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.
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."
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.
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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."
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