Zainichi Businesspeople Donate to Forced Mobilization Foundation... "Expecting Improvement in Korea-Japan Relations"

Overseas Korean businesspeople in Japan have expressed their intention to donate to the Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Imperialism (hereinafter the Foundation), which is under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and responsible for third-party compensation for victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period.

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

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Deok-gil, chairman of Kaneda Holdings and a second-generation Korean resident in Japan, said on the 10th, "About 11 ethnic Koreans who have lived in Japan for a long time, including newcomers, have decided to participate in donations to the Foundation." The amount of the donation will be determined individually depending on the situation.

The Korea Residents Union in Japan (Mindan), a central organization of overseas Koreans in Japan, also stated that Yeogeon-i, the head of the Tokyo branch, and leaders from various business sectors in Japan will donate in their personal capacities.

The participants in the donation plan to hold a press conference in Tokyo on the 17th. Chairman Kim said, "We originally planned to hold the conference around the 27th, but we moved the schedule forward to allow more people to participate," adding, "We expect the number of overseas Koreans participating in the donation to increase significantly."

Regarding the reason for donating to the Foundation, he explained, "Koreans residing in Japan are concerned about Korea-Japan relations. Although there are various issues between the two countries, we hope the relationship will improve."

Earlier, Mindan welcomed the Korean government's announcement of a solution to compensation for forced labor on the 6th, stating in a press release, "This will be a great opportunity to improve the deteriorated Korea-Japan relations."

Mindan emphasized, "Korea-Japan relations are a matter of life and death for overseas Koreans. The two countries are partners who share the same values and neighbors who must work together. What is needed now is to create a future-oriented relationship based on friendly cooperation."