[Soup] Thrilling 'forced conscription debate' amid loud protests

News summary on the way home from work, evening briefing.

One of the biggest pending issues in Korea-Japan relations is the issue of compensation for victims of forced labor, and the government has unveiled a solution in an open forum.

However, the victims' demands were not met, so they encountered strong opposition.

The debate venue also went to Goseong in tension, and it was said that it was a risky atmosphere that could lead to a collision.

"The foundation paid the judgment on behalf of the Japanese company"

An 'open discussion to discuss solutions to forced labor' was held at the National Assembly Members' Hall, which was co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the president of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians Federation, Jeong Jin-seok.

(There is an opinion that 'forced mobilization' is correct rather than 'forced conscription', but I will write 'forced conscription' as the title of the discussion)

At today's (12th) forum, the core content of the forced labor solution that the government will announce soon was revealed. .

In other words, the foundation established to support victims of forced labor receives voluntary donations from companies and uses the money to pay victims on behalf of the defendant companies, Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

In legal terms, it is called 'third party reimbursement'.

Director Seo Min-jeong of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the government's plan, and Director Seo said, "The key is that the victims can receive the judgment first through a third party rather than which legal principle they choose."

With the Supreme Court ruling in 2018, victims can receive compensation of 100 to 150 million won, but the logic is that paying compensation in other ways is the first thing to do because Japanese companies that have lost the case do not respond to this.

If this happens, the legal debts of Japanese war criminal companies, which were sentenced to compensation by the Supreme Court in 2018, are likely to virtually disappear, and the likelihood that these companies will participate in donations is slim.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also drew a line on the issue of apologies from the Japanese government and companies by saying, "It is important to faithfully maintain and inherit the deep apology and remorse that Japan has already expressed."

It seems that Japan will not accept new apology demands that it does not accept.

The reaction of the victims and the direction of public opinion are important, but the victims' demands fell out of the government's solution, so there was a strong backlash in the audience.  

"Is this a sociopath debate?"

Even at the beginning of the debate, the audience was calm.

However, the atmosphere became more and more intense, and the discussion had to be concluded in a hurry, because the participation in compensation by Japanese defendant companies and apologies from Japanese companies and governments, which the victims had been demanding all along, were not included.

It was from the order of remarks by Korea University professor Park Hong-kyun that the audience was agitated.

Professor Park said that Japan did not respond to the government's persuasion efforts and said, "Now we must not have expectations for Japan's apology and participation in the fund."

▲ Today (12th), it is my judgment that this place is not to persuade the Japanese side, but to persuade the victims, the victims of Korea.

(Audience shouts) I speak according to my knowledge and conscience.

We believe that taking over concurrent debt can be one solution.

(Audience: Are you saying that? Is that a fart?)

▲ Now, you shouldn't have expectations for Japan's apology and participation in the fund.

(Bang Chung-seok: What nonsense!) Park Hong-

Then, when lawyer Choi Woo-gyun explained the legal principles of the method promoted by the government as a solution, shouts also erupted from the audience.

As the fierce backlash continued, Lawyer Choi couldn't properly finish his remarks.

After the panel discussion, when the microphone went to the audience, the debate became more chaotic. "I was surprised to see the debate. It looks like a forum with sociopaths (antisocial personality disorder) gathered," said a personal attacker.

'Zero clock' in the victim's backlash

Kim Yeong-hwan, head of the International Cooperation Office at the Institute of National Studies, which supports the victims, Lim Jae-seong, a lawyer at Haemaru Law Firm, and Lee Gook-eon, representative of the Citizens' Group for Forced Mobilization under Japanese Occupation, met with reporters after the discussion. It is said that it was an 'act' and will start working on public opinion against the government.

Director Kim Yeong-hwan said, "If Korea appears first and expects Japan's response, isn't it exempting Japan from responsibility?" Attorney Lim Jae-seong said, "The apology the victims want is to admit the facts about the forced labor issue and to reflect and apologize." C. The apology promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the same way as now cannot be acknowledged."

The “Joint Action for Historical Justice and Peaceful Korea-Japan Relations” (Korea-Japan Historical Justice and Peace Action), which is composed of 610 civil society organizations including the Institute of Ethnic Affairs, said, “The public forum clearly shows that the so-called solution of the Yoon Seok-yeol government is in fact in a state of collapse. He said, "We plan to promote the public debate process right after the Lunar New Year holiday."

Regarding the debate, CEO Lee Gook-eon argued with Yonhap News that "the government has turned human rights violations into a matter of simple payment of money."

CEO Lee said, "The question of whether someone else should give it to me because I don't think I'll get it is downgrading the historical issue and character." He emphasized his awareness of history, saying, "Apology comes first."

If you don't want to step on the comfort women agreement...

The Japanese government has not responded.

At a regular press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, who serves as a spokesperson for the Japanese government, was asked about the discussion, and after saying, "I will refrain from commenting on each report," he gave a principled answer.

“(The Japanese government) will continue to communicate closely with the Korean government in order to restore and further develop Korea-Japan relations in a sound form based on the foundation of friendly and cooperative relations that have been built since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan in 1965,” he said.

It seems to be an indirect reference to Japan's existing position that the issue of compensation for forced labor was resolved in accordance with the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Settlement Agreement.

However, it is said that there is also an atmosphere in Japan that is seeking a solution.

Kyodo News reported that a plan for Japanese companies to donate to a foundation that pays for forced labor is emerging within the Japanese government.

**If the 'Go to View' button is not pressed, you can view the address by moving it to the address bar.