forth like this doesn’t achieve anything.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

This issue was settled FOREVER in 2015, with a huge monetary payment to SK. There will be no more talking or apologizing. The comfort women issue is 100% finished, and Japan should not even respond to any Korean protests. I am so angry about this. Japan should immediatey summon the SK Ambassador in Tokyo and order him to stop this action.

26 ( +30 / -4 )

Thanks Wallace Fred for a really informative link. Anyone interested in this topic really needs to watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnAC-Y9p_sY&feature=youtu.be

-19 ( +1 / -20 )

It's all about keeping the "Status quo". I'm not sure about the Japan side but the Korean side doesn't want to resolve the comfort women issue at all. It's obvious that the Korean government uses the issue as a scapegoat or propaganda to satisfy their needs (from boosting their ratings to swaying public eyes from other issues).

Fortunately, thanks to the accessibility of internet, the younger generations of Koreans are more and more aware of how ridiculous this is. Many young Koreans are voicing their disapproval of how their government is handling the comfort women issue.

However, the older generations and the anti-Japanese crowds will shut these younger Koreans by calling them a chinilpa (a term used to describe Koreans who've collaborated with imperial Japan, now it's used more like a derogatory term) and throwing insults. They use phrases like " If you like Japan so much, why don't you move to Japan? You dirty pro-Japanese dog!" to belittle and shut down any productive arguments relating to comfort women issue.

All in all, it's a sad and complicated situation for people in Korea as their government/media are more focused on bashing Japan relating to comfort women issue and other atrocities in the past while, downplaying other contemporary and major issues such as NK problems and economy.

21 ( +23 / -2 )

In their relations with Japan, South Korea has quite fortunately not been anything at all like the Palestinians in their "relations" with Israel. While North Korea stupidly fires missiles over Japanese airspace and Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fire rockets at residential areas in Israel proper, South Koreans thankfully visit Japan as tourists and study there in universities. I think it was Abba Eban who said the "Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity."

Unfortunately, the dissolving of this foundation is clearly an instance of South Korea's government "missing an opportunity" and going back to the addictive and I suppose irresistible temptation to bash Japan yet again. It's their choice, but I would advise elite South Koreans making these decisions to realize how much their country has succeeded over the last 50 plus years by working and cooperating with Japan. This doesn't mean sweeping the depredations of Japanese rule over Korea completely under the rug. Nor, however, does it mean unilaterally abrogating a bilateral agreement reached by the administration of the previous South Korean president. Seoul needs to find a middle ground on this matter.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

Japan does not know how to deal with Anti-Japanism. That is the problem.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

In this particular matter, I am on Japan's side. One of the good things that was done to normalize peaceful relations between the two countries. And to fix this problem forever.

This time South Korea has crossed the red line.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Pretty telling how the right wing down voters are drawn to articles like these as flies to you know what. Hilarious actually watching the gigantic cognitive dissonance erupt in their very tiny craniums. Can't fight the truth. Can't fight history. Next best thing? Downvote in droves to feel better about yourself. Disgusting!!!

-14 ( +3 / -17 )

@Takeshi Hasegawa - The world people do need to know the unique mentality of Korean.

Oh, and Japan doesn't have the same problems with biased education and brain washing? The Japanese history books have also been distorted to create an anti-Korean sentiment. And, should we mention those idiots who drive around in their black vans screaming their anti-Korea sentiments out of huge speakers on their vans? Japan and South Korea are just as bad as each other. They are the children of Asia!

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

It is a sad development. How can you trust South Korea in any future international deals? 1965 agreement? Naw, today's topics were not covered by that treaty? What do you mean happened to the money paid back then? Huh... 2015 (voluntary) agreement, hmm, naw, let's redefine the meaning, I mean, we cannot give up that topic, it's so convenient for distracting from domestic political problems...

Also that statue thing, it's such a brilliant perfidious plan to keep the world to look at me. In trying to plant them around the globe, deceiving cities about the real meaning and purposely causing anger and problems aimed at Japan, even in other countries... It doesn't even stop there, the war about the name of the Sea of Japan is a similar scheming. The double standard is clear since the Yellow Sea or East China Sea are not threatend by calling it the West Sea or South Sea which they should, if the demand to call the Sea of Japan the East See, which is actually a double attack since the sea lays west of Japan.

Of course it is also a regrettable fact that South Korea denies the final settlement of the Liancourt Rock matter. Just let the ICJ decide like Japan proposed a couple of times and then no more arguing. I can think of only two things why South Korea does not agree to this, one is they know they are wrong and will lose those islands or two, they just want this case to continue forever and we're back at the beginning of my post. Both reasons are despicable but reflect the continuing behavor.

