S Korea seeks 'amicable solution' to comfort women issue with Japan

A. Korea had a “final and irrevocable” agreement with Japan. I personally, didn’t think it was a very good deal, but the legally elected government of Korea signed the deal, so be it.

Until it got into political trouble domestically. Then out goes the deal and out comes Japan from cold storage to be the whipping boy.

Now Korea wants an “amicable agreement”. Let me translate for you: “We have ridden this as far as we can, looked at the pros and cons, and have decided to pack it away (for now....)”

S Korea seeks 'amicable solution' to comfort women issue with Japan

Doesn't matter whether it's amicable. It's Korea's home issue, not Japan's business anymore.

make every effort to continue constructive and future-oriented cooperation" with its neighbor.

Completely fed up with this cliché. Even when lame duck Moon leaves office (likely to go to jail), things will start over under a new president.

Has someone mentioned the pandemic to these guys? Japan has not been provoking anything.

Seems like S Korea has a cycle of anger thats all her own. Seems like its a Political drum to beat as well.

It is a bad idea to make self victimization a part of your national cirriculum.

The government is trying to keep things cool between the countries, which is rather surprising as up until now, they have used Japan as it's proverbial "whipping boy" to stir up anti-Japanese sentiment, from within nationalist factions in the country. This conciliatory tone is nice to see.

They have a point that individuals have the right to seek their own compensation, and keeping the government out of it would help, UNLESS the courts there start talking about taking control of Japanese business to get the compensation, then the government will be forced to take action to keep the peace.

Another day, another outburst of Japan bullying and hatred by South Korea. Grow up. Getting so sick and tired of this. The comfort women issue has been settled, there is NO issue.

Japan should cut off all diplomatic relations with Seoul, ban all imports-exports to and from SK, and cancel all visas issued to those with a SK passport. Japanese nationals should be warned by the govt NOT to go to SK after this pandemic - it is far too dangerous for Japanese to be in public there.

There can't be many comfort women still alive can there?

"But it said Seoul has neither the right nor the authority to prevent the victims themselves from raising concerns, adding that 'the real problem cannot be solved only by agreements between the governments that do not reflect the intentions of the victims.'"

Interesting development. The current situation is untenable and it appears the South Korean government is starting to realize that. Citizens of a country can't just ignore or disregard an international agreement that their national government concludes with the government of another country. What's the point of even having a national government if it commands so little respect from its own citizens?

Ditch these fools. Last opportunity was in 2015 and they blew it.

Japan should cut off all diplomatic relations with Seoul, ban all imports-exports to and from SK, and cancel all visas issued to those with a SK passport. Japanese nationals should be warned by the govt NOT to go to SK after this pandemic - it is far too dangerous for Japanese to be in public there.

a little too dramatic but........................... yeah.

The Foreign Ministry, in a statement, acknowledged that a 2015 bilateral agreement on settling the comfort women issue was an official one, and thus South Korea "has a policy not to make any additional claims against Japan at the government level."

But it said Seoul has neither the right nor the authority to prevent the victims themselves from raising concerns, adding that "the real problem cannot be solved only by agreements between the governments that do not reflect the intentions of the victims."

What an absolute joke, a farce. If this doesn't convince people of the depths the SK government and their anti-Japan base would sink to in order to continually antagonize and slander Japan, nothing ever will.

Is the SK government caving in after their bravado? Seems like Moon finally realized that 2015 deal was an official deal, but a bit too late to notice it wasn't a domestical one.

If even Moon's government admits that 2015 deal was legit, well, I wonder how some of the JT readers here will feel.

by vowing to seek an "amicable solution" and "make every effort to continue constructive and future-oriented cooperation" with its neighbor.

What does South Korea think the "Permanent and Irreversible" 2015 Comfort Women Agreement, under which they got an apolgy from PM Abe and mony as they requested, was????

Moon ripped up that Agreement assoon as he came into office. So South Korea wants to do this again? They have neither the money that Japan paid to the surviving Comfort Women nor paid Japan back.

The only kind of agreement that Japan should sign with South Korea is one where the United States acts as a guarantor of South Korea's compliance.

The war ended 75 years ago. I’m not sure what the expiration date on playing the victim card is, but I’m pretty sure it’s less than 75 years.

What SK has to do really is to bust all those liars and crooks, dissolve Chong Dae Hyup and other cult groups disguised as HRG , send them all to jail.

