Mitsubishi Requests Supreme Court to Suspend Asset Sale... Mentions 'Korean Government's Diplomatic Efforts'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, which received a special cash conversion (sale) order for trademark and patent rights from our courts to compensate victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, is reported to have recently submitted a written opinion to the Supreme Court.

In this written opinion, Mitsubishi mentioned the South Korean government's "diplomatic efforts" and reportedly requested that the final judgment be postponed.

According to the legal community on the 4th, Mitsubishi stated this in the supplementary reasons for appeal and re-appeal submitted to the Supreme Court on the 20th and 29th of last month, opposing the Daejeon District Court's order to sell trademark and patent rights related to forced labor victims grandmothers Yang Geum-deok and Kim Seong-ju.

Mitsubishi reiterated its existing position that the claim rights issue of forced labor victims was already resolved by the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Agreement and that it should be discussed by an arbitration committee including third countries, not judged by our courts. It is also reported to have made a new argument to the effect that "the Korean judiciary's decision on the sale order should be postponed until a solution to the compensation issue for forced laborers is finalized."

It is understood that the fact that the public-private consultative body, in which our Ministry of Foreign Affairs participates, is making diplomatic efforts was also used as a basis. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently submitted a written opinion to the Supreme Court emphasizing "diplomatic efforts."

However, the Citizens' Group for Forced Mobilization during Japanese Colonial Rule, which has supported grandmothers Yang Geum-deok and Kim Seong-ju, criticized the government for attempting to delay the procedure for realizing the victims' rights and is not participating in the public-private consultative body.

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