I wonder if this is also a result of the filtered media in SK. Almost total censorship of Japanese media was going on for decades and even today I think Japanese music or drama series are not allowed on the common to receive terrestrial channels.

It would be - actually it is - time South Korea moves forward and does not live in eternal bitterness about Japan. Japan could actually do a bit more in its treatment of her historic role but people of Korea, please don't get stuck in the past always digging up the same stuff you just burried before, it's useless work. Go ahead, embrace the future, don't exaggerate and forgive, just don't forget. Fortunately not all Koreas are so reactionary and many are really friendly, it's as it is often the case the politics which interferes.

Oh, talking about that politics and money, just pay it back if you don't care about international treaties and stop acting duplicitous.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

In both S. Korea and China, there are many "patriotic groups" whose funding depends on having a bad relation with Japan by harping on the past. Follow the mondey.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

DisillusionedToday 11:23 pm JST

@Takeshi Hasegawa - The world people do need to know the unique mentality of Korean.

Oh, and Japan doesn't have the same problems with biased education and brain washing? The Japanese history books have also been distorted to create an anti-Korean sentiment.

Excuse me, I really do not know any Japanese history textbooks are written to stir up anti-sentiment towards specific countries UNLIKE specific countries' textbooks have been for a long time. Recent anti-Koreaism in Japan has been spread mainly through the internet. Thank you.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Proof that you can't buy yourself out of history

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Japan’s big mistake, after the facts, was to deal with the South Korean government instead of the poor girls themselves. Why is the government handling the money, how many women or their families did they take care of? How did the South Korean government help the women? No one really cares about the former slaves, just their own pride.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

South Korea seems to be taking diplomacy lessons from North Korea. Make yourself as unreliable as possible by making and tearing up agreements repeatedly...and then demand more money again.

I venture that North and South Korea will achieve reunification long, long before either of the Koreas stops complaining about their history with Japan.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

What if Tokyo dealt directly with the victims and not the government? I’d love to see the women and their families find peace. Money or no money, there’s the individuals’ dignity which both governments must deal with - together; neither the Japanese nor South Korean government has shown enough care to satisfy the former slaves’ peace of mind.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Two can play at this game, and with the South Korean government's action I think the Japanese government will now have far more legitimate and justified grounds for disregarding or repudiating the Kono Statement of 1993. And that wasn't part of a bilateral agreement with a foreign country. It was just a statement that acknowledged coercive tactics used by the Japanese state against the Comfort Women during World War II. So in terms of international agreements or protocol, those will be moot points if the current Japanese government repudiates the Kono Statement. And there's no doubt Abe is chomping at the bit for the chance to do that. Abe might as well thank the South Korean government for handing him a golden chance on a silver platter to do what he has probably wanted to do since that Statement was issued.

Bitterly ironic that 25 years after watching his father Kono Yohei issue that Statement, current Foreign Minister Kono Taro may end up being the man who announces it null and void.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

@klausdorth

How much money does it take to heal the wounds of those women involved?

It is not the amount of money that resolves this issue, but a heartfelt apology by Abe san or the Emperor bowing down before comfort women and asking for their forgiveness in the name of the State of Japan that ordered the forced conscription of comfort women.

@gogogo

Disolve it all you want the matter was settled, apologized , and money paid.

It is not settled, Japan has not issued a proper apology admitting the guilt of the State of Japan, and money is now being unpaid.

@commanteer

I think the Korean government prefers having the issue unsettled

They are planning to settle it when Ishiba san becomes the PM of Japan, because Ishiba unlike Abe has said Imperial Japan was guilty, and would apologize to comfort women in person as many times as necessary.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

Cool opinions Samit...

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

@Takeshi Hasegawa

not because the apology/reflection/compensation by Japan is not enogh

Japanese apology is not enough because Japan has never admitted that Imperial Japanese military high command has ordered the forced conscription of comfort women. Forget about all the BS propaganda spread by Abe administration, Japan has never admitted the state of Japan(Imperial Japan) has ordered the forced conscription of comfort women, what Abe administration has claimed to admit was that Japanese state was morally responsible for letting crimes by private profiteers take place in territories it controlled during wartime. 

@gaijinpapa

What does Korea want?

Korea wants Abe administration to admit that Imperial Japanese military ordered the forced conscription of comfort women. Abe administration to this date has denied this.

