South Korea has announced a compensation plan for victims of forced labor imposed by Japan during the war

South Korea announced on Monday its intention to compensate the victims of forced labor imposed by Japan during the war, but without direct Japanese involvement.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jin Parkdisclosed plans to use a South Korean foundation to compensate victims and their families, expects Japanese companies to contribute voluntarily.

“I hope Japan responds positively to our big decision today, with Japanese companies contributing voluntarily and offering a full apology,” the minister said.

The proposal immediately received the green light from the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishidawho welcomed the plan presented by Seoul to compensate those enslaved by Japanese companies during the The Second World Warand indicated that his government would maintain its apologies for the ordeal suffered by those concerned.

“We have adopted the position expressed by previous cabinets on the vision of history and we will continue to do so,” Kishida told a parliamentary session after Seoul earlier announced its agreed-upon proposal with Tokyo to compensate the people enslaved by Japanese companies during this time. .

The Prime Minister welcomed the plan and said that this decision “will help restore healthy ties between Tokyo and Seoul”, thus maintaining the position already established in 1955 by the then Prime Minister, Tomiichi Murayama, who expressed “sincere apologies” from Japan for the damage caused to many Asian nations.

Likewise, the US Secretary of State, Anthony BlinkHe applauded South Korea’s plans and said he was “inspired by the work (both countries) have done to advance their bilateral relationship.”

Some 780,000 Koreans were recruited into forced labor. during the 35 years of Japanese occupation, according to South Korean data, which does not include women forced into sexual slavery by Japanese soldiers.

South Korea and Japan are regional allies of the United States, but their bilateral relations were strained by Tokyo’s brutal colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

The Japanese press had previously reported that companies in the country could donate to the foundation.

Tokyo insists a 1965 treaty, under which the two countries restored diplomatic ties with an $800 million reparations package in the form of grants and soft loans, settled all claims from the colonial era.

The Seoul government’s plan is to use a local foundation to receive donations from South Korean companies who benefited from the Japanese reparations package of 1965 to compensate the victims.

Park noted that this treaty was key to improving relations between Tokyo and Seoul.

“Korea-Japan cooperation is very important in all fields of diplomacy, economy and security amid the dire international situation and complex global crisis,” Park said.

But the plan has drawn criticism from victims’ groups, who demand financial compensation and a direct apology from the Japanese companies involved.

In 2018, the South Korean Supreme Court ordered some Japanese companies to pay compensation for forced labor during the occupation.

(With information from AFP)

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