Japanese Media: "Korean Solution Corresponds to Japanese Government's Demand"

"Taking Steps Toward Improving Korea-Japan Relations"

Japanese media evaluated on the 6th that the South Korean government's announcement to pay compensation to forced labor victims from the Japanese colonial period through a foundation reflects Japan's position.

Mainichi Shimbun reported that South Korea's approach to resolving the forced labor issue through a 'third-party payment' method on behalf of Japanese defendant companies means "the Korea-Japan relationship has taken a step toward improvement." It added, "The Japanese government has demanded corrective measures from the South Korean government based on the stance that the forced labor compensation issue was resolved by the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Agreement," and analyzed that "the solution announced by the South Korean government corresponds to these corrective measures."

Foreign Minister Park Jin is announcing a solution for compensation for forced labor victims during Japanese colonial rule on the 6th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The newspaper evaluated Japan's expression of remorse and apology by inheriting the old statement instead of issuing a new apology, stating, "The Japanese government is showing an attitude of reaffirming the 'apology' it has previously expressed and hopes that favorable public opinion within South Korea regarding this solution will expand."

Yomiuri Shimbun also interpreted, "The Japanese government and companies could not accept the South Korean Supreme Court ruling that denied the conclusion that the compensation issue was resolved by the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement," and said, "The South Korean government's solution takes into consideration this Japanese position."

It also highlighted that the South Korean government did not present a solution based on extracting funds from the defendant companies. Yomiuri added, "It appears that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration judged that improving relations with Japan is necessary considering the increasingly tense security environment in Northeast Asia," and elaborated that this decision is a political judgment calculated for national interest.

Japanese media predicted that the compensation plan proposed by the South Korean government is expected to face difficulties due to opposition from some plaintiffs.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Park Jin stated, "The Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to pay the plaintiffs of the 2018 Supreme Court final ruling, who are victims and bereaved families of forced labor, the judgment amount and delayed interest as part of support and relief for forced labor victims."

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