First, there were women who volunteered knowing they would be offering sexual services.

In Japan, yes. There were volunteers.

In Korea, there were no volunteers and this is why Japan decided to kidnap them at gunpoint.

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

talaraedokko:

What if Tokyo dealt directly with the victims and not the government?

Japan did that already years ago. And many received money from Japan. But some others refused by following their political activists whose goal is something else: TO HUMILIATE JAPAN. There is no end for such a political and emotional goal.

You have to understand a Korean concept of "Han", roughly translated as "resentment as national characteristic." The Han (resentment) provides Korean people emotional inspiration to rise up against obstacles to experience ecstasy of success.

A Korean film critic Ahn Byung-Sup, for example, says "*[**H]an*** (resentment) is an inherent characteristic of the Korean character ... [i]t becomes part of the blood and breath of a person**."

The problem of this concept is that in order to fuel such resentment within, they have to keep remind themselves how miserable they are/were - again and again. And the image of Japan is used for this purpose in the national scale. They do not want Japan to repent and become good. Otherwise, where else can they get a fuel for resentment.

This game has no end.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

This is why Korea shouldn't have accepted the deal before, because many of the survivors/victims didn't really want it anyway for one, and the deal itself is nothing but offering insulting hush money which wasn't even enough to begin with.

I know it's been done by two different SK administrations, but it's the same country, and flip flopping like this doesn't make them look good. Now Japan can say "See, we tried to resolve, but....."

There should just be a clear message when it comes to Japan's past atrocities- Just admit that it's true. No need for financial compensation, or even an apology, just be honest about it.

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

Seoul's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family 

South Korea has Orwellian government agencies too. No wonder they can’t work out any solutions to the comfort women problem.

Lee Nam-hoon, an official from the gender equality ministry, said Seoul's Foreign Ministry plans to consult with Tokyo on what to do with the 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) Japan funded to the foundation that was formally launched in July 2016.

I think the chances that a single yen will wind up in the pockets of the victims or their families is zero. As several are refusing any cash from the fund they should give the remainder to those that are willing to take it as compensation. The new government seems intent on using the issue as a cudgel against Japan.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Imperial Japanese military high command has ordered the forced conscription of comfort women. 

Please show or guide us to any proof

9 ( +13 / -4 )

@Samit Basu

1)Imperial Japanese military high command has ordered the forced conscription of comfort women. 

2)In Korea, there were no volunteers and this is why Japan decided to kidnap them at gunpoint.

Please show us your evidence

8 ( +13 / -5 )

It just makes no sense. It's like if we said in the US that we were going to make our cars safer by abolishing the NTSB. South Korea is losing it's mind.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Please show or guide us to any proof

He has none, at least evidence that would be recognized globally as valid.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Japan did that already years ago. And many received money from Japan. But some others refused by following their political activists whose goal is something else: TO HUMILIATE JAPAN. There is no end for such a political and emotional goal.

You have to understand a Korean concept of "Han", roughly translated as "resentment as national characteristic." The Han (resentment) provides Korean people emotional inspiration to rise up against obstacles to experience ecstasy of success.

A Korean film critic Ahn Byung-Sup, for example, says "*[**H]an*** (resentment) is an inherent characteristic of the Korean character ... [i]t becomes part of the blood and breath of a person**."

The problem of this concept is that in order to fuel such resentment within, they have to keep remind themselves how miserable they are/were - again and again. And the image of Japan is used for this purpose in the national scale. They do not want Japan to repent and become good. Otherwise, where else can they get a fuel for resentment.

This game has no end.

This post is a spot on assessment of what's really going on. At this point it isn't about apology or restitution because that has been done by Japan several times over the last 70 years. This is all about shaming Japan, Japan's culture/history, and the Japanese. This is why things like the Kyokujitsu-ki which has limited relations to Imperial Japan become high profile crisis. They latch on to anything that can be used to bring attention to an old and solved issue. The craziest part is the people carrying this fight are now people who weren't even born in the time of Japan's colonization.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

@Weasel

If a victim is unwilling to accept an apology when given as offered

What apology? Japan has NEVER apologized for the crimes of Imperial Japan high command ordering the forced conscription of comfort women.

-21 ( +2 / -23 )

What apology? Japan has NEVER apologized for the crimes of Imperial Japan high command ordering the forced conscription of comfort women.

June 22, 1965: Minister of Foreign Affairs Shiina Etsusaburo said to the people of South Korea: "In our two countries' long history there have been unfortunate times, it is truly regrettable and we are deeply remorseful" (Signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and South Korea).

