Human Rights Commissioner on Forced Labor Solution: "Not Just Simple Debt, Apology Needed"

Government Must Ensure Victims Are Acknowledged and Apologized To

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Song Doo-hwan, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, criticized the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's solution to the forced labor victims issue during Japanese colonial rule, which centers on third-party compensation.

On the 7th, Chairman Song stated in a press release, "The issue of compensation for forced labor victims is not simply a matter of financial claims and debts, but concerns the restoration of the victims' human dignity through acknowledgment of human rights violations and an apology."

Chairman Song pointed out, "While the government's efforts to resolve the issue are commendable, it is very concerning to evaluate the resolution as having been achieved through third-party compensation without acknowledgment and apology for human rights violations."

He continued, "Unfortunately, in recent years, the Japanese government and companies have not demonstrated an attitude of recognizing the seriousness of human rights violations and taking responsibility through their related statements and actions," adding, "It is highly inappropriate to claim that the compensation issue for individual victims was resolved by the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement, which was concluded to settle financial claims and debts between the two countries through political agreement."

Chairman Song also criticized that the approach does not comply with international standards at all.

According to the "Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law," adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2005, compensation should include official apologies involving acknowledgment of facts and acceptance of responsibility, as well as commemoration and memorialization of victims.

Chairman Song stated, "We request that the Korean government continue its efforts to ensure that forced labor victims receive the acknowledgment and apology they rightfully deserve from responsible Japanese companies and the Japanese government."