Democrats: "Japan's shameless attitude despite losing comfort women lawsuit... Blame Yoon's submissive diplomacy"

The Democratic Party of Korea urged on the 9th that "the Yoon Suk-yeol administration abandon its submissive diplomatic stance and respond firmly to the Japanese government," in relation to Japan's continued non-response principle even after losing the second damages claim lawsuit filed by former military comfort women victims.

Chief Spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung said at a briefing that "the reason the Japanese government is responding so shamelessly is because of the submissive diplomacy toward Japan shown by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration," expressing this view.

Grandmother Lee Yong-soo.
Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 23rd of last month, the Seoul High Court ruled in favor of 16 plaintiffs, including Grandmother Lee Yong-soo and the families of the late Grandmothers Kwak Ye-nam and Kim Bok-dong, in the appeal trial against the Japanese government, ordering Japan to pay compensation for illegal acts. Since the Japanese government did not file an appeal by the midnight deadline on this day, the ruling was finalized as is.

In this regard, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko reaffirmed the principle of non-response to the trial the day before and said, "We want to demand that the Korean side take appropriate measures."

Chief Spokesperson Kwon sharply criticized, saying, "It is a bizarre situation where President Yoon Suk-yeol grants impunity for Japan's war crimes and even leads efforts to cover up the past, prompting the Japanese government to demand 'appropriate measures.'"

He continued, "If the Yoon Suk-yeol administration frustrates the victory, which was achieved through the victims' tearful struggle, by turning it into 'humiliating diplomacy toward Japan,' it will not be able to avoid criticism from both the public and the international community."

Chief Spokesperson Kwon raised his voice, saying, "The Yoon Suk-yeol administration should recall the intent of the judiciary's ruling and respond firmly to the Japanese government so that the comfort women victims can receive a sincere apology and proper compensation from Japan."