South Korean group pledges to erect more 'comfort women' statues despite Japan’s apology

A South Korean civic group supporting women forced into wartime Japanese military brothels said Wednesday it plans to start a movement to erect both inside and outside the country statues similar to the one located in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul that Tokyo wants removed.

The Korean Council for Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan announced the move as a show of its opposition to Monday's landmark deal between Japan and South Korea aimed at “finally and irreversibly” resolving the longstanding dispute over so-called “comfort women.”

Under the agreement, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said his government will give 1 billion yen (about $8.3 million) to a fund to help those women who suffered.

While the agreement has drawn criticism from the victims and others over Tokyo's refusal to accept formal legal responsibility, many in particular object to the South Korean government's agreement to “make efforts” toward removing the statue.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday quoted a South Korean official as denying Japanese news reports that Seoul agreed to relocate the statue.