Korean victim of Japanese wartime sexual slavery dies

Statues of the deceased "comfort women" who were forced into wartime sexual labor by Japan during World War II are displayed at the House of Sharing in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, on March 6. [NEWS1]

Another Korean "comfort woman" who was a victim of Japanese wartime sexual slavery during World War II has passed away, the Gender Equality Ministry announced Tuesday. The total number of known surviving comfort women now stands at nine.

Without disclosing the identity of the deceased victim upon the request of the bereaved family, Gender Equality Minister Kim Hyun-sook said it is "heartbreaking" to witness another victim pass away.

Kim pledged to take care of the remaining survivors and continue to push ahead with campaigns aimed at recovering their honor and dignity.

Of the 240 wartime sexual slavery comfort women victims registered with the government, only nine survive, all of whom are in their 90s.

Historians estimate up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, were forced to work in frontline brothels for Japanese troops during the war.

BY SOHN DONG-JOO, YONHAP [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]