Moon Jae-In
The President of South Korea, moon Jae-In has demanded from Japan an official apology for the use of Korean women as sex slaves during the Second world war. The corresponding statement he made in an interview with the Washington Post.
“In order to close this issue, Japan must accept legal responsibility for their actions and to make a formal apology at government level”, — announced the South Korean leader. He also noted that the agreement on the settlement of claims, signed by the previous government, “did not cause the understanding of Korean people, and especially victims”.
While moon Jae-In expressed hope that the relations of Seoul and Tokyo will be strengthened. “We cannot allow one issue has slowed the development of bilateral relations”, — he explained.
The agreement on the settlement of claims on the issue of sexual slavery during the Second world war was signed between South Korea and Japan in December 2015. In accordance with this agreement, Tokyo agreed to pay a billion yen (nine million dollars) Korean Foundation, which does help the former “comfort women” and their families. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also brought a personal apology to the victims and expressed regret that they had to endure such suffering. The South Korean opposition has criticized the agreement, and moon Jae-In has promised to revise it in case of coming to power.
“Women of comfort” refers to residents of countries in East and South-East Asia, who were forced to work in military brothels (“comfort stations”) to meet the sexual needs of Japanese soldiers during the Second world war. Tokyo claimed that it was a personal choice of women. World historians insist that the women were kidnapped and forced to work in brothels. The number of “comfort women” ranged from 20 to 410 thousand people.
Korea from 1910 to 1945 was a Japanese colony. During this period, Koreans were discriminated against by Tokyo.