Korea files objection to mediation over Japan-funded compensation for wartime slavery victims

Protestors gather in front of a girl statue honoring the victims of sexual slavery by Japan's military during World War II in Seoul, Feb. 11. Yonhap

The government has recently filed an objection to a court mediation for a now-defunct foundation established with Japanese funds to pay damages to a late victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, officials said Friday.

Officials representing the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation submitted the objection last week against the mediation to pay 100 million won ($67,000) to the late victim's bereaved family member, surnamed Kim, according to the gender ministry and legal sources.

Kim's side had earlier won a Korean court case to receive the amount in compensation from the Japanese government. They took further legal action for compensation to be made using the foundation's assets, which the Seoul Central District Court accepted.

The gender ministry, which oversees the foundation, believes it does not need to pay damages on Japan's behalf.

"The foundation has no need to preserve the plaintiff's claim on behalf of Japan," a ministry official said when asked about the objection.

The Japan-funded foundation was established in 2016 to support victims of sexual slavery during World War II under a landmark deal between Seoul and Tokyo the previous year to end their long-running diplomatic row over the victims.

The foundation, however, announced its shutdown in 2018 after Korea called the agreement flawed as it did not reflect the opinions of the victims. The government has struggled to resolve issues surrounding the foundation's remaining assets now worth 6.1 billion won.

Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, were forced to work in front-line brothels for Japanese soldiers during World War II. Korea was a Japanese colony from 1910-45.