S Korean politicians call for nullifying sex slave deal with Japan

I told you so in a previous post. This issue will continue for generations, long after all the victims are gone

South Korea’s opposition politicians on Wednesday called for nullifying a settlement

Because they want to get even more money for their constituents, boosting their own popularity

the issue couldn’t be resolved without Japan offering a sincere apology and admitting legal responsibility.

How many frikken times will Japan have to do that?

Lame. Koreans will never let this go.

Are they going to nullify every treaty signed with Japan? No wonder The Japanese are so tired of this back and fourth. Korea already got the apology and compensations 50 years ago. Time to get over it.

The Japan government gave the Korean government some large sum of money as a quitclaim, back in the 60's, that was squandered, IIRC. The Korean populace should petition their government for that money.

randomnatorDec. 29, 2016 - 07:42AM JST

Japan should have followed Germany's lead on this

Germany neighbors in Europe have never treated Germany the way Korean treats Japan. Of course, Germany's treatment was harsh to say the least, but can you imagine France going back at it again every two years with some "oh by the way your clearly did not pronounce the exact word [I apologize and you are the greatest country in the history of countries]" ? Because that is exactly what Koreans want.

Of course, what Japan did was horrible. And should never be forgotten. But apologies have been given, lot of money have been given, and the people responsible for what happened are not even alive any more. And no, moronic japanese politicians are not an excuse for wanting more, because we have some of those in every country (even Korean, what a surprise !).

Some people just want to see the world burn.

Grow up Korea!

"Kim Gyeong-rok, spokesman of the People’s Party, criticized the Park administration for “selling away” the victims’ honor and dignity".

They are the ones abusing the victims' honor and dignity as they keep using this tragedy for political (and financial) gain and some kind of moral/ethical supremacy over Japan.

OK fine, give the money back Korea.

I read an article written by a Tokyo University professor who went to Souel to speak with university students there. He wanted to hear their thoughts about what Japan could do to atone for it's past - he was shocked by what he heard....

They basically told him that if Korea can occupy Japan for 35 years then all will be fine and dandy.

He came back to Japan understanding that there is nothing Japan can do to satisfy the 'Korean Ire'

Japan paid compensation dcades ago to a country that routinely murdered its political opponents. Heading that country was the current president's father. Korea should look at itself and accept that reparations have been made. But then modern Korea has ignored the settlement in the 1960s so it' no surprise that the nationalists are ignoring the current settlement.

I think media around the world should also focus on what's happening in Korea right this moment, which is,....

Park Yu-ha professor, who criticized the Korean interpretation of comfort women as exclusively "sex slaves", in her book "Comfort Women of the Empire", now she is on trial with a chance of getting a sentence 3years in prison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Yu-ha

SHe is in danger,..

Just as I would have predicted.

I wondered why it took so long for them to start harping on this issue again.

The nationalists would never settle for anything in this matter. They need to keep that hate alive to validate their own insecurities and hypocrisies. Nothing Japan ever did or will ever do will be enough for these lunatics, so they'll keep on marching and preaching hate against Japan with the sex slave issue.

Grow up!

They are the ones abusing the victims' honor and dignity as they keep using this tragedy for political (and financial) gain and some kind of moral/ethical supremacy over Japan.

Well stated. Although you forgot to mention the bit about distracting their simple minded population away from domestic scandals aplenty. Pointing fingers at Japan is a proven winner for any ROK politician.

melonbarmonsterDEC. 29, 2016 - 10:36AM JST The so called agreement was a joke to begin with. First of all, it wasn't an apology. It was a statement of regret.

Japan made an apology and promised millions payment that would provide care for the women. The Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers said each side considered it a “final and irreversible resolution” of the issue. It's a done deal.

As someone who's closely related to Korea, I feel embarrassed and frustrated with this whole apology shenanigans.

I blame their media and government for being so corrupt to the point where they systematically "brainwash" Koreans into thinking that Japan have never apologized. Truth be told, there were 51 cases (correct me if I'm wrong) of formal apologies from top officials to university professors with great sums of reparation. Some were expressed in written letters while others were from condolence speeches.

