Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday that a landmark deal with Japan on the issue of Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during World War II was reached in accordance with principle.
On Monday, the two countries announced the agreement on the former sex slaves that centered on Japan's admission of responsibility for the wartime crime and plans to pay reparations to the victims.
"(The deal) was reached in accordance with the firm principle that victims' honor should be restored, and their wounds should be healed," presidential spokesman Jeong Yeon-guk said.
Several local civic groups and the opposition party have said they cannot accept the deal as the Japanese government avoided legal responsibility.
Under the deal, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologized to the South Korean victims and Tokyo agreed to provide 1 billion yen (US$8.3 million) in reparations to the victims through a fund to be created by the Seoul government.
South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn also said that Japan should carry out its promise so that victims can be healed to some degree.
"The government has firm principles that the honor and dignity of the victims of sexual slavery should be restored and their wounds inside their hearts should be healed," Hwang said during a Cabinet meeting.
The prime minister further noted that the government will try its best so that the livelihood of victims will be supported through the fund. (Yonhap)
