South Korea President Moon calls for Japan’s sincere apology to ex-comfort women

January 10, 2018

SEOUL- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that the comfort women issue will be resolved if Japan makes a sincere apology to victims.

Moon, who took office as president last year, again criticized the 2015 deal on the issue between Japan and South Korea, saying that it was wrong of both governments to try to resolve the issue without involving the victims.

But it cannot be denied that the two nations made an official agreement, he said, stressing his position that the issue cannot be settled by abrogating the agreement for renegotiations.

If Japan recognizes the truth of history, makes a heartfelt apology, draws a lesson from the issue and cooperate with the global community to prevent any such tragedy from happening again, then former comfort women will be able to forgive Japan and a complete resolution will be attained, Moon said.

In the 2015 agreement, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed "his most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women."

As promised in the accord, the Japanese government has contributed one billion yen to a foundation to provide support for former comfort women.

In the press conference, Moon said the South Korean government will pay for the Japanese contribution. How to use the money provided by Japan will be decided through talks with Tokyo and other parties, including the victims, he added.

Meanwhile, Moon expressed his intention to continue taking a "two-track" approach toward Japan, saying that history issues and future-oriented cooperation will be separated.

Moon also showed his willingness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after the reclusive nation agreed to send a team to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February. Jiji Press