FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Seoul must take action on removal of girl statue

Seoul must take action on removal of girl statue

To prevent any further deterioration of bilateral relations between Japan and South Korea, the latter must take concrete action to sincerely fulfill its commitments as agreed in a bilateral deal over the issue of comfort women.

Thursday marks one month since Japanese diplomatic officials, including Ambassador to South Korea Yasumasa Nagamine, temporarily returned to Japan from South Korea. The measure was taken in response to the issue of the statue of a girl symbolizing comfort women that was installed in front of the Japanese Consulate General in Busan late last year. 
The prolonged length of the latest withdrawal is undeniably unusual, when compared with the 13-day withdrawal in 2012 by the then Japanese ambassador to the country in protest over a visit by then South Korean President Lee Myung Bak to the Takeshima islands in Shimane Prefecture. The installation of the statue contravenes the spirit of the Japan-South Korea deal, which was concluded in December 2015, and was intended as a “final and irreversible resolution” to the comfort women issue, which stipulated efforts by the South Korean side for removal of a similar statue of a girl installed in Seoul. It is also problematic in light of the Vienna Convention, which stipulates the protection of diplomatic establishments and consular institutions.
It seems self-evident that the government will not be able to make the ambassador return to his post until visible efforts have been made by the South Korean side to address this issue.
Among the possible reasons underlying the inaction is the paralysis of the South Korean government’s functions, prompted by the suspension from active duty of President Park Geun-hye. But any excuse to the effect that the government’s capacity to deal with the matter is limited due to the fact that the statue was installed by a civic group is a mere attempt to shirk responsibility out of fear of arousing public opposition. The statue of the girl was at one point forcibly removed by the Dong District administrative office in Busan immediately following its installation, for being in violation of the public road traffic law.
Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo Ahn made a statement that: “It will require time, but the South Korean government will make concerted efforts to overcome this.” He must put his words into action by, for instance, dispatching senior government officials to Busan who will discuss the issue with officials from the local government and the civic group.
In accordance with the bilateral deal, Japan contributed 1 billion yen to a foundation in South Korea. As of the end of last year, more than 70 per cent of former comfort women or their bereaved families had accepted assistance money from the foundation. Only through steadfast fulfilment of its agreed-on obligations can the South Korean government be evaluated as a “country that honours its promises” by the international community.
The head of the pro-Seoul Korean Residents Union in Japan, or Mindan, visited South Korea earlier this month and made a request to Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se that the statue be removed.
Of concern is a suggestion made publicly by the left-leaning Minjoo Party of Korea, the largest opposition party in South Korea, that measures be taken in repost to Japan’s move, namely the temporary withdrawal of the South Korean ambassador in Tokyo and return of the ¥1 billion funds to Japan.
As a start, the South Korean side should engage in earnest discussions with the Japanese side to resolve the current deadlock. It must also take constructive administrative measures towards removal of the girl statue. Once palpable efforts by South Korea are in evidence, it will also be essential for Japan, for its part, to demonstrate a flexible response.

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