By Chung Min-uck
The Korean government may opt for an arbitration process for the compensation of individuals who suffered sexual enslavement during Japan’s colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, according to the foreign ministry.
The fresh tactic comes as Japan has not answered to South Korea’s previous calls to hold talks to discuss the matter.
During the period, Japan drafted reportedly nearly 200,000 women, mostly Koreans, and forced them into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during World War II. These war-time victims are also known as “comfort women.” Of these, 65 of the Korean victims remain alive.
“We have requested bilateral talks on the compensation issue twice. If it cannot be solved bilaterally through diplomacy, there is no other choice but to settle it through arbitration,” an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on condition of anonymity Sunday.
The issue resurfaced in September when the Constitutional Court ruled that the government must take effective measures for the war-time victims who suffered through sexual slavery during the Japanese colonial era.
The following month, Seoul officially requested Tokyo hold bilateral talks on the issue. But Japan remained silent, insisting that compensation had already been paid in accordance with the Treaty of Basic Relations between Korea and Japan in 1965.
Tokyo again didn’t respond to the Korean government’s request for dialogue to discuss the matter this month. In the treaty, Seoul agreed to demand no additional compensation after having received $800 million.
The Korean government refutes Japan’s claim, arguing the issue can’t be regarded as being fully resolved by the treaty signed in 1965 since it was a crime against humanity.
Seoul claims that there is a provision in dealing with the settlement process, which states that the two sides resolve the issue in question through talks. If this doesn’t work out, it continues to stipulate that the issue can be sent to the arbitration committee.
The two sides will each appoint a representative to three-person panel of judges and the third from another state.
“We are currently drawing up a list of candidates that would be suitable as an arbitrator,” said Choi Suk-inn, head of the foreign ministry’s task force for dealing with the sexual slavery issue.
Choi added that his team is mulling the right time to initiate the arbitration process.
Arbitration will start only when Japan accepts South Korea’s offer. Experts here are skeptical about the prospects of starting the process as the Japanese government is unlikely to agree.
In line with the move, the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee doubled next year’s budget for the establishment of the arbitration panel.
Meanwhile, Muto Masatoshi, Japanese ambassador to Korea, visited the foreign ministry Friday, asking for confirmation on a local news report that Korea is planning on building tourist attractions on Dokdo.
Japan’s sovereignty claims over the eastern islets of Dokdo remain a thorn in Seoul-Tokyo ties.
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