Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea’s presidential office, on Thursday refuted rumors surrounding a deal with Japan on the issue of Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during World War II.
“Reports based on false facts and groundless rumors that only confuse society only leave another scar on the issue of wartime sex slavery,” presidential spokesman Kim Sung-woo told reporters.
On Monday Seoul and Tokyo reached a breakthrough deal in which the Japanese government apologized and offered reparations of 1 billion yen ($8.3 million) to the victims through a foundation.
South Korea agreed to end the dispute once and for all if Japan fully implements the deal.
The South Korean opposition bloc strongly denounced the deal, saying that it should be nullified since it lacks parliamentary approval.
The Japanese media has also raised allegations over the deal, including claims that Seoul agreed to relocate a statue of girl symbolizing the victims in exchange for the reparations.
The statue, which sits across from the Japanese Embassy in downtown Seoul, has been a source of friction between the two countries as they have sought to resolve issues related to the wartime atrocity.
“The important thing from now on is to establish a foundation for the victims as soon as possible so that their honor and dignity is restored and that their livelihoods are improved,” Kim said.
Only 46 former sex slaves, euphemistically called “comfort women,” remain, as many others have died over time. Historians estimate more than 200,000 women, mostly Koreans, were forced into sexual slavery at front-line Japanese brothels during World War II. (Yonhap)
