Source: NHK World
South Korean President Moon Jae-in says his country’s 2015 agreement with Japan over those referred to as comfort women was defective.
Moon presented the view during a luncheon with 8 of the women at the presidential office on Thursday.
They were joined by the head of a civic group that placed a statue symbolizing such women in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.
According to South Korea’s presidential office, Moon said it cannot be denied that it was an official agreement between the two countries.
But he said it was a defective agreement both in content and in procedure as it was pushed through by the government without listening to the opinions of the victims.
Moon offered an apology on the matter, saying that it cannot be accepted that the comfort women issue has been resolved through that agreement.
The president then indicated his desire to reflect the women’s opinions in his new policy regarding the agreement, which he plans to unveil as early as this month. He said if the women express their thoughts, it would be of help to his government.
Some women said they felt good because the president made it clear that the deal was wrong. Others said what they want is to receive an apology from the Japanese government.
Earlier in the day, Moon also visited another former comfort woman at a hospital in Seoul.
If his new policy reflects the views of those opposed to the agreement, it would put Moon at odds with the Japanese government.
Japan is urging South Korea to steadily implement the deal.