I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Sex slavery victims to get more aid from Seoul City
By Kang Hyun-kyung
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will beef up financial support for 17 survivors of wartime sex slavery living in the city.
It will raise the monthly allowances to 700,000 won from 500,000 from next year as the Seoul Metropolitan Council passed an ordinance calling for bolstering support for the wartime victims mobilized by Japan during World War II.
Lee Jung-chan, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, said, “We, city council members, agreed to approve such a measure for the survivors because most of them are in their late 80s or early 90s and their health is rapidly declining,” Lee said.
He said some council members were cautious about the subsidies because they are concerned about overlapping measures for the victims as they also receive financial support from the central government.
“Despite such concern, most of us shared the view that we need to do whatever we can because they are the victims of an unfortunate history.”
There are 58 registered wartime sex slaves across the nation. Among them, 17 are living in Seoul.
They receive 980,000 won of monthly living allowances and 12.3 million won of annual medical treatment fees from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
In addition, newly-registered sex slavery survivors are entitled to 43 million won of one-time allowances.
Some local governments also provide separate financial support. For instance, Gyeonggi Province grants monthly allowances of 600,000 won.