Judgment confirms compensation of 1.1 billion won to 11 people, including bereaved family members
Japan “regrettable”… Government promotes ‘third party reimbursement’
The Supreme Court again issued a ruling acknowledging Japanese companies’ liability for compensation to victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period. This is the second ruling, five years after the first recognition of Japanese companies’ liability for damages through a unanimous decision in 2018.
The 2nd Division of the Supreme Court (Chief Justice Lee Dong-won) confirmed on the 21st the original judgment that partially ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking compensation for damages filed by 11 victims of forced labor and their bereaved families against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Steel. With the ruling confirmed, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Steel must pay compensation of 100 to 150 million won per victim plus delay damages to the bereaved family. The total compensation confirmed is 1.17 billion won.
Previously, three victims of forced mobilization and their bereaved family, Mr. Oh, filed a lawsuit against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in February 2014, and seven victims, including Mr. Kwak, filed a lawsuit against Japan Steel in March 2013. Both the first and second trials acknowledged Japanese companies’ liability for damages, but the trial took about 9 years and 10 months, and all three victims who filed lawsuits against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries died.
The Japanese company has continued to argue that it is not liable for compensation because the statute of limitations has already passed. However, on this day, the Supreme Court rejected the claim that the statute of limitations had been completed, saying, “Victims of forced mobilization or their heirs were effectively unable to exercise their rights objectively until the en banc ruling in 2018.”
Regarding the ruling on this day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, a spokesperson for the Japanese government, said at a regular press conference, “This is a very regrettable ruling that clearly runs counter to the Korea-Japan claims agreement and cannot be accepted.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that, like the victims and their bereaved families who received final judgments for compensation in the past, they will pursue ‘third-party reimbursement’ in which the Japanese Forced Mobilization Victims Support Foundation will pay compensation and delayed interest to the victims and their bereaved families who won the case on this day.
Tokyo =
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.