August 26, 1982: Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Miyazawa said to the people of the Republic of Korea: "1. The Japanese Government and the Japanese people are deeply aware of the fact that acts by our country in the past caused tremendous suffering and damage to the peoples of Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China, and have followed the path of a pacifist state with remorse and determination that such acts must never be repeated. Japan has recognized, in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, of 1965, that the 'past relations are regrettable, and Japan feels deep remorse,' and in the Japan-China Joint Communique, that Japan is 'keenly conscious of the responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people through war and deeply reproaches itself.' These statements confirm Japan's remorse and determination which I stated above and this recognition has not changed at all to this day. 2. This spirit in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, and the Japan-China Joint Communique, naturally should also be respected in Japan's school education and textbook authorization.

April 18, 1990: Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Nakayama said to the people of South Korea: "Japan is deeply sorry for the tragedy in which these (Korean) people were moved to Sakhalin not of their own free will but by the design of the Japanese government and had to remain there after the conclusion of the war" (188th National Diet Session Lower House Committee of Foreign Affairs).[12]

May 24, 1990: Emperor Akihito, in a meeting with President Roh Tae Woo, said: "Reflecting upon the suffering that your people underwent during this unfortunate period, which was brought about by our nation, I cannot but feel the deepest remorse" (Meeting with President Roh Tae Woo).[13]

May 25, 1990: Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, in a meeting with President Roh Tae Woo, said: "I would like to take the opportunity here to humbly reflect upon how the people of the Korean Peninsula went through unbearable pain and sorrow as a result of our country's actions during a certain period in the past and to express that we are sorry" (Summit meeting with President Roh Tae Woo in Japan).[14]

January 1, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, in a press conference, said: "Concerning the comfort women, I apologize from the bottom of my heart and feel remorse for those people who suffered indescribable hardships".

January 16, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, in a speech at dinner with President Roh Tae Woo, said: "We the Japanese people, first and foremost, have to bear in our mind the fact that your people experienced unbearable suffering and sorrow during a certain period in the past because of our nation's act, and never forget the feeling of remorse. I, as a prime minister, would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology to the people of your nation".[15]

January 17, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, at a policy speech on a visit to South Korea, said:. "What we should not forget about relationship between our nation and your nation is a fact that there was a certain period in the thousands of years of our company when we were the victimizer and you were the victim. I would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology for the unbearable suffering and sorrow that you experienced during this period because of our nation's act." Recently the issue of the so-called 'wartime comfort women' is being brought up. I think that incidents like this are seriously heartbreaking, and I am truly sorry".[16]

July 6, 1992. Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato said: "The Government again would like to express its sincere apology and remorse to all those who have suffered indescribable hardship as so-called 'wartime comfort women,' irrespective of their nationality or place of birth. With profound remorse and determination that such a mistake must never be repeated, Japan will maintain its stance as a pacifist nation and will endeavor to build up new future-oriented relations with the Republic of Korea and with other countries and regions in Asia. As I listen to many people, I feel truly grieved for this issue. By listening to the opinions of people from various directions, I would like to consider sincerely in what way we can express our feelings to those who suffered such hardship" (Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato on the Issue of the so-called "Wartime Comfort Women" from the Korean Peninsula).[17]

October 15, 2001: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "During the talks, President Kim highly appreciated the words of the Prime Minister Koizumi at Sodaemun Independence Park, in which he expressed remorse and apology for Japan's colonial domination" (Japanese prime minister visits South Korea).[37]

August 10, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed "deep regret over the suffering inflicted" during the Empire of Japan's colonial rule over Korea. Japan's Kyodo News also reported that Cabinet members endorsed the statement. In addition, Kan said that Japan will hand over precious cultural artifacts that South Korea has been demanding. Among them were records of an ancient Korean royal dynasty.[46]

December 28, 2015: Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se made an announcement at a joint press conference, which consisted of their respective statements on behalf of Japan and South Korea. Kishida stated, "The issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women, and the Government of Japan is painfully aware of responsibilities from this perspective. As Prime Minister of Japan, Prime Minister Abe expresses anew his most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women." The statement went on to explain that "the Government of Japan will now take measures to heal psychological wounds of all former comfort women through its budget" and that it had been decided that the South Korean government would "establish a foundation for the purpose of providing support for the former comfort women". In return, Yun stated that his government "acknowledges the fact that the Government of Japan is concerned about the statue built in front of the Embassy of Japan in Seoul from the viewpoint of preventing any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity, and will strive to solve this issue in an appropriate manner". Both stated that this agreement will "finally and irreversibly" resolve the contentious issue and that "on the premise that the Government of Japan will steadily implement the measures it announced", both countries "will refrain from accusing or criticizing each other regarding this issue in the international community, including at the United Nations".[54]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan

I've checked the citations at the bottom.. They're valid.

