Victims Rejecting Forced Labor Solution "Considering Separate Lawsuit for Deposit Invalidity"

Indication of Legal Action to Invalidate Deposit
"Surprise Announcement is Illegal and Unfair"

As the court deposit procedure began for the compensation payments to forced labor victims and their families who did not accept the government's 'third-party compensation' solution, four plaintiffs decided to consider filing a separate lawsuit.

On the 3rd, lawyers Im Jaesung and Kim Seeun, legal representatives for victim Lee Chunsik and the late Jeong Changhee, held a press conference in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul, stating, "Through a separate legal procedure, we will be able to confirm that the deposit is invalid."

They explained, "Once the deposit is completed, the Foundation for the Support of Victims of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Imperialism (hereafter the Foundation) will submit documents confirming the completion of the deposit to the ongoing forced execution case we are handling," adding, "We plan to submit an opinion that the deposit is invalid and request the prompt continuation of the execution procedure."

If the government submits documents related to the deposit in the ongoing forced execution case, they will respond accordingly, and if the case does not proceed swiftly, they will consider asserting the invalidity of the deposit through a separate lawsuit.

They criticized, "The third-party compensation deposit announced today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foundation is an illegal and unjust measure," pointing out that the announcement was made abruptly without proper communication to the parties involved.

They refuted the government's claim that the third-party compensation solution is unrelated to the extinguishment of claims, stating, "If the deposit is made on the premise that it is valid, the claim will be extinguished," and criticized, "Saying that the claim does not extinguish while making a compensation deposit is deceptive."

Previously, the government proposed a third-party compensation solution in which the Foundation under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety would pay the judgment amounts and delayed interest for a total of 15 forced labor victims and their families who received final compensation rulings from the Supreme Court in 2018, on behalf of the Japanese defendant companies. Currently, 11 of the 15 plaintiffs, including one surviving victim, have accepted this plan. Four plaintiffs, including two surviving victims and two families of deceased victims, have maintained their refusal to accept it.

The Foundation initiated the court deposit procedure for the judgment amounts corresponding to the four plaintiffs who have refused the third-party compensation, demanding direct compensation from the Japanese companies.