Seoul-Tokyo WWII sex slaves’ information will not be disclosed, top court rules
- In 2015, the two countries signed a controversial deal on the sexual enslavement of South Korean women by imperial Japan during World War II
- The ruling is viewed as favouring President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been striving to improve relations with Japan that were strained under Moon Jae-in
The Seoul Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took appropriate measures by refusing to disclose the minutes of a controversial Korea-Japan deal on former sex slaves signed in 2015, upholding a decision by an appellate court.
The latest ruling is viewed by many as favouring President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been striving to improve the country’s relations with Japan that were strained during the previous Moon Jae-in government due to disputes over historical issues, including recognising and compensating former sex slaves.
“The lower court handed down the right ruling and did not misunderstand legal principles regarding information subject to disclosure under the Public Information Act,” the top court said in its ruling.
On December 28 of 2015, the government signed a controversial deal with Tokyo on the sexual enslavement of Korean women by imperial Japan during World War II.
The accord said the two countries would resolve the dispute over the sex slaves in a “final and irreversible” manner. But the deal only complicated the historical row, being criticised by many groups, including Korean victims of Japan’s wartime sex slavery, for being hastily signed without reflecting the opinions of victims, while Japan has insisted that Korea should adhere to the agreement.
An official at the top court explained that the government’s deal with Japan was the result of the foreign ministry’s negotiations with the Japanese government.
