Government Prepares to Announce Forced Labor Solution... Japan Likely to Stick to Statement Continuation

As South Korea and Japan engage in last-minute negotiations over compensation lawsuits related to forced labor, there are expectations that the South Korean government will soon officially announce a compensation solution.

The Statue of Peace and the Forced Laborer Statue are installed in Bupyeong Park, Incheon. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 4th that regarding media reports suggesting that a forced labor solution would be announced as early as next week, "We will provide an explanation as soon as consultations conclude." This is the first time the government has mentioned the possibility of concluding the consultations.

In diplomatic circles, it is anticipated that the South Korean announcement will include a plan for the Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to pay amounts equivalent to compensation to the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuits. This is interpreted as an attempt to temporarily block the liquidation of domestic assets of Japanese defendant companies (Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) involved in the forced labor lawsuits. It also appears to reflect a judgment that it is time to accelerate improvements in bilateral relations, such as restoring shuttle diplomacy between the South Korean and Japanese heads of state.

The South Korean government held its first public-private consultative meeting to devise a forced labor solution in July last year. Since then, for over eight months, it has demanded an apology from the Japanese government related to forced labor and participation in compensation from the defendant companies. However, Japan is reported to have maintained its stance that it is difficult to comply.

Therefore, even if the South Korean government officially announces a forced labor solution, Japan is likely to limit its response to expressing a position of continuing past statements that include historical reflection. On the 4th, the Yomiuri Shimbun also reported that if the South Korean government devises a solution, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is coordinating to express a commitment to uphold past statements containing historical reflection.

The compensation funds may be contributed by Japanese companies to other types of funds. The newspaper reported that within Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), a plan is emerging to request financial cooperation from member companies to establish Korea-Japan cooperative projects. It added that this is being considered as a separate measure from the compensation issue, such as providing scholarships for Korean students studying in Japan.

Meanwhile, regarding whether the Japanese government has conveyed to the South Korean government its intention to invite President Yoon Suk-yeol as an observer to the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit to be held in Hiroshima in May, the official said, "Nothing has been decided," and added, "The G7 invitation is a matter for the host country, Japan, to decide." It is reported that Japan has not yet officially communicated an invitation to the South Korean government.

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