A Survivor of Sexual Slavery During World War II from South Korea Dies

JAKARTA - A victim of sexual slavery of South Korean women by Japan during World War II has died, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said on Saturday.

The latest announcement brings the number of survivors of the Ginseng State's sex slavery officially registered to five.

South Korean Minister for Gender Equality and Family Won Min-kyong expressed condolences to the deceased victim, without revealing his identity, at the request of the grieving family.

"Of the victims registered with the government, only five survivors remain," said Minister Won, as reported by The Korea Times (30/3).

"We will strive to carefully care for and support the remaining survivors so that they can live their lives comfortably, while continuing to strive to restore their honor and dignity," he said.

As of March, there were 240 women officially registered as victims of Japanese wartime sexual slavery, including 235 who had died.

Of the five survivors left, the oldest victim is 97 years old, with an average age of 95 years.

Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, were forced to work in front-line brothels for the Japanese army during World War II. Korea was a Japanese colony from 1910-1945.