By Kim Hyo-jin
South Korea and Japan have agreed to offer 100 million won ($89,600) in cash to each surviving Korean victim of Japan’s wartime sex slavery and 20 million won ($17,900) to the families of the deceased victims.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of the countries’ foreign ministers in Tokyo this week, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday.
The victims’ group has repeatedly said what they want is not money, but a sincere apology from Japan.
“The money is to heal the wounds and recover the dignity of the victims who were coerced into sexual servitude for Japanese soldiers,” a ministry spokesman said.
The official said more detailed plans will be set up on how to use the 1 billion yen ($9.97 million) provided by Japan to the foundation for the victims that was started here in July.
“The foundation will measure the demands and distribute the money based on that,” the official said
The foundation will also determine the scope of other humanitarian projects for the sex slavery victims based on the agreement reached by the Korean and Japanese governments.
The announcement came after the Japanese government endorsed the plan to contribute 1 billion yen to help the Korean sex slavery victims during a Cabinet meeting, Wednesday.
The plan was pledged during a landmark deal between Seoul and Tokyo late last year.
On Dec. 28, South Korea and Japan reached a deal in which Tokyo expressed an apology for its colonial-era atrocities and agreed to start a foundation dedicated to supporting the surviving victims of sexual slavery. Japan also promised to contribute 1 billion yen for the foundation.
The foundation is expected to engage in aid projects for sex slavery victims such as providing medical and welfare services.
Controversy still surrounds the nature of the money to be offered by the Japanese government.
The Korean government views it as a form of compensation based on Tokyo’s recognition of its responsibilities for the wartime atrocities as the money will be provided by the Japanese government.
But some of the victims and activists say the foundation is not meaningful as long as Japan does not admit its “legal” responsibility for the sexual slavery.
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his counterpart Fumio Kishida met Wednesday on the sidelines of the trilateral meeting between the top diplomats of South Korea, Japan, and China and agreed to “faithfully” honor last year’s deal.