The ruling and opposition parties expressed conflicting opinions over the government's reported plan to announce a solution for compensation of forced labor victims during Japanese colonial rule using a 'third-party payment' method. The opposition Democratic Party criticized it as "a stain on history," prompting the People Power Party to retaliate, questioning, "Does the Democratic Party have the right to lecture the new government?"
Park Seong-jun, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a National Assembly briefing on the 5th, "It is said that the government will announce a solution for compensation of forced labor victims during Japanese colonial rule tomorrow. Instead of direct compensation from Japanese forced labor companies, there is a high possibility that a 'third-party payment plan' will be announced, where economic organizations from both countries establish a 'Future Youth Fund' to pay the compensation." He added, "This wrong agreement, which will hurt the victims once again and only fuel public anger, will be recorded as a historical stain."
Park questioned, "For whom is this solution and what is this agreement for? It is not an agreement for the victims, nor is it an agreement to hold Japanese forced labor companies accountable. It is an agreement that covers up and exempts Japan's responsibility for its past and is solely for Japan's benefit."
He also brought up President Yoon Seok-yeol's March 1st Independence Movement Day speech from earlier this month. Park said, "Was this the reason President Yoon blamed our ancestors and advocated improving relations with Japan in his March 1st speech? After damaging the spirit of the March 1st Movement, is he now trying to insult the forced labor victims and our people?"
He continued, "If the government insists on forcing humiliating agreements on forced labor victims, it should rather not make any announcement. The Democratic Party will continue to demand responsible compensation, reparation, and sincere apologies from Japan together with the people."
The People Power Party immediately issued a rebuttal statement. Park Seong-ha, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "It is the Moon Jae-in administration and the Democratic Party who relied on anti-Japanese sentiment and engaged in pro-Japanese collaboration as a traitorous leading force. They have done nothing new or achieved anything except being thoroughly used by Kim Jong-un's sweet lure of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. It is laughable to see them swarm like hornets when they say they will restore the Korea-Japan relationship they themselves ruined."
He added, "If they had seriously sought diplomatic solutions with Japan, they could have formed an arbitration committee according to the Claims Agreement. Yet the Moon administration did nothing."
Park also questioned, "Last September, former President Moon criticized the new government's North Korea policy by saying that inter-Korean agreements are 'promises that must be respected and implemented even if the government changes.' Does someone who trampled on international agreements for populism and political strife have the right to lecture the new government?"
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