The people of SK should wake up and get a sense to be responsible for the agreement their former governments they democratically chose reached

The Foreign Ministry, in a statement, acknowledged that a 2015 bilateral agreement on settling the comfort women issue was an official one, and thus South Korea "has a policy not to make any additional claims against Japan at the government level."

But it said Seoul has neither the right nor the authority to prevent the victims themselves from raising concerns, adding that "the real problem cannot be solved only by agreements between the governments that do not reflect the intentions of the victims."

This seems reasonable to me, assuming the court system in Korea is independent from the government.

That said, the entire thing is a mess that seems to keep dragging on, and could easily have been resolved many years ago.

Imho the Japanese government should just take out full page ads in all the main South Korean newspapers and print a clear an unequivocal apology, with an offer of decent compensation to each of the victims. They could use the money from that previous deal's pot if they want.

It seems that what the victims want more than money is a clear public apology and signs of contrition. So why not bypass the South Korean government and just publicly apologise directly to the victims and accept responsibility?

If they did something like that, and then the South Korea government demanded more in the future, I don't think the South Korean government would have a leg to stand on.

They are probably spending more per week on legal fees than it'll cost them in total in compensation.

Meanwhile, nobody cares about the major Japanese family companies that used forced labor/slavery to become so rich. So, so rich.

The war ended 75 years ago. I’m not sure what the expiration date on playing the victim card is, but I’m pretty sure it’s less than 75 years.

Israel still changes 1.5m to 6m, and claims the despicable haolcust 75 year old event as justification for their right to kill and torture.

SK should follow this idea, or it will be swept under the carpet.

Whether on a personal or national level, bitter complaining and arguing about the long past never helps. It's time to forgive, forget and move on to constructive cooperation.

Again?

This issue can't be settled with just money or "agreements". What SK wants (and that's about the whole colonization period) is a sincere apology that comes from the heart, maybe combined with a symbolic act. If we learned something from the reconciliation process of Germany with its neighbors then it's this. I personally have never seen a "Japanese Warsaw genuflection" or the Japanese prime minister and SK president holding hands while commemorating the war dead together.

Financial compensation can be always only a part of the whole. As long as their is no sincere apology that comes deep from the heart this will go on and on and always leave a big scar. To end this it's first necessary that the Japanese side fully realizes and admits its guilt (not only the politicians but also the society as a whole) but I can't see anything that goes in that direction, unfortunately. Hence, be prepared for more of these articles.

Simian Lane: "South Korea government, you are like a little boy that pulls his sister’s hair then runs around the corner only to do it again five minutes later."

What government CAN'T you apply that to? Japan? "Forget history already -- it's almost the restoration/atomic bombing recovery/Tohoku recovery/train derailment anniversary Olympics!" Give me a break! The US? Well, perhaps less so with Biden, but there was no bigger example of what you explained that with Trump.

There is no way the government of Japan will pay. If Korea takes the assets of the Japanese government. Japan will take the assets of Korea. Next will be a total and complete trade embargo with Korea.

 It is clear to me from this hint, South Korea just wants Japanese society to sincerely understand the reality of the past. i.e. watering down the issue and objecting to memorials.

This. It's about the compensation but recognition.

Citizens of a country can't just ignore or disregard an international agreement that their national government concludes with the government of another country. 

Spot on. Exactly these cases come up regularly in trade agreements, where a domestic court makes a ruling that violates that nation's trade agreement with another nation. International courts unanimously rule that the trade agreements supersede the court decisions.

Korea is being disingenuous in saying they cannot rule against the courts. If that were actually true, then no international agreement with the Korea government would be worth the paper it's written on.

For those who still like to blame Japan in comparison with Germany, don't be fooled any longer.

I say this once again. Prostitution was legal those days and comfort women, Yes, even more comfort women existed through 1945 serving for Korean/US/UN soldiers. And yet neither SK government nor any of those hypocrites act on behalf of the latter, drawing clear line between them. WHY is that? They must make Japan admit Korea's fake narrative as true with legal responsibilities for upcoming North Korea's turn of big campaign.

If Moon had any decency, or ethics, he would tear up the sham High Court ruling that permits the seizure of Japanese assets. A strong ruler is always able to disregard or strike out blatantly corrupt court rulings. Anyone who states otherwise is ignorant and/or a liar.

