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Sat, May 28, 2022 | 10:14
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Victims unsatisfied with agreement
나눔의집 할머니들 "수용못해" vs. "따르겠다" 엇갈려
Posted : 2015-12-28 17:43
Updated : 2015-12-28 20:37
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By Kim Se-jeong

Former sex slaves and civic groups have shown dissatisfaction with Japan's failure to admit its legal responsibility for forcing women into sexual slavery.

They also said the Japanese government's plan to set up a foundation with 1 billion yen ($8.3 million) fund to compensate victims of sexual slavery was insufficient, as money is not the major issue.

They have demanded a sincere and direct apology by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"It seems neither government cares about the victims," Lee Yong-soo, one of the remaining 46 survivors, told journalists in Seoul on Monday after foreign ministers of the two countries agreed to the terms. "I don't count what they have agreed today."

She said Japan says it is apologetic but has not done anything actually, saying she would not accept it as an apology.

"What we want is not monetary compensation but a legal one," she said. "We don't want money. Those who commit crimes must take official, legal responsibility. I will fight until the day I die."

The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan said that the agreement was diplomatic collusion which betrayed victims' and public hope.

"The Japanese government did not say clearly that it is the culprit of the crime," the group said in a statement, raising questions about the sincerity of the apology.

Korea, Japan reach deal over sex slavery
Korea, Japan reach deal over sex slavery
2015-12-28 17:11  |  Foreign Affairs

About the establishment of the foundation, it said, "The Japanese government should actively carry out follow-up measures, but it attempts to pass the buck to the Korean government by setting up the foundation."

Survivor Kang Il-chul also said, "The fund is not different from the Asian Women's Fund. Only the Japanese government's legal compensation and official apology will be the answer for us."

In 1995, the Japanese government set up the Asian Women's Fund to support former sex slaves in Asia. The fund was private and largely funded by private donations from Japanese citizens. It was dissolved in 2007. Seven Korean survivors accepted it, while most others refused, demanding direct compensation from the Japanese government.

However, a few victims said they would accept the agreed deal.

"I know the government has made efforts to resolve the issue within this year, so I'll follow their decision," Yu Hee-nam said during a media briefing at the House of Sharing, a shelter for the former sex slaves.

But she also said the agreement was not satisfactory. "Money is not the issue. We've lived without human rights."

The Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea, a civic group, also said, "The Korean government should not accept the Japanese government's attitude to gloss over the issue with money without taking national, legal and moral responsibility."

Kim Yong-beom, who works for the Korean National Commission of UNESCO, said that establishing the foundation leaves a long way for Japan to go in expressing its true sincerity.

"This means Japan still does not recognize that sex slavery was a crime orchestrated by its government. This whole thing makes me feel like Korea is being treated like a whining child, and Japan is the mother who gives the child money by saying, ‘Take this. That's it. Enough is enough.'"

"I feel this is an easy solution which Koreans will regret later," said Lim Hye-jin, a citizen in Seoul. "We have taken it too quickly. As a woman, the issue is complex and time-consuming, and we should have taken our time instead of rushing to grab what's been offered by Japan."




나눔의집 할머니들 "수용못해" vs. "따르겠다" 엇갈려

'생존 피해자 46명 협의 거쳐야…국제적인 중재위원회 구성 필요'

일본군 위안부 피해 할머니들은 28일 한일 양국 정부가 외교장관회담을 통해 위안부 문제 타결을 발표한데 대해 엇갈린 반응을 보였다.

일부 할머니는 미흡하더라도 정부의 뜻에 따르겠다고 밝혔으나 다른 할머니들은 법적 배상이 빠진 합의를 받아들일 수 없다는 반응을 보였다.

피해 할머니 지원시설인 경기도 광주 나눔의 집 거실에서 TV를 통해 협상 타결 소식을 들은 이옥선(89) 할머니는 '피해 할머니들이 이렇게 고생하고 기다렸는데 정부에 섭섭하다'며 '우리는 돈 보다 명예를 회복받아야 하고 그래서 사죄와 배상을 하려는 것'이라고 이번 합의문에 법적 배상 표현이 빠진 점을 지적했다.

이 할머니는 '연내에 해결하리라고 믿었는데 오늘 보니까 위안부 문제를 해결하려고 하는지 안하려고 하는지 모르겠다. 할머니들이 다 죽기 기다리고 배상할 것 같지 않다'고 섭섭함을 토로했다.

반면 유희남(88) 할머니는 만족은 못하지만 정부 뜻을 따르겠다는 입장을 밝혔다.

유 할머니는 회담 결과에 대해 '저희는 정부의 뜻만 보고 정부가 법적으로 해결할 것만 기다리고 있었다'며 '정부에서 기왕에 나서서 올해 안으로 해결하려고 하니 애쓴 것 생각하니 정부에 하신대로 따라가겠다'고 말했다.

유 할머니는 그러나 '우리가 살아온 지난 날을 생각하면 지금 돈이 문제가 아니고 우리가 인간으로서 권리를 갖지 못하고 살아왔기 때문에 만족은 못한다'고 덧붙였다.

강일출 할머니는 '우리는 강제로 끌려갔다'고 강조하고 '우리한테 물어보지도 않고 합의했느냐'고 합의 과정에서 할머니들의 의견이 배제된데 대해 불만을 표시했다.

피해 할머니들은 주한 일본대사관 앞 소녀상 이전과 관련해서는 한 목소리로 절대로 이전해선 안된다고 강경한 입장을 보였다.

할머니들은 그러나 대부분 고령이고, 합의 내용이 외교적으로 표현된 대목이 많아서 한일 정부간 합의사항에 대한 정확한 이해가 쉽지 않은 탓인지 통일된 입장 정리를 내놓지는 못하는 모습이었다.

이와 관련, 안신권 나눔의 집 소장은 '기대는 많이 했는데 우리 정부가 타결에 앞서 피해 할머니들에게 충분히 내용을 알려주고 협의과정을 거쳤어야 하는데 그렇지 못해 당황스럽다'며 '피해 할머니 한분한분이 피해의 당사자이기 때문에 생존한 46명이 모두 모여 협의과정을 거쳐야 할 것 같다'고 말했다.

안 소장은 '할머니들에게 사전에 설명하지 않고 타결 발표를 한 것을 보면 양자 협의의 한계를 분명히 드러낸 것'이라며 양자간 협의의 한계를 뛰어넘기 위해서는 다자간 중재위원회 구성이 필요하다고 제안했다.

피해 할머니들은 이번 한일 외교장관 회담에 앞서 강제 동원과 법적 책임을 인정하지 않는 진정성없는 사죄는 받아들일 수 없다며 생존한 46명의 할머니들이 한 명이라도 반대한다면 회담 결과를 받아들이지 않겠다는 입장을 견지해왔다. (연합뉴스)
Emailskim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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