Posted on : Jan.9,2020 18:12 KST
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On Jan. 6, attorneys and civic groups representing victims of forced labor hold a press conference in Seoul to announce a proposal for solving the historical dispute between South Korea and Japan regarding forced mobilization during the latter’s colonial occupation. (Kim Hye-yun, staff photographer)
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Negative response from Japanese chief cabinet secretary makes it unlikely proposal will be discussed in depth
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On Jan. 6, attorneys and civic groups representing victims of forced labor hold a press conference in Seoul to announce a proposal for solving the historical dispute between South Korea and Japan regarding forced mobilization during the latter’s colonial occupation. (Kim Hye-yun, staff photographer)
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After South Korean and Japanese attorneys and civic groups representing victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial occupation proposed that the countries set up a consultative body, the South Korean government announced on Jan. 8 that it would seriously discuss this proposal, among others, with Japan.
“In regard to the issue of forced labor, the government is open to discussing various reasonable solutions while bearing in mind our respect for the decision of the judiciary, [the need] to respect the rights of the victims, and our bilateral relations with Japan,” South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement distributed to reporters on Wednesday.
“The government will be assessing this proposal to set up a consultative body with Japan with respect to this position. Moving forward, we will be paying heed to this and a variety of other opinions from all sectors as we continue to deliberate closely with Japan in search of a solution.”
On Jan. 6, legal teams representing the victims of forced labor who have already prevailed at the Supreme Court or who are pursuing separate lawsuits, the groups supporting the victims, and Japanese attorneys held separate press conferences in Tokyo and Seoul during which they proposed setting up a consultative body to explore ways to find a complete solution to the issue of forced labor. The governments of South Korea and Japan need to support this consultative body, the groups said, and respect the outcome of its deliberations.
But Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Jan. 7 that Japan had “absolutely no interest” in the proposal. That negative response makes it unlikely that South Korean and Japanese diplomats will discuss the proposal in depth.
By Kim So-youn, staff reporter
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