![The government decides to win comfort women… “No additional bills to Japan”[전문]](https://pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202101/23/9311b0ba-b686-4cc6-8f42-78e0bf627165.jpg "The government decides to win comfort women… “No additional bills to Japan”[전문]")
Bust of the late Chun-hee Bae and the deceased grandmothers built in the House of Sharing in Toechon-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. News 1
The government announced on the 23rd that “the government will not claim additional claims to Japan” regarding the judgment that the comfort women victims claimed against the Japanese government for compensation for damages. He explained, “I will work hard until the end of a smooth solution in consultation with the victims of comfort women.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The government acknowledges that the 2015 comfort women agreement was an official agreement between the two governments,” saying, “At the same time, the intentions of the victims were not reflected. It has been revealed that consensus alone cannot truly solve the problem.”
“Accordingly, according to this, the Korean government is not planning to make any additional claims against Japan at the government level,” he drew, saying, “It does not have the right or authority to prevent the victims from raising concerns.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The government will work to the end for a smooth solution by consulting with the comfort women victims, but based on the spirit of responsibility, apology, and reflection that Japan also expressed itself, You will have to show your efforts.”
Previously, the 34th Division of the Civil Agreement of the Seoul Central District Court (President Judge Kim Jeong-gon) said, “Pay 100 million won per person to the plaintiffs” in a lawsuit against the Japanese government by 12 people, including the late Chun-hee Bae, against the Japanese government. The prevailing ruling.
Soon after the ruling, the Japanese government revealed displeasure by inviting South Korean Ambassador Nam Kwan-pyo to Japan, and on that day, Foreign Minister Motegi announced a statement saying, “(The judgment is) clearly contrary to international law, and we are very sorry.”
Foreign Minister Motegi said in a discourse, “I can never accept the judgment,” and “I again strongly demand that the Korean government take appropriate measures to correct violations of international law immediately at the responsibility of the Korean government.”
He also argued that the ruling contradicted the Japan-Korea Claims Agreement in 1965 and the Comfort Women Agreement in 2015.
Full text of the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1. On January 23, 2021, the Japanese government announced a speech in the name of the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the decision of a lawsuit for damages filed against victims of Japanese military comfort women.
2. The Korean government’s position on this litigation decision and the Japanese discourse is as follows.
The Korean government acknowledged that the 2015 Comfort Women Agreement was an official agreement between the two governments. At the same time, it has been revealed that the real problem cannot be solved only by agreements between the governments that do not reflect the intentions of the victims.
Accordingly, the Korean government does not plan to make any additional claims against Japan at the government level, but does not have the right or authority to prevent the victims from raising concerns.
The Korean government will consult with the comfort women victims and endeavor to achieve an amicable solution, but based on the spirit of responsibility, apology, and reflection that the Japanese also expressed themselves, it will make a genuine effort to restore the victims’ honor and dignity and heal the wounds of their hearts. It should be seen.
In addition, the Japanese government should face that the issue of victims of comfort women in the Japanese military is a human rights violation of wartime women unprecedented in the world and a universal human rights violation, and that it violates international laws including international human rights norms.
The Korean government will closely examine the impact of the ruling on diplomatic relations and make every effort to continue constructive and future-oriented cooperation between Korea and Japan.
Reporter Bae Jae-seong [email protected]