But Moon wont, because he is crooked and wishes to constantly attack and bully Japan whenever his ratings drop. Getting so angry with these daily attacks on Japan.

It's "not" about the compensation but recognition.

Japan's attitude in how they view their imperialistic empire and the South Koreans' attitude in brainwashing their young into developing hatred towards Japan are to be blamed for the fundamental core issues of Japan and South Korea's relationship.

However, the 1965 and 2015 deals were agreements that were shared and accepted, as well as recognized by both sides on governmental level. The current rock-bottom diplomatic relationship between the 2 occurred after Moon's government ripping apart the 2015 deal, which made Japan views SK to be untrustworthy and the rulings of South Korean courts that disregarded the international agreement of 1965 between the 2 countries, which leads Japan to believe SK might simply repeat this issue in the future.

How Moon acted back in 2017, paired with how self-interpreting the South Korean courts are regarding international deal brought the diplomatic relation between Japan and South Korea to their current state. Every individuals are free to have their own feelings about the matter, but they should not have any right nor power to overturn international agreements.

It’s undeniable that Japan committed atrocities. But come on... it was almost 80 years ago and the perpetrators are long dead. Japan has atoned enough (albeit not enough as Germany apparently... for not committing genocide on a mass scale?) The Japanese committed atrocities and murders just the likes of Germany. The only difference is that Japan killed indiscriminately and Germany killed based on race predominantly. Not sure what is worse but Japan has atoned for South Korea.

vowing to seek an "amicable solution" 

Wait wasn't that done several times before only for South Korea to again change its mind? No not actually asking, do know.

If a con artist, cons you once, then comes back says that this time he is really ready to do things right then cons you again, you should seriously see a shrink and have your head examined if you are going to trust him again.

South Korea is that con artist. Ok we have a deal, oh no now we don't we need more, ok we now have a final deal, oh no we no longer like it we want more.

It is interesting that South Korea on several fronts accuses Japan but refuses to go to the international tribunal to settle their disputes with Japan, oh right they did that once and lost then despite agreeing to accept the verdict South Korea refused.

That is what negotiating with SK is nothing they say it agree to can be trusted not unlike NK.

The term 'deal' may confuse some naive Japanese. The so-called "final and Irreversible" 2015 deal was just a form of press conference held by a few delegates from Abe and Park administration without any signed document, not to mention the approvals from the parliaments. Nevertheless, the S. Korean government now proposes to accept it as a kind of a symbolic and official oral agreement, although it is legally void. It is just a good intention.

Japan has said the lawsuit should be rejected on the grounds of sovereign immunity -- a principle under international law that allows a state to be shielded against the jurisdiction of foreign courts.

The Japanese government needs to take a more mature approach. The suffering of comfort women is exempt from sovereign immunity by Japan's own domestic law, not to mention the international law. The Japanese law states that Japan shall not be immune from jurisdiction with respect to Judicial Proceedings in which monetary compensation for the damage in the following cases.

Act on the Civil Jurisdiction of Japan with respect to a Foreign State, etc.

Act No. 24 of April 24, 2009

Article 10　In cases where the death of or injury to a person or the loss of or damage to a tangible object resulted from an act for which it is claimed a Foreign State, etc., should take responsibility, if all or part of said act took place in Japan and the person who performed said act was in Japan at the time it was committed, said Foreign State, etc. shall not be immune from jurisdiction with respect to Judicial Proceedings in which monetary compensation for the damage or loss resulting from said act is being sought.

第十条　外国等は、人の死亡若しくは傷害又は有体物の滅失若しくは毀損が、当該外国等が責任を負うべきものと主張される行為によって生じた場合において、当該行為の全部又は一部が日本国内で行われ、かつ、当該行為をした者が当該行為の時に日本国内に所在していたときは、これによって生じた損害又は損失の金銭によるてん補に関する裁判手続について、裁判権から免除されない。

http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?id=1948&vm=04&re=01

政府参考人（倉吉敬君）　確かに、ここに書かれているのは人の死亡若しくは傷害という、要するにいわゆる我々が日本法で不法行為と考えるときは、損害はもっといろんなものがございます、精神的苦痛であるとかですね。だから、その程度のものは国家はもう主権免除してあげようよという、そういう配慮があるわけです。

https://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/simple/detail?minId=117115206X00920090416&spkNum=107#s107

@SJ

Japan was nice, it accepted giving money even though SK and Japan settled All now let me repeat that ALL war reparations in 1965.

