Japan's Mitsubishi submits Judge Kim Yang-ho's 'Forced Labor Ruling Document' as evidence in damages lawsuit

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan submitted the 'dismissal judgment' by Seoul Central District Court Chief Judge Kim Yang-ho as reference material in a damages lawsuit filed by forced labor victims.

On the 18th, Judge Park Se-young of Civil Division 94 at Seoul Central District Court held a hearing for the damages lawsuit filed by forced labor victim Yang against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. This case is one of dozens of lawsuits filed by forced labor victims against Japanese companies.

The court stated that "the defendant recently submitted a judgment as reference material." This judgment was issued by the Civil Division 34 (Chief Judge Kim Yang-ho) of the same court, which recently dismissed all damages claims filed by 85 forced labor victims against Japanese companies. A dismissal is a decision made without examining the merits when the lawsuit does not meet procedural requirements.

This judgment caused controversy as it ruled that individual victims' claims for damages are included in the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement, making it impossible to file lawsuits.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries appears to have submitted the material considering this point. Starting with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, it is likely that Japanese companies will continue to submit such judgments as reference materials in various lawsuits. More than 20 lawsuits filed by forced labor victims are currently pending at Seoul Central District Court alone.

The legal representative of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries submitted this judgment to the court as reference material and requested during the hearing, "Please adjourn the trial until the appellate court reaches a conclusion on this judgment."

The court responded, "There are several precedents from the Supreme Court, and since no final position has been reached yet and it is unknown when it will be, the hearing date will be scheduled later."