19 ( +23 / -4 )

S. Korea, are you interested in solving this issue at all? or you just want to keep the matter unsettled so that you can keep complaining, asking for more money? I feel like S.Korea/Japan are the only ones that have not been able to move on since the war.

Okay, maybe some people may not like the phrase "move on"; I do not mean to forget and go, but unless they overcome and settle somewhere, they can never get out of this loop and make today's & our future's world better. They both have great culture to share and learn from each other!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

For those who have no clue and ask how much money does it take... well no amount of money will ever heal the scars of heinous atrocities by Imperial Japan and until this nation and it's citizens entirely accept wrong doing and sincerely offer condolences and apology healing will never be complete.

-18 ( +1 / -19 )

Look who's going back on the agreement they sign as Final and Irreversible, taking the money and apologies given. Now it never happened or wasn't sincere enough for the Korean.

Japan your dumb for playing this game. You've tried to apologize and give compensation for decades and it's not working.

Take a tougher stance! Anything that we can do to hurt Korea we should do it! Just like they do to Japan!

10 ( +11 / -1 )

CrucialS Today  02:20 am JST

Thank you for commenting on some of the quotes of sincere apology and repentance from Japan to South Korea. Including the emperor's own.

This is irrefutable proof that he has apologized. And that the South Korean attitude doesn't make any sense. What more can Japan do than it has already done?

15 ( +17 / -2 )

I have read about the Korean man who recruits those Korean girls and women to work in Brothel at Japanese Army bases in Asia. That Korean man had written diary about how he recruit girls and women for the Brothels.

He wrote poor Korean parents have sold their daughter to him and they know they will be working as sex worker in brothel that runs at Japanese Army base. Some women are already working as prostitute and they agreed to work at Brothel. Also, he wrote some girls were told they will be working at factory but he sent them to the Brothel that run at the Japanese Army bases in South East Asia. The women were not detained at Military base and the comfort women were freed to go out and some socialize.

One of my Burmese friends' the late father was worked as interpreter for Japanese Army base in Kachin state. He said he saw the women go to local market. He saw those women talking joke and laughing and sometime teasing to young Japanese soldiers and laughing with them. He didn't see or think these women were forced to sex with Japanese soldiers. He saw they were happy rather than sad in their face. He saw no European women at the brothel at Army base where he worked as Burmese interpreter. Some Burmese staffs who were working for the Japanese Army officers at base were also allowed to sex with comfort women. Actually, all of them were not Japanese women but the Burmese employees thought they are Japanese women because they dress in Japanese Kimono (Yukata). The Japanese officers have told to them the Japanese women want Burmese child and so they come to Burma. Undoubted Burmese staffs were flattered and believing what they have been told by the Japanese Army officers at base.

Some of European women were forced to work as comfort women at Japanese military base.

Who was running the Brothels at the Japanese Military bases?

Some historians said the Brothels were running by privately own and the Brothels were not running by the Japanese Defense Ministry. However, some said Japanese Defense Ministry was involved in running Brothels at Japanese Military bases.

Whatever, reason these comfort women have gone to work as prostitute at the Japanese Military base and they should be compensated and recognized for their service rather than playing politic by both countries’ Governments. I have no doubted these women were humiliated and ignored by society when they come back to their country.

Now their children want to save their mother face and change the society’s view on their mother. She was victim of the Japanese military cruelty and they were forced to work as sex worker by the Japanese Military. They were not agreed to work as prostitute for the Japanese Military but they were forced to do it.  However, the anti-Japan activists and the politicians have hijacked and used them for their own benefit rather than helping them.

Korean activists and Politicians need to stop playing politic with those Korean comfort women. They were not forced to work as sex worker by the Japanese Defense Ministry and they were recruited by Korean men and they were paid for that. Most of them were agreed to work as sex worker.

The money must be distribution equally to the former comfort women and the Japanese Government should apology directly to the surviving comfort women even though the Emperor and Japanese Prime Ministers have apologized many times for their suffering during the war time.

Perhaps, direct contact with the Korean comfort woman family and give them money without middle man.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

petulant Korea loves playing the victim

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Id just take the money back and cut off communication on this particular issue.

