Grandfather Lee Chunsik, Victim of Japanese Forced Mobilization, Passes Away at Age 105

Lee Chunsik, a victim of forced mobilization under Japanese colonial rule, has passed away at the age of 105.

Grandfather Lee Chun-sik attending the 2023 Gwangju Metropolitan City-hosted Liberation Day ceremony. Provided by Gwangju Metropolitan City

According to Yonhap News Agency, on the 27th, the Association of Citizens for Forced Mobilization under Japanese Rule announced, "This morning, Mr. Lee passed away due to old age at a nursing hospital in Dong-gu, Gwangju." Mr. Lee, who had been hospitalized at a local hospital, was transferred to the nursing hospital for treatment from the second half of last year as his health deteriorated. In the 1940s, he was forcibly mobilized to the Japanese steel mill of Nippon Steel, the predecessor of Shin Nippon Steel. He endured harsh labor in poor conditions and returned home after Japan's defeat, but never received wages for his forced labor.

Earlier, in October 2018, the Supreme Court recognized the liability of Japanese companies such as Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for damages related to forced labor, but the defendant companies did not accept the ruling. In response, the Korean government announced a solution involving a 'third-party payment method,' where compensation owed by Japanese companies would be paid using funds raised by the Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Rule. Mr. Lee accepted this solution and received compensation and delayed interest in October last year.

The funeral will be held at VIP Funeral Hall Room 201 in Seo-gu, Gwangju, with the funeral procession scheduled for the 29th.

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