Public Debate on Solutions for Forced Labor under Japanese Rule to Be Held Before Seollal Holiday

Solution for Forced Labor Issue Before Lunar New Year?
Gathering Opinions Through Public Hearings and Discussions

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] A public hearing or open forum to find a solution for the victims of Japan's forced labor is expected to be held before the Lunar New Year holiday this month.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 4th that it has decided to undergo an expanded form of public opinion gathering process to prepare a solution for forced labor before the start of the Lunar New Year holiday on the 21st. They plan to finalize and announce the specific schedule soon.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said at the regular press briefing on the same day, "Rather than seeking a solution by setting a fixed deadline, we are conducting close consultations between the Korean and Japanese diplomatic authorities with a sense of urgency." Regarding the possibility of additional opinion gathering, the official said, "It seems that we will review it while observing the expanded form of the opinion gathering process."

Regarding the report by Japan's Sankei Shimbun that the Korean government will present a solution related to forced labor to Japan within this month, the official explained, "Our government has not yet set a specific date in advance to announce a solution," and added, "We are continuously making diplomatic efforts between Korea and Japan."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the 'Korea-Japan Relations Improvement Public-Private Forum,' which was scheduled to be held on the 14th of last month by the Sejong Institute, a private think tank, together with the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, a government-affiliated research institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been postponed. Experts affiliated with the center, domestic scholars, and former diplomats were expected to participate in this forum to discuss solutions and directions for the forced labor issue as well as other Korea-Japan relations issues.