SK government kept the details of the 1965 agreement secret until forced to release the 1200 pages of documents related to the agreement and negotiations.

In those 1200 pages is this:

the Japanese government proposed to the to directly compensate individual victims but the Korean government insisted that it would handle individual compensation to its citizens and received the whole amount of grants on behalf of the victims.

So there it is, Japan offered in 1965 SK government said no it would take the money and it would take care of paying individuals, which it didn't do.

So the subject should have been a moot point long ago especially since the SK government hid the real facts regarding the 1965 agreement until 2005.

@Antiquesaving

You mentioned 'compensate', which means that Japan acknowledged some wrongdoing during the WWII. But Japan has never acknowledged it as recently testified by the Japanese foreign minister: https://youtu.be/LB3xsKcMZXU

Whatever the Japanese officials said in 1965, legally Japan never compensated for the Korean victims. Nevertheless, the S. Korean government has tried to abide by the agreements, even though they are not documented and signed. But, in the court, the matter is different. Strict legal interpretations are applied to make a ruling. Moreover, the ruling was for compensation for the 'mental' suffering of the living CW, which could not be explicitly discussed in 1965, but now widely accepted in the international society.

The Korean or Japanese judges know far better than the Japanese governmental officials in those legal matters. For example: http://justice.skr.jp/estatement.html

@SJ

What part of this from the South Korea documents do you not understand?

the Japanese government proposed to the to directly compensate individual victims but the Korean government insisted that it would handle individual compensation to its citizens and received the whole amount of grants on behalf of the victims.

This was 1200 pages of South Korean documents hidden until 2005 part of the 1965 agreement.

Again South Korean documents.

Again hidden from the Korean public for 40 year.

And Again.

the Korean government insisted that it would handle individual compensation to its citizens and received the whole amount of grants on behalf of the victims.

It is very clear and that is why South Korea has refused Japan's offer to take the issue to the international tribunal and yes Japan has offered multiple times on this and other issues but it is South Korea that refuses because it knows far to well once all the documents from the 1965 agreement are made public it will lose.

If what you claim was true then SK would jump at the chance to go to international court but it is SK that refuses, Why? Because the one and only time it did it lost then refused to accept the court's decision despite having aggred prior to going that it would.

So it seems very clear that even when South Korea signs an agreement with the international tribunal if broke that also as it has done with every agreement.

Starting to see the pattern?

Nevertheless, the S. Korean government has tried to abide by the agreements, even though they are not documented and signed.

??????

Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea 

Signed on June 22 1965!

And again it includes this:

the Korean government insisted that it would handle individual compensation to its citizens and received the whole amount of grants on behalf of the victims.

And that is again why South Korea refused to go to international court, it will lose again.

@Antiquesaving

And that is again why South Korea refused to go to international court, it will lose again.

A classical type of misinformation propagandized by the Japanese media. S. Korea can not, but Japan can do go to the ICJ. The Japanese government always says they will CONSIDER bringing the comfort women/forced labor issue to the ICJ, but actually, they never do. For example, 2 years ago, they said they will CONSIDER going to the ICJ, but the consequence is like:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-japan-labourers-nishimura/japan-says-no-comment-on-international-court-of-justice-plan-in-south-korea-dispute-idUSKCN1UE08F

The same pattern repeats:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/13/national/international-court-justice-comfort-women/

"Another day, another outburst of Japan bullying and hatred by South Korea." The evidence points to the opposite. The bullying and hatred has come from the Japanese. It is under your nose.

A classical type of misinformation propagandized by the Japanese media.

Pot meet Kettle.

SK has done the bulk of propaganda.

Explain keeping the full 1965 agreement documents secret for 40 years while telling the population Japan never paid?

Again 40 years SK his the facts regarding the deal and told it's people lies and is still doing so.

I am not Japanese so I gave no skin in this race but facts are fact.

As for international courts Japan can do nothing under the rules unless both parties agree to hand the disputed to the courts but South Korea refuses to even discuss the subject and that is because the only time it did accept it lost and then broke its agreement to accept the court's decision and refused the ruling

Let me repeat that part, South Korea accepted to abide by the international court's decision then lost and refused to follow the ruling.

