President Moon: "The door for consultation on forced labor victims with Japan is wide open... We will work together" (Update)

President Moon Jae-in is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 75th Liberation Day celebration held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on the morning of the 15th. 2020.8.15 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] On the 15th, marking Liberation Day, President Moon Jae-in addressed the issue of forced labor under Japanese colonial rule, stating, "We respect the judiciary's rulings and have been negotiating with the Japanese government to find an amicable solution acceptable to the victims, and we continue to keep the door to negotiations wide open."

President Moon attended the '75th Liberation Day Celebration' held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul that morning and said in his congratulatory speech, "Our government is always ready to sit down face-to-face with the Japanese government." At the same time, regarding the Supreme Court ruling that determined the 'right to claim compensation for illegal acts' raised by forced labor victims has not expired, he firmly stated, "It holds the highest legal authority and enforceability within the territory of the Republic of Korea."

President Moon emphasized, "We will work together with Japan to uphold democracy based on the separation of powers, universal human values, and the principles of international law," adding, "I believe that the joint efforts of Japan and Korea, which respect the human rights of individuals, will become a bridge of friendship and future cooperation between the peoples of the two countries."

The president's message appears to express a willingness to persuade Japan by highlighting that respecting the human rights of forced labor victims during the Japanese colonial era and resolving this issue is not a 'state versus state' conflict but can serve as a foundation for future cooperation.

Among the four forced labor victims who filed a damages lawsuit against Japanese conscription companies in 2005, three have already passed away. President Moon said, "The only surviving elder, Lee Chun-sik, said last year, when Japan's export restrictions began, 'I wonder if Korea is suffering losses because of me,'" adding, "We will confirm that protecting the dignity of an individual is never a loss to the country."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.