▲ Elderly victims shout "Hurrah" in joy in front of the Supreme Court building in southern Seoul on Jan. 25, 2024, following the top court's finalized ruling that ordered Japanese company, Nachi-Fujikoshi, to pay them damages for forcibly mobilizing them for labor during World War II when Korea was under Japan's colonial rule. (Yonhap)

foreign ministry-forced labor suit

Foreign ministry stresses ongoing communications with Japan after forced labor ruling

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea maintains close communications with Japan over bilateral issues, the foreign ministry said Thursday, after Tokyo voiced regret over the South Korean top court's ruling in favor of Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court finalized the lower courts' rulings on three separate compensation suits filed by 23 forced labor victims and family members of other victims between 2013 and 2015 against Japanese engineering firm Nachi-Fujikoshi.

Under the rulings, Nachi-Fujikoshi should pay between 80 million won (US$59,880) and 100 million won to each plaintiff, with the total amount at 2.1 billion won, plus interest for the delayed payment.

Following the ruling, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed strong regret over the court decision, saying that it is unacceptable.

"We say that we are communicating closely (with Japan) over key issues between South Korea and Japan," ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a briefing, without commenting further.

"Japan is fully aware of our situation and we, the government, maintain our stance that we intend to pay the damages and delayed interest to the victims and family members in accordance with the March resolution," a foreign ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

In March last year, President Yoon Suk Yeol said South Korea will compensate the forced labor victims on its own without asking for contributions from liable Japanese companies, a decision hailed by Tokyo that led to a dramatic warming of bilateral relations.

Many Koreans were forced to toil at Japanese mines and factories during World War II, when Korea was under Japan's colonial rule. The issue has remained a major thorn in bilateral ties.

Japan claims all reparation issues were settled in a 1965 treaty that normalized bilateral relations. But South Korean courts have delivered rulings in favor of the victims seeking compensation and an apology from Japan.

The foreign ministry was noncommittal about a separate court approval this week on the seizure of the funds deposited by a Japanese company over the damages for forced labor.

On Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court granted a request filed by a forced labor victim to seize the money deposited by Hitachi Zosen Corp. for damages.

"We are aware that procedures, such as seizures and collection orders, are in progress in accordance with relevant laws and regulations," Lim said, without elaborating.

If completed, it will mark the first case in which the funds from a Japanese company are transferred to a forced labor plaintiff in the midst of many other similar trials. The legal procedures for the seizure are expected to take about one or two months.

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