Japan-Korea comfort women controversy re-erupts
SEOUL As one of the most emotive legacies of the Pacific War raised its head in a Seoul court, Japan-South Korea relations have once again been placed on a collision course with no off-ramp in sight.
A Seoul court on January 8 ordered the Japanese government to pay compensation of almost $100,000 each to 12 comfort women. Judgment in a separate case, bought by 20 comfort women, was meant to be reached on January 13 but has been delayed.
On the surface, it may appear to be a simple case of victimhood and long-delayed justice particularly given that similar suits filed in Japanese courts in the 1990s and 2000s had failed.
But there is nuance. The situation pits Koreas simmering historical grievances against Japans insistence that the court judgments breach prior bilateral agreements and ignore compensation previously paid.
https://asiatimes.com/2021/01/japan-korea-comfort-women-controversy-re-erupts/
The "comfort women" controversy is just a focal point for a lot of Korea-Japan animosity. They really don't get along.