It has been three years since the Supreme Court of South Korea handed down a ruling ordering Japanese companies to compensate for the issue of "recruitment" during the Pacific War.

As the procedure for selling the assets of Japanese companies progresses, the prospect of a breakthrough remains uncertain.

In South Korea, three years ago, on October 30, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling ordering Nippon Steel to compensate for "recruitment," and the following month, it also ordered Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to compensate.



The Japanese government has settled this issue based on the Japan-Korea Claims Agreement of 1965, and said that the ruling that ordered Japanese companies to compensate and the related judicial procedures violated international law, and corrected the violation state to the Korean government. I'm looking for.



In response, President Moon Jae-in reiterated his intention to seek a diplomatic solution in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Kishida on the 15th of this month. There is still a large gap between positions, such as saying, "There is a difference in the interpretation."



In Seoul, a group supporting the plaintiffs held a press conference on the 28th, during which the South Korean government took over the compensation once, and then said that it "does not seem to agree" with the "subrogation payment" to be charged to the Japanese side. He emphasized that he remains in a position to seek compensation and apology from Japanese companies.



The South Korean district court issued the first decision last month to allow the sale of some assets of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries seized in South Korea, and the prospect of a breakthrough remains as the procedure for the sale of assets of Japanese companies is proceeding. Is not ...

There is a possibility that the problem will be postponed to the administration next to the South Korean president next year.

Regarding the issue of "recruitment" during the Pacific War, Professor Lee Won-duk of South Korea's Kung Min University, who is familiar with Japan-South Korea relations, said, "The Mun Jae-in administration has positioned this issue as a victim relief issue rather than a diplomatic issue. He has taken the position that "because it is a civil trial, there is a limit to intervention." If the diplomatic issues were dealt with appropriately immediately after the decision, the relationship between the two countries would not have deteriorated so much. "



He added, "Korea will enter the political affairs ahead of next year's presidential election, and it will not be easy for the Mun administration to make an electric shock decision on the issue of'recruitment'." Pointed out the possibility of being postponed to.



On the other hand, "The sale of assets of Japanese companies will exceed the'red line'. The problem-solving ball is on the Korean side, but Japan is also proactive so that the Korean government can prepare an environment for problem-solving. We should work together to resolve the issue, "he said, saying that it is necessary to hold a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of Japan and South Korea as soon as possible.