<Anchor>
The conclusion of a lawsuit for damages claim against the Japanese government by elderly women victims of comfort women in the Japanese military comes out for the first time today (8th).
Considering the impact of the Supreme Court's decision on compulsory conscription on Korea-Japan relations, the result of this sentence is also expected to have an effect on relations between the two countries.
This news is from Ahn Hee-jae.
<Reporter>
In 2013, 12 elderly women victims of comfort women filed an application for civil mediation against the Japanese government asking for compensation of 100 million won per person.
When the Japanese government refused to do this, the grandmothers switched to formal lawsuits in 2016.
The conclusion of the first trial on this case is due today at 9:55 am.
Although they lost four cases before the Japanese courts, this is the first time that the victims have filed a lawsuit in a domestic court.
The biggest issue in the trial is whether or not the court will accept Japan's so-called "sovereign immunity theory," which refused to try the courts of other countries' governments.
The victim's grandmother is confronting that this principle does not apply to crimes against humanity.
It is also a question of whether the effect of the 2015 Korea-Japan comfort alliance will affect this lawsuit.
Of the 12 victims who filed a lawsuit, only 5 are now alive.
Another lawsuit filed by 20 elderly women victims of comfort women is also scheduled to be sentenced next week.
Even if our court decides on compensation to the Japanese government, it is unlikely that the Japanese government will appeal, so there is a high possibility that the sentence will be finalized.
However, as it is a lawsuit for victims of comfort women with strong symbolism in Korea-Japan relations, it is expected to have a significant impact on Korea-Japan relations.