Japan Forced Mobilization Compensation Plan: A Year Later, What’s Next?

◀ Again ▶

As a solution to the problem of compensating victims of forced mobilization during Japanese colonial rule, the government announced a “third-party compensation plan” a year ago, right?

The plan requires our government to pay the compensation that Japanese companies should pay.

Although Korea-Japan relations have made progress, their limitations are becoming evident as the Japanese government and companies have not participated as expected.

Journalist Gong Yun-seon will report.

◀ Report ▶

When announcing the “tripartite repayment plan,” in response to criticism that “there was no direct participation of Japanese businesses,” the government pointed out that the cup was already half full.

[박진/외교부 장관]

“If you compare it to a glass of water, you consider it more than half full. And we expect the cup to be filled further depending on Japan’s sincere response in the future.”

Over the past year, the leaders of South Korea and Japan have met seven times, and the settlement has become a turning point in the tense relations between Korea and Japan.

However, four victims, including grandfather Lee Chun-sik, rejected the “three-way compensation offer”, calling it humiliating.

[이춘식 할아버지(지난해 9월)]

“I went to Japan and had some difficulties there, so it’s not good to leave it to Korea.”

For a year there has been no news of the expected positive response from the Japanese government and companies.

Meanwhile, public funding is running out.

To date, the foundation has secured approximately 4.16 billion won in financial resources from domestic and foreign private sources, including 4 billion won provided by POSCO.

Of this sum, 2.5 billion won has already been paid to 11 victims, but the number of payout recipients continues to increase with further sentences confirmed.

The Japanese government said today that the tripartite repayment plan has helped improve relations between Korea and Japan, but did not mention any follow-up measures.

[하야시 요시마사/일본 관방장관(오늘)]

“I believe the response will be in line with the measures announced by the Korean government in March last year.”

Civic groups have condemned the issue as irresponsible, saying nothing has been resolved since the announcement of the “humiliating solution”, but the officials responsible are running in the general election.

[이나영/정의기억연대 이사장]

“Those who collaborated with anti-national far-right forces and took the initiative to distort history are running as members of the National Assembly representing the people.”

In response to the question that Japanese companies have not participated in the past year, the government responded: “If our government’s solution makes progress, Japan will also respond positively.”

This is Gong Yun-seon from MBC News.

Video Coverage: Wonseok Lee / Video Editing: Byeonggeun Park

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