Bereaved Families of Forced Labor Victims Win Second Trial Against Nippon Steel... Court Orders Payment of 100 Million Won

by Son Seonhee

Published 22 Aug.2024 11:18(KST)

The bereaved families of victims of forced labor under Japanese colonial rule won an appeal lawsuit for damages against the perpetrating company, Nippon Steel. In the first trial, the responsibility of the Japanese company was not recognized due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, but the result was overturned in the second trial.

Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 22nd, the 6-2 Civil Appeal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Kang Kyung-pyo, Lee Kyung-hoon, Kim Je-wook) overturned the first trial ruling, which had dismissed the lawsuit filed by four children of the deceased forced labor victim Jeong Mo against Nippon Steel (formerly Shin Nippon Steel), and ruled that "the defendant (Nippon Steel) shall pay the plaintiff a total of 100 million won."

Jeong was forcibly mobilized to a steel mill in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, from 1940 to 1942. Jeong's family filed a lawsuit in April 2019 claiming about 200 million won.

The first trial ruled against the plaintiffs, stating that the right to claim damages had expired. The right to claim damages expires 10 years from the date the perpetrator committed the illegal act or 3 years from the date the victim became aware of the damage and the perpetrator.

However, the appellate court's judgment was different. Although the forced labor under Japanese colonial rule occurred well over 10 years ago, it recognized that there was a reason why the right to claim damages could not be exercised, and that the right to file a lawsuit is recognized until 3 years have passed from the time this reason was resolved. However, the court did not specify the detailed reasons for the ruling in court.