Lee Joon-gyu, a former ambassador to India, has been tapped as the new South Korean envoy to Japan and tasked with untangling the unabated controversy over a recent settlement on the “comfort women” issue, sources said Tuesday.

The Foreign Ministry is expected to request an agreement for the 62-year-old career diplomat, replacing Yoo Heung-soo who recently offered to step down. 

Since he began his diplomatic service in 1978, Lee has taken up various posts, including chancellor of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security affiliated with the Korean National Diplomatic Academy, ambassador for overseas Koreans and consular affairs, and ambassador to New Zealand. In Japan, he also worked as a visiting scholar at Keio University and counsellor at the Korean Embassy.

He currently serves as an honorary advisor to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

The most pressing issue at hand would be to follow up on the Dec. 28 agreement, under which Tokyo pledged to provide 1 billion yen ($9.2 million) from state coffers to set up a foundation in Seoul for the victims of the Japanese military’s sex slavery during World War II.

After a series of spats over Japan’s demand for the removal of a statue representing the women, located in front of the Japanese Embassy here, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry is gearing up to launch a steering committee for the foundation as early as later this month.

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