Citizen Group: "Yoon Must Withdraw Third-Party Compensation Proposal for Forced Mobilization"

Civil society organizations urged President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is set to visit Japan the next day, to withdraw the third-party compensation plan for forced labor victims. They also emphasized that if Japan does not show any change in its stance on historical issues and the Dokdo dispute, the summit talks should be called off.

Ahead of the Korea-Japan summit, participants hold placards calling for the nullification of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's forced mobilization solution and for apology and compensation at a press conference hosted by the Korea-Japan Historical Justice and Peace Action held on the morning of the 15th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 15th, civil society groups including the Korea-Japan Historical Justice and Peace Action held a joint press conference around 11 a.m. at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The civil society organizations stated that Japan must apologize and provide compensation regarding historical issues. They said, "President Yoon must secure a sincere apology and compensation from Japan on historical issues, including the forced labor issue and the Japanese military sexual slavery issue, so as not to be ashamed before history." They added, "Three surviving forced labor plaintiffs have stated that the government's solution insults the victims and can never be a resolution to this issue." The government announced on the 6th that it would promote a third-party compensation plan in which a domestic foundation, instead of Japanese companies, would compensate the victims of forced labor confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Furthermore, they urged that if Japan does not show a progressive attitude, the Korea-Japan summit talks should be terminated. Former Chairperson of the National Institute of Korean History, Lee Man-yeol, said, "If there is no change in Japan's progressive stance on historical issues and the Dokdo dispute during the summit with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, the talks should be called off." He added, "Improving Korea-Japan relations without any tangible gains would be a humiliating concession that would lead the relationship between Korea and Japan to an even greater catastrophe."

President Yoon will visit Japan for a one-night, two-day trip starting the following day. On the first day of the visit, he is scheduled to hold a summit with Prime Minister Kishida and attend a dinner. The government has expressed its intention to promptly implement the third-party compensation plan.