This is why no country cares to go to international court with regards to SK if they lose they just ignore the ruling.

War makes men and women make hard choises during war. Some are necessary to help your family eat and survive.

South Koreans are more brainwashed than North Koreans.

They are also brainwashing the foreigners (esp huge Kpop/Kdrama fans) by making so many comfort women movies/songs who now believe it and strongly defends South Korea and blames Japan without knowing anything from Japan side.

War makes men and women make hard choises during war. Some are necessary to help your family eat and survive.

True but the war has been over for more than 7 decades.

But South Korea keeps up the propaganda machine, the anti Japan laws, hiding the facts for decades about agreements, etc...

Anyone that thinks SK is telling the truth needs to explain why the documents related to the 1965 agreement were kept secret by the south Korean government for 40 years.

A strong ruler is always able to disregard or strike out blatantly corrupt court rulings. 

That's an interesting one, coming from Japan. Clean up your own backyard. (Judiciary).

GaijinjlandToday  01:34 pm JST

It’s undeniable that Japan committed atrocities. 

Yes but it wasn't against Koreans who were Japanese nationals 1910-1945. Korean troops in the IJA committed atrocities against other Asians and Allied POWS.

"Hong Sa-ik (4 March 1889 – 26 September 1946)[1] was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army, and the top-ranking ethnic Korean in Japan to be charged with war crimes relating to the conduct of the Empire of Japan in World War II.

From 1939-1940, he was with the China Expeditionary Army. From 1940-1941, he was assigned to the 1st Depot Division, and in 1941, he became the commander of the IJA 108th Infantry Brigade as a major general. In March 1944, he went to the Philippines to command all prisoner-of-war camps. He was promoted to lieutenant general in October of the same year, and remained in the Philippines under the 14th Area Army until the cessation of hostilities.

After the war, Hong was tried in Manila before a military tribunal by the Allies over the conduct of his prison guards while he was commandant.[3] The Manila tribunal sentenced Hong to death as a war criminal on 18 April 1946"

https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Hong_Sa-ik

@SJ

 The term 'deal' may confuse some naive Japanese. The so-called "final and Irreversible" 2015 deal was just a form of press conference held by a few delegates from Abe and Park administration without any signed document, not to mention the approvals from the parliaments.

“International Law” itself does not have any signed documents ratified by UN（UN、sounds awkward when nations are not really united, does it? )

Don’t worry 2015 Comfort women agreement. IT was DONE under modern technology Everybody watched it where it’s been recorded and retrievable, broadcasted to the entire world which knows “ It was not just an oral promise”

Forget legal experts mumbling about “ How exactly the TREATY was closed between sovereign nations” , FYI, They all are not Japanese and sure when you say Japanese lawyers, it includes Koreans and Korean-Japanese.

 said Foreign State, etc. shall not be immune from jurisdiction with respect to Judicial Proceedings in which monetary compensation for the damage or loss resulting from said act is being sought.

Don't distort or misinterpret the statement above. The Japanese government (most of other governments as well) doesn't deny the rights to compensation over damages by individuals or non-state actors SO LONG AS it is settled within own jurisdiction. If a case crosses national borders, international law and agreement outweigh home rules. Japanese war victims/A-bomb survivors and families hold rights to compensations, but they can't demand it from the US government or foreign non-state entities (Their demands have been treated by their home Japanese government).

If still dissatisfied, go to the ICJ for arbitration. It is South Korea, not Japan who has kept denying an appeal to the ICJ. Another "secret deal" done behind the door is impossible. No Japanese trusts ROK in this regard.

This issue can't be settled with just money or "agreements". What SK wants (and that's about the whole colonization period) is a sincere apology that comes from the heart, maybe combined with a symbolic act. 

As colonization is at stake, none of any other former colonial powers has made a sincere apology let alone compensations over its past (century-old) rules. Japan is exceptional in this regard.

How many former comfort women are still alive? It shouldn't be that difficult to come to a settlement.

How many former comfort women are still alive? It shouldn't be that difficult to come to a settlement.

That is the point.

SK is not interested in a settlement, never has been.

Japan and SK came to an agreement Japan even made the money available and SK government under pressure from those opposed to any real settlement then scrapped the whole thing even shutting down the fund.

Vilifying Japan has become a very lucrative industry in Korea saying all is settled would end the industry.

