Japanese Government Indicates Noncompliance with South Korean Court's Order to Disclose Assets in Korea

Court Orders Asset Disclosure Following Comfort Women Victims' Victory
Kato Chief Cabinet Secretary Again Asserts Dokdo Sovereignty Claim

Kato Katsunobu Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The Japanese government has indicated its intention to defy the Seoul Central District Court's order to disclose its assets in South Korea.

On the 16th, Kato Katsunobu, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, stated at a regular press conference, "The Seoul Central District Court ruling from January this year clearly contradicts international law and agreements between South Korea and Japan. We deeply regret this and have consistently expressed that we cannot accept it."

Kato also added, "Japan will continue to strongly demand that South Korea take appropriate measures to assume national responsibility and rectify violations of international law concerning issues such as the comfort women lawsuits."

Earlier, 12 comfort women victims, including the late grandmother Bae Chun-hee's family, filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government at the Seoul Central District Court, demanding 100 million won per person in damages, and won the case in January this year.

In this lawsuit, the Japanese government did not respond, citing the principle of "state immunity" (sovereign immunity) under customary international law, which exempts sovereign states from the jurisdiction of foreign courts. Even after the first trial ruling, Japan did not appeal, confirming its loss.

After the ruling was finalized, the Japanese government's continued non-response led the plaintiffs to request the Seoul Central District Court in April to order the Japanese government to disclose its assets in South Korea to collect the damages.

On the 9th, Judge Nam Seong-woo of the Civil Division 51 at the Seoul Central District Court accepted this request and ordered the Japanese government to disclose the list of its assets in South Korea.

At the press conference, when asked about Japan's response plan regarding this order, Kato refrained from commenting on judicial procedures in South Korea.

However, he reiterated that Japan cannot accept the January ruling on compensation for comfort women victims, which underpins the asset disclosure order, indirectly indicating Japan's intention to effectively defy the asset disclosure order.

The Japanese government has maintained that historical issues related to forced labor and comfort women victims were resolved through the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Agreement and the 2015 agreement between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Meanwhile, regarding whether Japan is reviewing countermeasures related to the "East Sea Territory Defense Drill," a Dokdo defense exercise conducted by South Korean military authorities the previous day, Kato repeated Japan's claim that "Takeshima (the name Japan claims for Dokdo) is clearly our country's (Japan's) inherent territory based on historical facts and international law." He added, "We are also conducting necessary reviews and preparations according to the situation."

However, he added that he would avoid disclosing specific details as it could affect future responses.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He did say, however, "I believe it is important to gain the correct understanding of the international community to resolve the Takeshima issue," explaining that Japan is strengthening external public relations activities through its embassies worldwide.

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