By Kang Seung-woo
VIENTIANE, Laos ― President Park Geun-hye refrained from mentioning a statue symbolizing Japan's wartime sexual slavery during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Wednesday.
However, Japan's demand for the removal of the statue, located across the street from the Japanese Embassy will remain a sticking point, according to analysts.
They say disagreements over the comfort woman statue will be the main impediment to improving ties between the two countries.
During a summit, held in the Laotian capital Vientiane on the sidelines of ASEAN-related forums, Abe asked Park to remove the statue as part of a deal reached last December between the two governments to address Korean victims of wartime sexual enslavement, according to Japanese media reports.
Japan claims the statue was included in the deal, which is denied by South Korea.
Under the agreement, a foundation dedicated to compensating the Korean victims was launched in late July funded by 1 billion yen (10.7 billion won) from the Japanese government. In response, Japan has increased its calls for the removal of the statue in return for the financial contribution.
Elements within Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party reportedly pushed for the statue's removal to be made a condition for Japan's transfer of the funds, according to The Japan Times. The full amount was transferred on Aug. 31.
In response to Abe's request, Park stressed the importance of faithfully implementing the deal to develop a future-oriented bilateral relationship without mentioning the statue, Cheong Wa Dae said.
Abe's request came as Seoul-Tokyo relations have shown signs of a thaw following the deal, but it may cast a cloud over the ties that have again been frayed by historical and territorial issues.
In addition, popular negative sentiment on the issue among Koreans also leaves little room for the Korean government to step up efforts for better ties with Japan.
The survey also found that 84 percent thought Japan had not apologized for its wartime sexual slavery, disagreeing with the government's view.
Some surviving Korean victims and civic groups have protested the agreement, citing Abe's lack of a direct apology or acknowledgement of his country's legal responsibility.
"The relationship may be hurt again if Japan continues to make remarks undermining the agreement," said Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University.
The statue depicting an unsmiling young girl staring at the Japanese Embassy was erected in December 2011 by a civic group representing the victims.
A total of 238 Korean victims of the wartime crime have been officially registered. Currently only 40 of them are alive with most dying of old age.
In the wake of the Japanese news reports, the opposition parties slammed the government, Thursday.
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People's Party ― a potential presidential candidate ― visited the House of Sharing, a shelter for former comfort women in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, urging the government to review the agreement from scratch.
"Prime Minister Abe's request is unacceptable. His reference to the statue during the summit is unreasonable," he said.
"The Korean government speaks for the Japanese government regarding the agreement," he added.
Main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae also met a surviving victim, Thursday.
"I vow to fight to recover the victims' honor and dignity," she said.
VIENTIANE, Laos ― President Park Geun-hye refrained from mentioning a statue symbolizing Japan's wartime sexual slavery during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Wednesday.
However, Japan's demand for the removal of the statue, located across the street from the Japanese Embassy will remain a sticking point, according to analysts.
They say disagreements over the comfort woman statue will be the main impediment to improving ties between the two countries.
During a summit, held in the Laotian capital Vientiane on the sidelines of ASEAN-related forums, Abe asked Park to remove the statue as part of a deal reached last December between the two governments to address Korean victims of wartime sexual enslavement, according to Japanese media reports.
Japan claims the statue was included in the deal, which is denied by South Korea.
Under the agreement, a foundation dedicated to compensating the Korean victims was launched in late July funded by 1 billion yen (10.7 billion won) from the Japanese government. In response, Japan has increased its calls for the removal of the statue in return for the financial contribution.
Elements within Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party reportedly pushed for the statue's removal to be made a condition for Japan's transfer of the funds, according to The Japan Times. The full amount was transferred on Aug. 31.
In response to Abe's request, Park stressed the importance of faithfully implementing the deal to develop a future-oriented bilateral relationship without mentioning the statue, Cheong Wa Dae said.
Abe's request came as Seoul-Tokyo relations have shown signs of a thaw following the deal, but it may cast a cloud over the ties that have again been frayed by historical and territorial issues.
In addition, popular negative sentiment on the issue among Koreans also leaves little room for the Korean government to step up efforts for better ties with Japan.
According to a Gallup Korea poll released last week, 76 percent of Koreans said they were against the removal of the statue, with only 10 percent saying that they would support its relocation.
The survey also found that 84 percent thought Japan had not apologized for its wartime sexual slavery, disagreeing with the government's view.
Some surviving Korean victims and civic groups have protested the agreement, citing Abe's lack of a direct apology or acknowledgement of his country's legal responsibility.
"The relationship may be hurt again if Japan continues to make remarks undermining the agreement," said Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University.
The statue depicting an unsmiling young girl staring at the Japanese Embassy was erected in December 2011 by a civic group representing the victims.
A total of 238 Korean victims of the wartime crime have been officially registered. Currently only 40 of them are alive with most dying of old age.
In the wake of the Japanese news reports, the opposition parties slammed the government, Thursday.
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People's Party ― a potential presidential candidate ― visited the House of Sharing, a shelter for former comfort women in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, urging the government to review the agreement from scratch.
"Prime Minister Abe's request is unacceptable. His reference to the statue during the summit is unreasonable," he said.
"The Korean government speaks for the Japanese government regarding the agreement," he added.
Main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae also met a surviving victim, Thursday.
"I vow to fight to recover the victims' honor and dignity," she said.
![[INTERVIEW] German professor hopes to boost appreciation for Korean traditional music](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/bfd15b77cdda4f549455b97d6ce4863c.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
