Seoul:<Text>
The government has recently filed an objection to a court mediation involving a now-defunct foundation, established with Japanese funds, intended to pay damages to a late victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, officials revealed on Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, officials from the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation submitted the objection last week concerning the mediation that sought to distribute 100 million won (US$67,000) to the bereaved family member of the late victim, identified by the surname Kim. Although Kim's side had previously won a court case in South Korea to receive the compensation from the Japanese government, they pursued further legal actions to utilize the foundation's assets for this purpose, which the Seoul Central District Court approved.
The gender ministry, which supervises the foundation, maintains that it is not obligated to pay damages on behalf of Japan. A ministry official stated, "The foundation has no need to preserve the plaintiff's claim on behalf of Japan," when addressing the objection.
The Japan-funded foundation was initiated in 2016 as part of a landmark agreement between Seoul and Tokyo, aiming to support victims of sexual slavery during World War II and to resolve their prolonged diplomatic conflict over these victims. However, the foundation announced its closure in 2018 after South Korea criticized the agreement as flawed, citing that it failed to consider the victims' views. The government continues to face challenges in managing the foundation's remaining assets, currently valued at 6.1 billion won.
Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, predominantly from Korea, were coerced into working in front-line brothels for Japanese soldiers during World War II. Korea was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.
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