A victim of Japan's sexual slavery of Korean women during World War II has died, reducing the number of officially registered survivors to five, South Korea's gender ministry said. Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong offered condolences without disclosing the victim's identity, as requested by the family. She pledged continued support for the remaining survivors.
South Korea's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on March 28 that another victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery has died. This leaves five officially registered survivors.
Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong expressed condolences without revealing the deceased's identity, in line with the bereaved family's request. "Of the victims registered with the government, only five survivors remain," Won said. "We will strive to carefully take care of and support the remaining survivors so they can spend their lives comfortably, while continuing efforts to restore their honor and dignity."
As of March, 240 women were registered as victims, with 235 having passed away. The five survivors have an average age of 95, and the oldest is 97.
Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, mostly Korean, were forced into front-line brothels for Japanese soldiers during World War II. Korea was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.
The ministry plans to continue supporting the survivors' livelihoods and efforts to restore their honor.