However, these were not even reported or translated properly in Korea. Not to mention the victims themselves have never heard/read those apologies nor receive any money from the reparation. Even if such apologies were reported, majority of Koreans outright deny them because it was not "sincere" enough. Hence the endless spread of anti-Japanese sentiment grew throughout the 2000s.

As a result, such hatred was reported in Japan and not surprisingly the hatred towards Korean by Japanese grew as well. Honestly I don't blame the Japanese as this was all started by the Koreans.

Now a lot of Koreans would call me a chinillpa (pro-Japanese) for saying all these truth. That's not true as I also think it doesn't help to facilitate the issue when the Japanese side perform occasional political stunts such as visiting Yasukuni and attempt to whitewash their past etc. But if the Koreans don't get their act together and take initiative on this issue, they will always go around in circle and make no progress in relationship between Japan. Whether the Japanese want such ties or not would be debatable but I believe a strong alliance is needed for a bigger threat (i.e. China).

With that being said, I'm lucky to live outside of Korea and to see this whole mess in 3rd perspective. Though at the same time I'm saddened to see the majority of Koreans being stuck in the past and trying to advert their eyes from the truth.

Looks like these girls on the photo clearly have no idea what the statue is representing. Posing with 'peace' signs as if it was a joke. Show some respect if you want to be taken seriously. Koreans should look at themselves first and criticise their own people.

These women don't want money.

I guess you didn't read the article

in South Korea, where many thought the government settled for far too less.

But you're right. They don't want money, the want A LOT MORE money

Let them do whatever they want. Japan will just ignore any and all demand/negotiation from Korea concerning this subject in the future.

From this point beyond, Korean politicians and academia should start teaching Korean youth how Korea itself treated women after WW2 during Korean War and during Vietnam War

More Money More Money More Money!!

Triring:

Let them do whatever they want. Japan will just ignore any and all demand/negotiation from Korea concerning this subject in the future.

Never thought I would be saying so, but I agree with you on this. A deal's a deal. Japan should just ignore this as there is nothing to discuss regarding last year's agreement. Of course, no harm for Japan to apologise on top of that, genuinely and any number of times, but there is no need to comment on this current matter.

F-ZeroDEC. 29, 2016 - 08:44AM JST

Looks like these girls on the photo clearly have no idea what the statue is representing.

The sad reality is the statue represents a poor Korean girl who was sold into prostitution by her own Korean parents. When scholars actually dig deep into the issue, this is what they find. But when the scholars publish their finding, they get harsh criticism for telling the truth. See "Comfort women of the Empire" by Park Yu ha, Professor at Sejong University, and "The Comfort Women: Sexual Violence and Postcolonial Memory in Korea and Japan" by C. Sarah Soh, Professor at San Francisco State University

https://www.amazon.com/The-Comfort-Women-Postcolonial-Sexuality/dp/0226767779/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QEJ4QETGC15VJ4T29N6#reader_0226767779

If SK can nullify government agreements based on their daily emotions, then what's the point in making any deal with SK? Wait until they clean up their own problems before engaging on this issue ever again

Japan should get Trump to handle this for them. I can see it now..."What?! Are you kidding me? Get outa here and don't come back"

Of course, no harm for Japan to apologise on top of that, genuinely and any number of times, but there is no need to comment on this current matter.

yet the Japanese government, through various cultural groups it supports around the globe, vigorously protests whenever a statue commemorating the sex slaves is erected. Can't keep a stiff upper lip and cry at the same time.

Of course, no harm for Japan to apologise on top of that, genuinely and any number of times, but there is no need to comment on this current matter.

It sends a wrong message in apologizing to a fabricated event that never happened. It will be used as another propaganda message.

Like hidingout posted, the SK economy is going down the drain and no one is addressing it since they have no answer to the problem so they rehash the same anti-Japan slogan to distract the real problem they face.

Japan might not cooperate any talks with its gov't now regarding NK nuke attack to SK.

Not much money Japan offer for victims. Stop negotiate with SK gov't. For change, give sincere apology to victims and avoid to be swindled by elected officials.

