Japanese Media: "President Moon Emphasizes Victim-Centered Approach on 'Day of Remembrance'... No Criticism of Japan"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Japanese media on the 14th highlighted the "victim-centered approach" in President Moon Jae-in's congratulatory message sent to the government commemorative ceremony held on the "Day of Remembrance for Japanese Military Comfort Women Victims," noting that there was no criticism of Japan.

Kyodo News reported that at the government event held at Manghyang Hill in Cheonan, President Moon emphasized through a video message that he would "make every effort to devise realistic and feasible measures" to restore the dignity of the comfort women grandmothers.

He further pointed out that "the most important principle in resolving the issue is a victim-centered approach," stating that he would pursue solutions acceptable to the affected grandmothers and focus on research and education related to the comfort women issue, but the message contained no criticism of Japan, the report added.

Kyodo News explained that August 14 is the day when Kim Hak-soon, who first publicly identified herself as a comfort woman in Korea, held a press conference in 1991 to testify about the damage for the first time, and introduced that it was designated as a national memorial day in December 2017 after the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration.

The Asahi Shimbun also evaluated President Moon's congratulatory message, saying, "He avoided criticism of Japan and said he would 'make every effort to devise realistic and feasible measures so that dignity and honor can be restored,' but there were no specific remarks."

NHK reported, "Regarding the comfort women issue, the 2015 Korea-Japan agreement confirmed a 'final and irreversible' solution, but President Moon emphasized the existing stance that a solution acceptable to the comfort women victims must be found." It also highlighted that despite criticisms and investigations over opaque use of donations by comfort women support groups in Korea, President Moon reiterated through his message that "the international community also recognizes it as a 'global peace movement,'" emphasizing that the support activities themselves should not be denied.