Despite persistent controversy over the fate of a memorial for the survivors of Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement, Japan ought not to raise the issue as a precondition for the transfer of the pledged 1 billion yen ($9.8 million) for a newly created fund, its chief warned Sunday. 

Kim Tae-hyeon, president of the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, was adamant that last December’s settlement with Seoul would be annulled if Tokyo insisted on removal of the statue in front of its embassy in Seoul.

“We have made it clear, and you have to trust us on this, it won’t happen that the 1 billion yen would not come in because of the statue or our government takes the money on the condition that it will be removed,” she said during an interview with local media.

“If Japan brings up the statue issue, I will step down from the current post, and I believe other board members would follow suit.”

Also, by refusing to provide the funds upon the pretext of the statue, Japan would be violating the agreement and face international isolation, according to Kim, who is also a professor emeritus in social welfare studies at Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul.

Following a months-long political tug-of-war at home and with Tokyo, the public-private foundation held its inauguration ceremony late last month, with the aim of carrying out programs to console the victims and their families with the Japanese donation.

Yet Seoul is struggling to quell unrelenting protests against the deal among some victims, opposition lawmakers and activists.

Out of Japan, a spate of controversies have erupted over possible prerequisites for the money’s wiring and its future use.

With the two countries slated for director-general-level talks this week, news reports from Tokyo have said the Japanese side would suggest some of the funds be spent as a scholarship for Korean students studying in the archipelago country. Seoul dismissed the reports, saying the bulk of it will be used to support the sex slavery victims.

“At first I thought the 1 billion yen was not enough. ... But compromise means you fight to elicit the most benefits possible -- if not the best, you should get the second best,” Kim said.

“I will make efforts to meet and convince the opponents to the agreement, while re-explaining the support process to those who I’ve already seen. We will also need to conduct therapy to help them regain honor and dignity as well as healing activities, which will take quite some time.”

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)