Steven Beger Photography via flickr
“We respect the court decision, and we will try to heal the wounds of victims of forced labor,” said a spokesman for the South Korean Foreign Ministry, quoted by YTN television.
According to the decision of the Supreme Court, each of four former workers and a relative of one of the victims of forced labor should receive 100-150 million won ($ 89-133 thousand) each. Payments for the second lawsuit from six former employees amount to 80 million won each.
The decision of the South Korean court was expected. In late October, a similar court decision was made for the suit of former employees of another Japanese company, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. The court awarded four claimants compensation in the amount of $ 88.7 thousand each.
Japanese Foreign Minister Tarō Kōno decisively refused to accept the decision of the South Korean court, pointing out that the agreement between Tokyo and Seoul of 1965 had already settled the issue of reparations of the Japanese side relating to the period 1910-1945, when Korea was a colony of Japan.
Kōno also said that the verdict of the Supreme Court of South Korea is a violation of international law and that Tokyo will take countermeasures, including appealing to international bodies.
In turn, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba summoned the South Korean ambassador to express an official protest on this case, reports YTN.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea appealed to the Japanese authorities to calmly respond to the decision of the South Korean Supreme Court.
"It is a pity that the Japanese government continues to overreact to our judicial decision and calls for restraint," said a spokesman for the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
source: yonhapnews.co.kr
According to the decision of the Supreme Court, each of four former workers and a relative of one of the victims of forced labor should receive 100-150 million won ($ 89-133 thousand) each. Payments for the second lawsuit from six former employees amount to 80 million won each.
The decision of the South Korean court was expected. In late October, a similar court decision was made for the suit of former employees of another Japanese company, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. The court awarded four claimants compensation in the amount of $ 88.7 thousand each.
Japanese Foreign Minister Tarō Kōno decisively refused to accept the decision of the South Korean court, pointing out that the agreement between Tokyo and Seoul of 1965 had already settled the issue of reparations of the Japanese side relating to the period 1910-1945, when Korea was a colony of Japan.
Kōno also said that the verdict of the Supreme Court of South Korea is a violation of international law and that Tokyo will take countermeasures, including appealing to international bodies.
In turn, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba summoned the South Korean ambassador to express an official protest on this case, reports YTN.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea appealed to the Japanese authorities to calmly respond to the decision of the South Korean Supreme Court.
"It is a pity that the Japanese government continues to overreact to our judicial decision and calls for restraint," said a spokesman for the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
source: yonhapnews.co.kr
