Directors of “comfort women” foundation with Japanese funding have submitted their resignation. Around Five of the eight directors have resigned till now. The resignations of all five private-sector members on the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation’s board were dated Dec 26, and raise the possibility that its management may have effectively ceased.
The foundation was formally launched in July last year with 11 board members as part of the implementation of a 2015 agreement between South Korea and Japan concerning Korean women forced to work in Japan’s wartime military brothels.
Earlier in the begining of last year, two stepped down and President Moon Jae In, who has maintained a critical view of the agreement, took office in May. In July, Gender Equality and Family Minister Chung Hyun Back, whose portfolio covers issues involving comfort women said, “The foundation would be subject to a complete review.” The inaugural head of a foundation, Kim Tae Hyeon announced her resignation later that month.
The remaining three directors are all public servants dispatched by the government. The five resignations were submitted a day before a report critical of the 2015 deal was released by a government task force.
A foundation official said, “The five board members, who were appointed under the previous administration of ousted President Park Geun Hye, “decided they should step down” given the certainty of an unfavorable review.”
The foundation was in charge of providing cash payments to victims and their families from a 1 billion yen (about $8.8 million) fund disbursed by Japan. Of the 47 former comfort women who were still alive when the agreement was reached, 36 of them or their bereaved families have received their intent to receive the funds.
