Bereaved Families of Forced Labor Victims Receive Compensation via 'Third-Party Payment' for the First Time

Foundation for Support of Victims of Forced Mobilization by Japan, Payment of Judgment Money
Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Difficult to Verify Individually... Will Explain Progress Soon"
Supreme Court Confirmed Compensation Judgment for 15 People... 3 Survivors

It has been confirmed that some of the bereaved families of forced labor victims during the Japanese colonial period have received compensation according to the "third-party payment" solution.

According to diplomatic sources on the 13th, the Foundation for Supporting Victims of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Rule (hereinafter the Foundation) recently paid the judgment amount and delayed interest to some bereaved families of victims who received a final compensation ruling from the Supreme Court. The amount paid per victim was reported to be around 200 million KRW, combining the compensation ordered by the Supreme Court and five years of delayed interest.

Citizens are passing in front of the Forced Laborer Statue installed at Yongsan Station Plaza in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially announced on the 6th of last month the solution (third-party payment) that the Foundation would pay the judgment amount and delayed interest for 15 forced labor victims who received a final compensation ruling from the Supreme Court in 2018, on behalf of the Japanese defendant companies. Since then, the government and the Foundation have been individually meeting with victims and their families to explain the solution and seek their understanding. The funding was planned to be secured through voluntary contributions from the private sector, and with a donation from POSCO on the 15th of last month, the basic funding was secured.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "It is difficult to verify each case individually considering the wishes of the victims and their families regarding the payment of the judgment amount," but added, "There will soon be an opportunity to provide an update on the progress related to the payment of the judgment amount." The official also explained, "This solution is to realize the legal rights of the victims and their families according to the Supreme Court ruling and is unrelated to the extinction of claims."

Meanwhile, there are 15 victims who received a final compensation ruling from the Supreme Court, of whom three are still alive. The bereaved families of deceased victims hold the right to receive the compensation.