I think media around the world should also focus on what's happening in Korea right this moment, which is,....

Park Yu-ha professor, who criticized the Korean interpretation of comfort women as exclusively "sex slaves", in her book "Comfort Women of the Empire", now she is on trial with a chance of getting a sentence 3years in prison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Yu-ha

She is in danger,..

Can't think of any other expression, No Law-abiding at all, but just Emotion-abiding nation ruled by Cult. That's what Korea is now. sealed up anything against their emotional narratives, even the nation's justice system, keeping hiding it's own pubic area that the same nation abused the same comfort women under central government control. Poor young kids have no chance to learn whatsoever. Those 122 Korean oldwomen who sued their government got simply treated like garbages and rejected, being requested as mandatory to prove their experiences by themselves. Court said, it's just your testimony, you need evidence to prove your testimony. What a joke!!

smithinjapan DEC. 29, 2016 - 07:37PM JST In six posts on this topic you have every time talked about South Korea in Vietnam, and not once what's a Japan did to > Korean, Chinese, Dutch, English, Philippina, and other women. That's the very definition of deflection. This is about South Korea nullifying a deal with Japan, not about the Vietnam War, no matter how much you try and change the topic.

I really do wonder why someone who clearly despises Japan (many of your posts seem to suggest this) would live here.

If Korea accepts the settlement with Japan, they will have no one to blame but themselves for their present ill-run country and economy.

"randomnatorDEC. 29, 2016 - 07:42AM JST I always find it interesting that the Japanese people I speak to about the issue think that paying money is all that was required by way of apology."

Its not just the Japanese who see it this way it IS the way all Asian people have made apologies for centuries. Its ingrained in their culture to do so and is accepted and understood by both sides in Asia. The issue is the Western view point and our way of doing things for centuries may differ in certain areas which leads to our misunderstanding which sometimes leads to criticism of something we don't fully understand from their perspective. When it comes to two Asian entities sorting out an issue Westerners should steer clear and respectfully allow them to sort it out in their way.

None of this speaks well for our species and it's sadly quite widespread. The working class around the globe need to unite for human rights once and for all vs. letting the trust fund class having us fight each other over scraps.

They are sick. What do they want to do with 34 (out of 46 ) oldwomen who accepted the deal already? Take money back away and force them to restart working in front of Japanese embassy? or start calling them **whores for accepting money?

This is what happens when you try to act like adults. '' Otone no taido '', is really funny !

These women don't want money. Japan is the only party here throwing money at the problem. The crux of the issues admission and repentance.

It sends a wrong message in apologizing to a fabricated event that never happened. It will be used as another propaganda message.

Normal service resumed! If we were somehow discussing a fabricated event that never happened, your logic would be valid. But we aren't, so it isn't. Don't you see how failing to recognize and acknowledge historical facts only hurts Japan? Japan is missing an opportunity to take the moral high ground on this and related issues again and again.

The so called agreement was a joke to begin with. First of all, it wasn't an apology. It was a statement of regret. You also can't "apologize" for something you don't admit to. Abe and the Japanese government have continued to deny the forced nature of Japan's military sex slavery and has continued to deny Japan's wrong-doing. Japan needs to grow some dignity and confess to its historical atrocities and let bygones be bygones. It's 2016 for god sakes.

75 years have passed and this issue should now be allowed to rest as it has become a political battering ram that sees no end in it's use to batter. This would not excuse the past actions of Japan, but the 4th generation of Koreans born after the war, now needs to move on without having to hold the suffering of their ancestors to the level where it stifles their own lives and progress.

And Japan, aside from the money and bows, needs to ensure / encourage it's political, business & social leaders stop the denying and revisionist rhetoric, because that just makes a game out of this with a "Return to Start" card. Yes it is a democracy and freedom of speech is allowed (cough cough), but with positions of power in a true democracy comes social responsibility - and continual disavowals only feeeds the fanatics on both sides.

But I'm not holding my breath on this - not for example when the Defense Minister - Inada - a day after returning from from the historical Pearl Harbor so called "symbolic reconciliation " with Abe and troupe, visits Yasukuni. Giving such fuel to those denouncing Japan, it's no wonder this sad episode just goes on and on and on.