I think the Korean government prefers having the issue unsettled, as it provides them with a convenient way to whip up jingoistic patriotism when needed.

Of course. There is very little for South Korea to gain from doing this other than votes. How does it help the women impacted? Its a vote buying exercise.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

@gaijinpapa

But the reality is that in those days, prostitutes weren’t college girls trying to make easy money. Most of them were basically slaves - often sold by their parents.

But once comfort women were sent overseas it wasn’t like they could just say they wanted to quit.

They suffered terribly.

Not apparently so according to POW Report No.49.

https://ww2db.com/doc.php?q=130

LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS

In Myitkyina the girls were usually quartered in a large two story house (usually a school building) with a separate room for each girl. There each girl lived, slept, and transacted business. In Myitkina their food was prepared by and purchased from the "house master" as they received no regular ration from the Japanese Army. They lived in near-luxury in Burma in comparison to other places. This was especially true of their second year in Burma. They lived well because their food and material was not heavily rationed and they had plenty of money with which to purchase desired articles. They were able to buy cloth, shoes, cigarettes, and cosmetics to supplement the many gifts given to them by soldiers who had received "comfort bags" from home.

While in Burma they amused themselves by participating in sports events with both officers and men, and attended picnics, entertainments, and social dinners. They had a phonograph and in the towns they were allowed to go shopping.

PAY AND LIVING CONDITIONS

The "house master" received fifty to sixty per cent of the girls' gross earnings depending on how much of a debt each girl had incurred when she signed her contract. This meant that in an average month a girl would gross about fifteen hundred yen. She turned over seven hundred and fifty to the "master". Many "masters" made life very difficult for the girls by charging them high prices for food and other articles.

In the latter part of 1943 the Army issued orders that certain girls who had paid their debt could return home. Some of the girls were thus allowed to return to Korea.

The interrogations further show that the health of these girls was good. They were well supplied with all types of contraceptives, and often soldiers would bring their own which had been supplied by the army. They were well trained in looking after both themselves and customers in the matter of hygiene. A regular Japanese Army doctor visited the houses once a week and any girl found diseased was given treatment, secluded, and eventually sent to a hospital. This same procedure was carried on within the ranks of the Army itself, but it is interesting to note that a soldier did not lose pay during the period he was confined.

So much for "Sex Slaves", isn't it? That is why so many Japanese (except for substantial number of JP apologists and Korean ethics in Japan) are so upset about Comfort Women disputes which popped up in early 1990s all of sudden.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his Government find it principled, politically and morally acceptable to pursue a hold hands policy with Pyongyang despot, Kim Jong Un proven atrocities and crimes against humanity are detailed in a UN inquiry.

Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIDPRK/Pages/CommissionInquiryonHRinDPRK.aspx

Yet politically parade/hawk these frail pensioners across continents, to cynically and callously poison relations for Japan future generations.

President Moon Jae-in is an odious and deceitful man. Moon's policy is retribution without end. Pure and simple.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Kono apology is unequivocal......

https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/state9308.html

Having endless conversations and debates about whether these comfort women were exploited or not, just adds insult to injury

However there is no question the present day government and people of Japan are culpable.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

My last comment could be lacking in clarity.

I do not believe that the present Government or the people of Japan are in any way responsible for the actions of The Imperial Japanese Army or Government.

I do believe there is a learning process, to reflect historically, pertaining to Japanese imperialism and colonialism of the period.

Especially within the education system. This should handled politically, with dignity, diplomacy, not harassment and attrition.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

History must be put into perspective to be educational. Northeast Asians need to talk to establish common standards as who we are, what core values we have and why we should unite.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

History must be put into perspective to be educational. Northeast Asians need to talk to establish common standards as who we are, what core values we have and why we should unite.

I like this idea, of course its Japan that has to lead and create the core values, because well, the Koreans cant be trusted and nobody likes the Chinese, as it should in eastern asian culture the Japanese should lead because they are more developed socially economically and overall a better model.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Yes! Far from over and yet to over! It seems the South Koreans were even more nasty than the North Koreans!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

That girl statue should get more clothes to cover, the winter in Seoul is quite chilling indeed!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

South Korea does an "Iran arms deal" reversal after signing the agreement and taking the funds. Lovely.

Japan should decline to negiotiate with them in the future. They can't stop living in the past.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

South Korea give the money to whom it was intended, the survivors. And live up to the 2015 Agreement that you signed. Do the right thing and don't destroy your credibility as a nation.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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