Ex-sex slaves protest gov’t decision to provide Japanese cash to victims

SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) — South Korean victims who were sexually enslaved by Japanese troops during its colonial occupation period (1910-45) protested against the government’s decision to give them money that will be provided by Japan.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the government will provide 100 million won (US$90,000) to surviving victims who were forced to serve in military brothels and 20 million won to family members of victims who have already died.

The money will be offered once Tokyo transfers the 1 billion yen (US$9.96 million) it has committed to provide in the landmark deal to settle the long-running diplomatic feud in December.

Following the announcement, two victims — Kim Bok-dong and Kil Won-ok — held a press conference at a shelter of the victims, in western Seoul, to protest the decision.

“People who ask, ‘Why don’t you just accept the money?’ are those who do not know the pain (suffered by the victims),” Kim told reporters.

She said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should come forward and apologize to the victims, euphemistically called comfort women, and take a lead in restoring their honor.

The comfort women issue is one of the most long-running disputes between the two neighbors. In reaching the Dec. 28 deal, both sides wanted to put an end to the matter once and for all.

Discontent, however, remains over what critics see as a hastily arranged agreement that lacked a sufficient process to gather opinions from victims. Suspicion is also lingering over Japan’s sincerity in its apology.

Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, were forced to work in front-line brothels for Japanese troops during World War II. The 40 surviving South Korean victims are mostly in their late 80s.

South Korean “comfort women” forced into brothels for the Japanese military during World War II — Kim Bok-dong (L) and Kil Won-ok — pose for a photo with the Peace Monument, a statue of a young girl that symbolizes the Korean victims of the enforced sexual slavery, during a ceremony to unveil it in the southwestern city of Jeonju on Aug. 13, 2015.

One Comment

1. Younghyun Kim

   August 27, 2016 at 1:14 AM

   As one of all weak and uneducated world worldlings, I have no choice but to inform all mankind and the whole countries that yet if Japanese government can put their embarrassing past’s history behind with another decade of turning a deaf ear with money, it will be dead wrong and never will themselves forgive itself from all precious pan-pacific world people. As we are aware, the number of those euphemistically called “comfort women” was dwindling from hundreds of to dozens of.

   Sadly, most of whom are in their mid-80′s. That’s why this international and domestic matter/issue can be settled ASAP. After all, those all have lived with deep, painful scars in their hearats for their whole lives. Needless to say, Japan’s emperor and ‘s P.M must grant absolution to all manner of their sins committed at their colonial or coercive era in front of all humanity.

   This disinterested and weak korean/world worldling on all world weak people’ behalf calls on Japan to apologize to all those world victims, unfeignedly. Moreover, this weak world one wants to put all Japanese people and their unmatured country in mind of its vivid and obvious evidence that we human beings’ history and a shameful country’s history will be alive and also, be remembered itself for good. So, no country and no one must warp their historical facts. Needless to say, Japan had been going against that same fundamental international order. How can all mankind count on japanese people and their country?

   2016. 08. 27. in Suwon, Sokcho and at Dokdo island at East Sea
   From Younghyun Kim

   Reply