Gwangju Seo-gu Council's Resolution to Reject the Government's Humiliating Forced Mobilization Solution

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho] The Gwangju Seo-gu Council announced a resolution urging the "Government to Abandon the Humiliating Forced Mobilization Solution" immediately after the closing of the 309th extraordinary session on the 6th.

The resolution titled "Government to Abandon the Humiliating Forced Mobilization Solution," which was primarily proposed by Seo-gu Council member Im Seong-hwa, was adopted unanimously.

This resolution contains a message criticizing and demanding the immediate withdrawal of the "Third-party Compensation Plan for Forced Mobilization Victims," which was formalized through a government public forum last month.

All members of the Seo-gu Council stated that this resolution is a "humiliating solution that disregards the human rights and dignity of the victims," and strongly urged ▲ the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to abandon the humiliating forced mobilization solution ▲ and the enforcement of Supreme Court rulings against war crime companies.

Council member Im strongly criticized, saying, "One cannot help but ask whether the government of the Republic of Korea is a government for Korean citizens or for Japanese people. The Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s forced mobilization solution is tantamount to abandoning the judicial sovereignty of the Republic of Korea."

He continued, "Previous governments have made strong apologies and compensation demands to Japan from the victims' perspective, but the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is absurdly thinking of persuading Korean victims because they cannot persuade the Japanese side," adding, "I seriously want to ask if they perceive forced mobilization victims as mere disadvantaged neighbors. Any solution that does not premise Japan’s acknowledgment and apology for war crimes will not escape the judgment of history."

Meanwhile, the government has sparked controversy by proposing at the recent public forum that the entity responsible for paying compensation to forced mobilization victims be a foundation under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, rather than Japanese war crime companies, and that funds be raised from domestic companies and others.

Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho bless4ya@asiae.co.kr