Another plaintiff in a South Korean wartime labor case accepts payment in the settlement plan

One of the South Korean plaintiffs in wartime labor cases involving Japanese companies has agreed to pay under a settlement plan proposed by the South Korean government. The plaintiff had objected to the plan and refused to accept payment.

In 2018, South Korea’s Supreme Court ordered Japanese companies to pay compensation to those who say they or their family members were forced to work for the companies during World War II.

The Japanese government says the issue of the right to claim compensation was fully and finally resolved by a bilateral agreement in 1965, when Japan and South Korea normalized diplomatic relations.

The South Korean government announced in March 2023 a plan for a government-affiliated foundation to pay the damages instead of Japanese companies.

Eleven of the 15 people are known to have already received payments from the foundation.

On Wednesday, South Korea’s foreign ministry announced that another person had just received a payment.

Informed sources say the 12th individual is Yang Geum-deok, who had opposed the government’s liquidation plan and refused to accept payment.

The other three people are believed to remain unchanged in their refusal to accept payments under the scheme.

South Korea’s main daily Chosun Ilbo says Yang’s acceptance of the settlement scheme could influence the attitudes of other individuals.

In related moves, South Korea’s top court issued a series of rulings from late last year to early this year ordering Japanese companies to pay damages.

Those decisions have raised concerns that the South Korean government-affiliated foundation could run out of money.