South Korea's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the Japanese company in a lawsuit in which former South Korean workers and their families were seeking damages from a Japanese machinery manufacturer over issues related to "recruitment" during the Pacific War. The judgment ordering compensation has been finalized.
Concerning issues surrounding ``recruitment,'' former Korean workers and their families have demanded compensation from Fujikoshi, a machinery manufacturer based in Toyama Prefecture, alleging that they were ``forced to do harsh labor.'' In all three cases, Korean courts have ordered compensation in the first and second instances, and Fujikoshi has appealed.
On the 25th, South Korea's Supreme Court dismissed all three appeals, stating that ``the individual claims of the plaintiffs are not within the scope of the Japan-Korea Claims Agreement of 1965,'' and the judgment ordering compensation was finalized. Did.
The Japanese government maintains that the issue surrounding "recruitment" has been resolved through the Japan-Korea Claims Agreement, but the South Korean Supreme Court has ordered Japanese companies to pay compensation in 12 cases to date. .
According to a support group for the plaintiffs, there are approximately 60 similar cases pending in the first and second instances, and it is expected that such decisions will continue in the future.
Meanwhile, the South Korean government has indicated that a government-affiliated foundation will make payments to the plaintiffs on behalf of the Japanese company once the judgment has been finalized.