Ministry of Foreign Affairs Explains 'Forced Labor Solution Plan'... Communication Begins This Week

Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Contacting Victims to Clearly Explain Government Position and Progress"

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which announced a compensation plan for forced labor victims, stated that it plans to actively communicate with the victims going forward.

On the 7th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The (Victim Support) Foundation supporting forced labor victims and the Ministry will contact the victims to thoroughly explain the government's position and progress so far, and make efforts to help them understand sincerely and seek their consent."

Foreign Minister Park Jin is announcing a solution for compensation for forced labor victims during Japanese colonial rule on the 6th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

The day before, Foreign Minister Park Jin announced a plan centered on the Victim Support Foundation paying the plaintiffs who received a final Supreme Court ruling in 2018 the judgment amount and delayed interest on their behalf. Since the plan does not include the perpetrating companies’ ‘direct’ compensation participation or Japan’s ‘direct’ apology, there has been considerable opposition to this compensation plan.

At a regular briefing that day, spokesperson Lim said, "We will continue to listen to the victims’ opinions, enhance their understanding, and seek their consent." He added that they are communicating with most of the 15 victims who received the final Supreme Court ruling, but two victims have not been reachable even through victim support groups or litigation attorneys, so communication has not been established.

Regarding criticism that communication with the victims itself could be perceived as pressure to agree to the government’s plan, spokesperson Lim said, "The government’s efforts are to inform the plaintiffs that they can exercise their rightful claims according to the Supreme Court ruling," and "We do not agree with the opinion that this constitutes pressure."

On the issue of the Japan-South Korea summit and whether President Yoon Suk-yeol will visit Japan, he said, "Nothing has been decided yet."

The judgment amount the 15 victims are to receive, including delayed interest, is approximately 4 billion KRW. The funds for the judgment amount are expected to be raised by the foundation through voluntary contributions from private companies. Companies expected to contribute include 16 firms that benefited from the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement, such as POSCO and KT&G.

Among them, POSCO promised to donate 10 billion KRW to the foundation in 2012, contributed a total of 6 billion KRW in 2016 and 2017, and has withheld the remaining 4 billion KRW support.