Seoul OKs Funds to Replace Japan’s Contribution for Comfort Women

July 24, 2018

Seoul- The South Korean government on Tuesday approved a plan to use reserve funds to replace the one billion yen Japan contributed to a foundation for so-called comfort women under a bilateral accord.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said the money will go to a gender equality foundation managed by the ministry, adding Seoul will decide how to use the money through consultation with parties including the Japanese government.

The move is expected to anger Tokyo, which demands the implementation of the 2015 agreement to "finally and irreversibly" resolve the issue of Korean comfort women forced to provide sex to Japanese soldiers before and during World War II.

In January this year, South Korea announced a new policy on the accord with Japan, saying that it will foot the one-billion-yen bill and that it will discuss with Tokyo what to do with Japan's contribution. South Korea also said it will not seek renegotiations of the accord.

Under the agreement, the foundation provided financial support to former comfort women by using the contribution from Japan. It has virtually suspended operations.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Chung Hyun-back has indicated her wish to disband the foundation by year-end at the earliest.

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga expressed displeasure at South Korea's decision to set aside one billion yen to shoulder Japan's contribution.

The South Korean money and its use must not violate or damage the purpose and spirit of the agreement, Suga told a press conference, urging Seoul to implement the accord.

Suga denied Japan will accept a South Korean proposal for consultation on how to spend the reserve funds. Jiji Press