Moon voices negative view on sexual slavery deal in talks with Abe

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 11, 2017, 17:47 Updated : May 11, 2017, 18:13
 

[Yonhap Photo]


South Korea's liberal President Moon Jae-in took a negative stance over a controversial agreement on Japan's wartime sexual enslavement of women, telling his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, that many Koreans do not endorse the deal forged by his conservative predecessor.

In a telephone conversation, Moon stressed that many South Koreans do not endorse the deal to resolve the emotional issue of "comfort woman" sexually enslaved by Japan's imperial army during World War II, the president's office said. "The reality is that most people here are not accepting the agreement emotionally," Moon was quoted as saying.

The former human rights lawyer did not mention renegotiations but his comment was interpreted as hinting at revising or scrapping the deal. Citing public emotion and reality, Moon called for patient efforts to solve pending issues.

In 2015, Japan agreed to donate one billion yen ($9 million) to a foundation dedicated to supporting the victims of sexual slavery. In return, Tokyo wanted South Korea to tear down the "comfort woman" statues erected by civic groups outside Japanese legations.

At talks with Abe, Moon said historical issues should not hinder efforts to build future-oriented relations and denuclearize North Korea. "Both nations should look squarely to their history" so disputes over their past will not become an obstacle to developing mature relations, Moon said, urging Japanese leaders to respect previous accords.

Tokyo has shown an allergic response to the "comfort woman" statuary especially outside the Japanese consulate in the southern port city of Busan, recalling its envoy in protest. The recall angered South Koreans because it came amid a prolonged power vacuum caused by the impeachment of ex-president Park Geun-hye.

Japan thinks the statues expose embarrassing historical facts and wants Seoul to faithfully implement what was agreed upon in the 2015 deal.

Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women mostly from Korea were forced to work in front-line brothels for Japanese troops. Many South Koreans still harbor deep resentment against Japan over its 1910-45 colonial rule, and they want Tokyo's sincere apology.

Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com


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