NextFin news, SEOUL, South Korea — On Monday, Japan and South Korea publicly clashed at the United Nations over the issue of wartime sexual slavery compensation. Japan defended its stance, describing South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese compensation as violations of international law. South Korea, in its response to U.N. human rights rapporteurs, called on Japan to "squarely face up to our painful history" and criticized Tokyo's refusal to comply with court orders, which has denied victims payment.
The dispute was brought to light following letters sent in July by a group of U.N. investigators to Japan, South Korea, and other countries with victims of wartime sexual slavery. The investigators criticized these governments for failing to ensure access to truth, justice, remedy, and reparations for survivors. Japan and South Korea were given 60 days to respond, with only their responses posted on the U.N. website on Monday.
Japan reiterated its long-standing position that all compensation matters with South Korea regarding sexual slavery victims were settled by past agreements, including the 1965 treaty normalizing relations and a 2015 deal aimed at resolving differences on the issue. Japan's permanent mission in Geneva stated that recent South Korean court rulings violated the principle of state immunity and urged Seoul to take appropriate measures to remedy breaches of international law.
South Korean courts have ordered compensation for victims in rulings from 2021 to 2025, which Japan has refused to comply with, citing sovereign immunity and the 1965 treaty. South Korea contends that sovereign immunity does not protect foreign states from accountability for crimes against humanity or wrongful acts committed on its territory against its nationals.
The issue remains a major point of contention between the two U.S. allies in Asia, despite recent efforts to stabilize bilateral relations and strengthen trilateral cooperation with the United States to address regional challenges, including the North Korean nuclear threat.
Historians estimate that tens of thousands of women from across Asia, many Korean, were forced into military brothels by Japan during World War II. At the time of the 2015 agreement, 46 of the 239 registered victims in South Korea were still alive; now only six remain. Japan has expressed regret over the wartime sexual slavery and previously established a fund from private contributions to compensate victims before it expired in 2007. However, many South Koreans view Japan's past statements and actions as lacking sincerity and legal responsibility.
The ongoing dispute was highlighted in letters exchanged at the U.N. on Monday, underscoring the enduring rift over historical grievances despite diplomatic efforts to improve ties.
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