Just as an aside - as some posters have mentioned Germany's show of sorrow & penitence over it's WW2 actions, it's interesting to note that Nazi Hunters are still vigilant and trials still occur - even this year ex nazi guards have been located. As far as I know, the German people / govt don't decry the work of these hunters finding "criminals" 75 years after the fact.

Without suggesting that they are right and the Japanese position is wrong, it seems though that the social strife re the Korean occupation / comfort women issue will continue to rear unabated, unti la differeent approach is set into play.

smith

In six posts on this topic you have every time talked about South Korea in Vietnam,

Don't exggerate. I said Korea should think of and teach about what they themselves have done not only in Vietnam but also to it's own female citizen during/after Korean War in their very homeland in my only two posts as I am of opinion that the issue should be looked into from wider perspective. This is something Prof. Park Yuha claims important.

This is about South Korea nullifying a deal with Japan

I have already posted a piece as it is too rediculous these politicians calling for nullifying the deal for me to comment on.

but if I add one more comment, I actually want them to nullify this final and irreversible resolution and make a allegedly civilized nation turn to a laughable piece, to nullify the official agreements between nations twice.

Go nullify and Let Japan never return to the discussion table and make 34 halmeonis (who acceted the deal) feel ahamed. giving Japan still chance to expose their lies here and there. even better.

DieRealityCheck: "From this point beyond, Korean politicians and academia should start teaching Korean youth how Korea itself treated women after WW2 during Korean War and during Vietnam War"

In six posts on this topic you have every time talked about South Korea in Vietnam, and not once what's a Japan did to Korean, Chinese, Dutch, English, Philippina, and other women. That's the very definition of deflection. This is about South Korea nullifying a deal with Japan, not about the Vietnam War, no matter how much you try and change the topic.

I always find it interesting that the Japanese people I speak to about the issue think that paying money is all that was required by way of apology. They have a hard time accepting that paying for actions but not stating those actions and later denying those actions isn't an apology. Obviously thinly veiled references to "suffering" without spelling out what suffering is too shallow for the aggrieved. Japan should have followed Germany's lead on this but as many in Japan think they are the master nation of Asia that would have required too much humiliation perhaps? Germany has no problem with it's neighbors, Japan has problems with all it's neighbors. I think revisionism is the problem here, by both sides.

@sensei258 — once would have sufficed, if the J-government didn't insist it never happened and try to erase this stuff from the history books and public memory.

Of course, Germany's treatment was harsh to say the least, but can you imagine France going back at it again every two years with some "oh by the way your clearly did not pronounce the exact word [I apologize and you are the greatest country in the history of countries]

you miss the point, The Japanese government has always very deliberately never actually stated that it was systematically involved in the forced repatriation of women and girls for the sexual gratification of it's troops. It says "we are sorry for the suffering people felt". Then they avoid the topics in official history books and allow revisionist views of history to become the popular zeitgeist in the country. NHK hosted a symposium where former sex slaves were invited to tell their stories, Shinzo Abe banned the broadcast of the program just days before it was scheduled to air. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2005/01/13/national/abe-admits-telling-nhk-to-censor-tv-program/ Abe appointed a well known war atrocities denier as head of the NHK! That is the truth of Japan's lack of contrition. They continue to deny the crimes they committed.

Germany took the opposite approach, they condemn revisionism and as a populace know very well the atrocities imposed on their neighbors by the Nazi regime.

The Koreans don't want anything more than a sincere contrite admission and repentance, you can't buy that Japan, you have to have some guts, swallow your pride and mend the fences. Korea, China, Russia they all have serious issues with Japan. Money can't buy you love.

First off, we all know that settlement was nothing but hush money, so SK should not accept it. It's good that they're doing this (regardless of the politics at play here). However, the only thing they should demand is a sincere apology, where Japan's government would finally acknowledge that their past government forced women into sex slaves (no later denials, no euphemisms, no whitewashing history in textbooks, and no honoring war criminals). Their cause would look more righteous, instead of demanding for more money (the initial settlement isn't even enough, mind you).