"Civil Rights of Citizens Hindered to Appease Japan, Says Group"
On March 7, 2023, at the emergency press conference urging Japan's apology and compensation and condemning the forced mobilization compensation solution enforcement held on the stairs in front of the National Assembly main building in Yeouido, Seoul, then Lee Jae Myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and grandmother Yang Geum Deok are greeting each other. Photo by Kim Hyun Min
The Citizens’ Group for Japanese Forced Mobilization stated on July 30, "Although the awarding of the Order of Civil Merit to Grandmother Yang Geumdeok has finally been reviewed and approved, this is only the beginning of correcting delayed justice."
The citizens’ group, which supports victims of forced labor, issued a statement on this day, saying, "In December 2022, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommended Grandmother Yang Geumdeok, a victim of forced mobilization, as a final candidate for the Republic of Korea Human Rights Award. However, the previous administration’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposed this, resulting in the award being canceled."
The group continued, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also submitted an unprecedented opinion letter to the court regarding the Supreme Court case on the special liquidation order for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ assets in Korea (patent rights and trademark rights). They effectively requested the court to postpone the ruling on the forced sale case, citing the need for 'diplomatic time with Japan.'"
The group emphasized, "Because of this, the Japanese defendant companies that should be held accountable have effectively been given a free pass. In an attempt to appease Japan, the legitimate exercise of rights by our citizens has been obstructed."
The citizens’ group asserted, "This award should also serve as an opportunity to correct the third-party compensation method for forced mobilization implemented by the previous administration. In March 2023, when President Lee Jaemyung was the leader of the Democratic Party, he strongly criticized the third-party compensation plan announced by the Yoon Sukyeol administration, calling it 'the greatest disgrace in diplomatic history, comparable to the humiliation of Samjeondo.' The third-party compensation must be immediately halted."
President Lee Jaemyung, during a cabinet meeting held the previous day, instructed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to conduct a comprehensive review of those who refused the medals during former President Yoon Sukyeol’s administration and to examine whether the medals could be re-awarded.
On this day, the cabinet also approved the agenda to award the Order of Civil Merit to Grandmother Yang Geumdeok, a victim of forced mobilization into the Mitsubishi Labor Corps, whose decoration had been revoked under the previous administration.
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