Foreign Affairs Committee Faces Difficulty Coordinating Schedules Between Ruling and Opposition Parties
Lee Jae-myung: "Humiliating Compensation Proposal... Victims Devastated"
Presidential Office Emphasizes Decision for Strained Korea-Japan Relations
The Democratic Party of Korea is intensifying its offensive against the government and ruling party regarding the 'third-party compensation' approach to reparations for victims of forced labor during Japanese colonial rule. In response to the People Power Party's request to postpone the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee meeting in the National Assembly due to President Yoon Suk-yeol's visit to Japan, the opposition declared it would hold the meeting unilaterally if necessary. At the same time, they pressured President Yoon, calling the current compensation plan a 'self-compensation plan' and the 'greatest humiliation in diplomatic history.' The presidential office is actively emphasizing that the solution was sought focusing on the need to improve Korea-Japan relations through security and economic achievements to sway public opinion, but political conflicts over the forced labor compensation plan continue.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
On the 13th, Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, raised his voice at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning, saying, "President Yoon Suk-yeol continues to spout sophistry regarding the forced labor compensation plan," and added, "The public is watching with wide-open eyes to see which country's government this administration belongs to and whose future it serves. I urge President Yoon to awaken."
The government officially announced on the 6th the 'third-party compensation' plan, where Korean companies compensate victims of forced labor on behalf of Japanese war crime companies. Despite President Yoon's explanation that this is a 'decision for the future,' criticism from the opposition, mainly, that it grants Japan a free pass, has not ceased. In particular, grandmother Yang Geum-deok, a victim of forced labor, clearly expressed her refusal to accept this method, saying, "I would never accept such money even if I died," which has intensified the Democratic Party's offensive.
Lee said, "(President Yoon) insists that this compensation plan, the greatest humiliation in diplomatic history, is a decision for the future and a campaign promise to the people," and evaluated, "The people are stunned, and the victims are heartbroken." He continued, "Japan is elated by the government's humiliating surrender declaration, and the Japanese Foreign Minister stated that forced labor did not exist. I question whether this is the future President Yoon spoke of," and criticized, "This is not the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi declaration based on Japan's sincere apology but a rehash of the Kim Jong-pil-Ohira collusion that sold out the past for a few coins."
On the same day, the Democratic Party planned to raise urgent questions related to the forced labor compensation plan at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. The People Power Party proposed holding the committee meeting after the Korea-Japan summit scheduled for the 16th to discuss the visit's outcomes and other issues all at once. However, the Democratic Party insisted on holding a plenary meeting at 10 a.m. even if unilaterally, inviting grandmother Yang Geum-deok, a forced labor victim, as a witness. Nevertheless, the committee meeting has been delayed as no agreement was reached between the ruling and opposition party secretaries by the scheduled time.
Kim Tae-ho, chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, told reporters that "the two party secretaries are still discussing the participation of witnesses, and considering the president's visit, we are comprehensively discussing the timing of the meeting," adding, "We will know whether to hold the meeting today once the secretaries reach an agreement, but currently, there is indeed a difference in positions."
The Democratic Party launched the 'Anti-Humiliation Diplomacy Committee on Japan' at the party level on the same day, stepping up comprehensive pressure on the government and ruling party. Party leader Lee also attended the committee's launch ceremony to lend support.
As the opposition's offensive and public criticism of the forced labor compensation plan intensify, the presidential office is actively explaining and taking a direct approach.
The presidential office released a YouTube Shorts video the day before, showing a statement: "We clearly stated the urgent need to resolve the forced labor issue promptly and to revitalize security, economy, and cultural exchanges in Korea-Japan relations. We will inherit the spirit of Kim Dae-jung and Obuchi and cooperate with a future-oriented approach."
This remark was made by President Yoon at the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting on the 7th. It is unusual for the presidential office to release the closing remarks video of the president's Cabinet meeting. Typically, press coverage is allowed only up to the president's opening remarks, and closing remarks are usually conveyed through briefings by spokespersons.
The presidential office's decision to take a direct stance ahead of President Yoon's visit to Japan on the 16th and 17th and the Korea-Japan summit with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is interpreted as a response to criticism from the opposition and others labeling the forced labor solution as a 'secret treaty.' Additionally, public opinion polls show a majority opposing the forced labor issue's resolution, raising concerns that the visit's achievements and significance might be diminished.
The presidential office prominently featured a sign on President Yoon's desk reading "The Buck Stops Here" in the Shorts video, emphasizing that this solution is President Yoon's responsible decision to resolve the strained Korea-Japan relations over the past five years under the previous administration.
Despite the significant political burden, the presidential office's release of President Yoon's remarks reflects the recognition that Korea-Japan relations must normalize to overcome challenges amid the North Korean nuclear crisis, global bloc formation, and supply chain disruptions. The administration also aims to create a tangible turning point in relations through this visit.
In this context, there is speculation that President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida may announce a new Korea-Japan cooperation joint declaration focusing on ending hostility and establishing an economic and security strategic partnership. Furthermore, amid escalating North Korean nuclear and missile threats, the normalization of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is expected. The Park Geun-hye administration signed GSOMIA in November 2016 to share military and social information about North Korea between Korea and Japan. However, Japan opposed it in July 2019 following South Korea's Supreme Court ruling on forced labor, and the Moon Jae-in administration notified its termination in August 2019. Since GSOMIA is considered necessary not only for Korea-Japan but also for Korea-US-Japan security cooperation, both governments view its restoration as essential.
Expansion of exchanges between Korean and Japanese companies is also anticipated. During President Yoon's visit to Japan, the Federation of Korean Industries and Japan's Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) plan to hold a business summit in Japan. The summit is expected to be attended by the heads of the five major conglomerates: Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics, Chey Tae-won of SK Group, Chung Eui-sun of Hyundai Motor Group, Koo Kwang-mo of LG Group, and Shin Dong-bin of Lotte Group. Additionally, the government plans to promote public diplomacy in areas such as future generations and culture. First, the Federation of Korean Industries and Keidanren declared the joint establishment of a 'Future Youth Fund' (tentative name) to support projects for future generations, and the government is reportedly considering measures to expand youth exchanges.
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