Japanese Foreign Minister "Protests to Korean Government Over Mitsubishi Asset Sale"

Motegi Toshimitsu, Japanese Foreign Minister
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu stated on the 28th that he conveyed a protest regarding the South Korean court's decision to order the sale of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' trademark and patent rights.

At a press conference that day, Foreign Minister Motegi said, "Last night, I protested to the Korean side through diplomatic channels in Seoul. This morning, I requested a meeting with the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Korean Embassy in Japan."

The day before, Judge Kim Yong-chan of the Civil Division 28 of the Daejeon District Court accepted the application for a special cash conversion (sale) order of trademark and patent rights filed by grandmothers Yang Geum-deok (92) and Kim Seong-ju (92), victims of the comfort women system, against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

This is the first time a sale order has been issued on the assets of a defendant company that avoids compensation responsibility in a case where a final judgment of victory has been made in a Japanese forced labor compensation lawsuit.

Foreign Minister Motegi said, "I have repeatedly told the Korean side that cash conversion of (Japanese company assets) should be avoided as it would cause a serious situation between South Korea and Japan," and added, "We will demand that a solution acceptable to Japan be proposed."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu, the Japanese government spokesperson, also stated that day, "It is extremely regrettable that despite the Korean side naturally recognizing Japan's position that (cash conversion of Japanese company assets) should be avoided, such movements have occurred."

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