Seoul, March 7 (NationPress) - South Korea's Minister of Gender Equality, Won Min-kyong, extended an official apology on Saturday to former sex workers whose rights were compromised in the now-closed brothels situated near American military installations. This marks the first formal acknowledgment from the government regarding these injustices.

As the minister responsible for gender equality and women's rights, I offer my heartfelt apologies to the victims for the state's actions that violated their human rights at Gijichon,” stated Won in a message commemorating International Women's Day, observed on Sunday.

“We are committed to ensuring that the history of the human rights violations endured by these victims is not erased and that they can live with dignity, fully restoring their honor,” she continued.

This apology comes more than three and a half years after the Supreme Court ordered the state to compensate 95 former sex workers from these establishments, with amounts ranging from 3 million to 7 million won (approximately US$2,086-$4,866). These brothels, known as “base villages” or “Gijichon” in Korean, were located around U.S. military bases, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

The victims initiated legal proceedings in 2014, asserting that the government facilitated these practices by designating such areas and enabling these establishments to function, effectively endorsing prostitution.

Additionally, the National Assembly passed a bill last month aimed at penalizing the dissemination of false information regarding victims of sexual slavery perpetrated by Japan during World War II, which could result in up to five years of imprisonment for offenders, according to the gender ministry.

This legislative amendment to protect victims of wartime sexual slavery was ratified during a plenary session.

Under this new law, individuals spreading misinformation through various media platforms, including newspapers, broadcasts, exhibitions, and rallies, may face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won (about US$34,100).

However, exemptions apply for actions taken for artistic, academic, research, or journalistic purposes, which are considered legitimate expressions of free speech.

The revised legislation also mandates authorities to periodically review statues and symbols honoring the victims.

“This amendment will provide an opportunity to firmly establish social norms to rectify historical inaccuracies and address any disrespect towards the victims,” stated Gender Minister Won Min-kyong.

The updated law is set to take effect three months following its promulgation.