Korean Ambassador to Japan summoned: “We cannot accept this in any way.”
On the 23rd, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in an appeal lawsuit filed by Japanese military ‘comfort women’ victims claiming damages against the Japanese government. The Japanese government strongly opposed this ruling, issuing a statement in the name of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and summoning the Korean Ambassador to Japan to protest.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa responded in a statement this afternoon, saying, “(The lawsuit ruling) is extremely regrettable and absolutely unacceptable.” Foreign Minister Kamikawa argued, “This ruling, like the ruling on January 8, 2021, clearly violates international law and the agreement between Korea and Japan.” He continued, “Japan once again strongly demands that Korea take appropriate measures to immediately correct the violation of international law.”
Prior to this, Japanese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Masataka Okano summoned South Korean Ambassador to Japan Yoon Deok-min to protest. According to NHK and Kyodo News, after news of the ruling was announced that day, Deputy Secretary-General Okano told Ambassador Yoon, “The ruling is extremely regrettable,” and “The Japanese government absolutely cannot accept it.” At the same time, he reportedly requested that the Korean government take appropriate measures to correct violations of international law.
On this day, the 33rd Civil Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Koo Hoe-geun, Hwang Seong-mi, and Heo Ik-soo) canceled the first trial ruling in the appeal trial of the damages claim filed by 16 people, including Lee Yong-soo and the bereaved families of the late grandmothers Kwak Ye-nam and Kim Bok-dong, against the Japanese government and awarded a claim amount of 200 million won per person. All acknowledged. It was determined that the Japanese government would also bear the costs of litigation. It overturned the first trial’s decision to dismiss, saying Japan could not be held liable for compensation in accordance with the principle of sovereign immunity.
The court ruled, “Under international customary law, it is appropriate to recognize the jurisdiction of the Korean court over the defendant, the Japanese government,” and “the defendant’s illegal acts in the process of mobilizing comfort women at the time were acknowledged, so reasonable compensation should be paid.”
Jo Hye-sun,
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.