The South Korean Foreign Ministry has declined to comment on the controversy over a Harvard University professor’s denial of Japan’s wartime sex slavery.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Choi Young-sam said in a media briefing on Thursday that it is desirable for the government to restrain from taking a detailed stance on academic works by a private scholar, at least for now. 

However, Choi relayed Seoul’s emphasis that historical facts on the issue, including the victimhood of the women involved, have been already and universally verified through testimonies from countless victims and investigations by global organizations. 

He said the South Korean government will continue making efforts to enhance the international community’s perception on the nature of the issue while working simultaneously to strengthen commemoration of the victims and research at home and abroad. 

The spokesperson’s remarks were made in response to Harvard University law professor John Mark Ramseyer, who claimed in his latest research paper that victims of Japanese wartime sex slavery were willing prostitutes.