Court Rules "No Collection of Litigation Costs from Japan"... Dismissal of Appeal by Comfort Women Grandmothers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The court rejected the appeal filed by the comfort women victims who opposed the court's decision that they could not collect litigation costs from Japan despite winning the damages lawsuit.

The Civil Division 34 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Yangho Kim) announced on the 18th that it dismissed the appeal against the 'Decision on Collection from the State Treasury as the Party Responsible' filed by the late Chunhee Bae and other comfort women victims. Dismissal means concluding the case without examining the merits when the plaintiff lacks the qualification or requirements to file a lawsuit. The court explained the reason for the decision, stating, "It is clear that the period for filing an immediate appeal under the Civil Procedure Act has passed for this appeal."

Earlier in January, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the first comfort women lawsuit against Japan, ordering Japan to pay 100 million won per person and cover litigation costs. However, after the court personnel changes in February, which replaced all members of the bench, the court on its own initiative issued a decision stating that litigation costs that Japan should bear could not be collected.

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