President Lee Presides Over Cabinet Meeting on the 29th
Proposal to Confer the Order of Civil Merit on Yang Geumdeok Approved
Nearly Three Years After the 'Honor Cancellation Controversy' Under the Yoon Administration
On the 6th, at the 5.18 Democracy Square in Donggu, Gwangju, victim Yang Geumdeok is making a statement condemning the government plan, which centers on third-party compensation as a solution to the forced mobilization issue. Photo by Yonhap News
Yang Geumdeok, who was forcibly mobilized to work at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in the past, has received the Order of Civil Merit nearly three years after the controversy over the cancellation of her previous honor.
On July 29, President Lee Jaemyung presided over a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan and approved the proposal to confer the Order of Civil Merit on Yang Geumdeok.
During the Japanese colonial period, Yang Geumdeok was forcibly mobilized to work at the Nagoya Aircraft Factory of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, where she endured harsh labor. In 2012, Yang Geumdeok filed a lawsuit against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at the Gwangju District Court, and in 2018, she won the final ruling at the Supreme Court. As a result, a legal precedent was established that Japanese wartime companies must compensate Korean victims of forced mobilization for illegal acts committed during the colonial era.
Subsequently, Yang Geumdeok was recognized for her contributions and was named the recipient of the 2022 Korea Human Rights Award (Order of Civil Merit, Moran Medal) by the National Human Rights Commission. However, the award was not finalized because the proposal was not submitted to the Cabinet meeting. At the time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that prior consultation was necessary, which led to speculation that the decision was influenced by concerns over Korea-Japan relations.
On July 17, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed his intention to resume the process of conferring the honor on Yang Geumdeok during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. At the time, Minister Cho, then a nominee, said, "In 2017 and 2018, I visited the victims of forced mobilization twice. I was deeply saddened by the passing of two grandmothers and struggled to control my emotions throughout the visits. I will definitely make sure to resume the process of conferring the honor."
Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Kang Yujeong stated at a briefing on the same day, "President Lee has asked the Minister of the Interior and Safety to conduct a comprehensive review of those whose honors were denied during the Yoon Sukyeol administration to determine whether it is possible to reinstate their awards."
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