Just think at the statues they have produced and sold to be installed in cities around the world.

Settlement means ending the controversy and that ends trying to get more cities in Canada, USA, UK, Australia, etc...to buy one to display on some street or in a park.

They don't care about these women they care about making money for playing the poor us card and milking Japan for more decades.

If they bhsd really cared for these women they wouldn't have made them outcasts after the war but any interview with these women they say how they were outcasts by Korean society and their families.

How many former comfort women are still alive? It shouldn't be that difficult to come to a settlement.

Like I said, the process for the settlement does matter, meaning, Japan or any nations should not surrender to fake histories. In this very case, North Korea directly, China indirectly HAVE been pushing Japan to give it up to obey to THE history WRITTEN by the winners and the crooks.

Welcome anyone to state the very difference between Korean comfort women before/after 1945.

Dear S.Korea supporters,

Did you read the article?

Did you hear your shady Moon government finally, finally, finally acknowledge the 2015 deal as valid and official one? The Korean court is part of SKorea, the Korean government represents it's people. If the government sign deal to improve relations with Japan and take compensation and apology for past mistakes: That Means What Your Court Ruling Is Doing is an Illegal Act which the Moon government supports by NOT STOPPING THEM.

Quote: 2015 bilateral agreement on settling the comfort women issue was an official one, and thus South Korea "has a policy not to make any additional claims against Japan at the government level."

The Moon government is admmiting the agreement is valid on settling the issue. More then 70% of comfort women was satisfied with that agreement. In a democratic system 70% means the majority agree and it's over and done with! No democratic system will have 100% approval. Go to North Korea for that! Some people will never be satisfied no matter what you do! Have unrealistic monetary expectations! apologies they get by the dozens And dozens and dozens! Over 50 so far.

Keep the pressure on SKorea!

Same approach should be taken towards the 1965 deal and the Korean court ruling.

SJToday  02:30 pm JST

Act on the Civil Jurisdiction of Japan with respect to a Foreign State, etc.

Act No. 24 of April 24, 2009

Article 10　In cases where the death of or injury to a person or the loss o

I'm at lost here....is the date April 24,2009? amended on 2009?

I don't want to go into great length of explaining but what is the connection between the atrocities committed during the 40's and the recent law? Do you have any idea as to when the amended law starts?

Japan has acknowledged past mistakes, especially towards South Korea by:

-Paying over $3 Bilions in today's money in 1965 deal to cover all damages, all compensation which the Korean agreed.

-1995 Deal for comfort women was paid again towards many Asian countries, including S. Koreans again.

-2015 comfort woman deal as Final. Money paid again, apologies given again South Korea accepted.

-over 50 apologies given by dozens of different Japanese Prime Ministers.

-We let South Korea keep Takeshima island, Japanese Island taken illegally in the 50s and we did nothing to take it back.

-We had South Korea for decades on Special Friend List, only ones in Asia.

-USA used Japan's water, land, resources, bases to save South Korea from China and North Korean invasion.

-We have supported S. Korea with technology which helped them prosper and become a rival to Japan in many fields of technology.

S Korea seeks 'amicable solution' to comfort women issue with Japan

Any defense in any (court) proceeding with a strong case will never seek nor even mention an amicable solution first. ROK knew they have a weak case from the start.

Despite 700 years of mismanagement and hurt at the hands of England, Ireland was wise enough to not seek more of those "amicable solutions" than they would deserve. Otherwise, it would not have been good for the image of the Republic of Ireland.

What the South Korean government is doing here is not good for the future of their fairly young republic because they will end up looking like a bunch of money-grabbing thieves, fraudsters and shysters. Just as someone pointed out, ethnic Koreans were also guilty of participating in atrocities and other war crimes... including selling their own kind to become comfort women. Where are the pimps now? South Korean government supporters better answer that question; they have 30 seconds. Their attempts at whitewashing their own part of WW2 history has been nothing short of shameful.

South Korean justice (in the 1st place) and the government ( comes as next !) and several posters here never answer to this basic question. "What makes IJA comfort women different from those serving Korean/US/UN soldiers after 1945 on the battle fronts & battle fields "　

They just do legal makeshifts focusing only on the the letter completely ignoring the spirit of international agreement (signed or not signed, doesn't matter)　

It is not *two wrongs don't make a right argument *but is the essence of this issue.