Moon to Respect Court Decision on Wartime Labor

December 14, 2018

Seoul--South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday reiterated the government's stance of respecting Supreme Court rulings ordering Japanese firms to pay compensation for wartime labor to South Koreans.

In a meeting in Seoul with a visiting suprapartisan group of Japanese lawmakers promoting the bilateral relations, Moon said he respects the judicial decision, in light of the separation of powers under the three branches of government.

Fukushiro Nukaga, chairman of the group and former finance minister, briefed reporters about Moon's remarks after the meeting.

Moon said his government is considering what action it should take while keeping efforts to develop bilateral cooperative relations with Japan in a future-oriented manner, according to Nukaga.

Nukaga asked Moon to take appropriate steps based on a bilateral treaty on claims and property concluded in 1965, when the two countries normalized their diplomatic relations.

Moon observed that the rulings say the treaty has not eliminated the right of individuals to make claims against Japanese companies, according to an announcement by the presidential office.

But Moon also said the treaty is valid, as the top court did not deny it.

Japan's position is that the treaty settled all claims-related issues between the two countries.

He called for a careful approach in order not to arouse antagonistic feelings between the two countries.

Hurting friendly sentiment between the countries would do nothing to develop bilateral relations, Moon said, asking for Japan to show self-restraint.

Also on Friday, the Japanese lawmaker group held a joint general assembly with its South Korean counterpart in Seoul. Their previous joint general meeting took place in Tokyo in December last year.

The groups are expected to announce a joint statement after exchanging opinions on how to improve the deteriorating bilateral ties.

It is customary for Japanese and South Korean government leaders to offer their congratulations when such a joint general assembly is held. This time, however, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not send a message.

In a speech at the general assembly, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon stressed that political leaders need to exercise wisdom, after stating that it was irresponsible and dangerous for politicians and the media to fan negative public feelings and utilize them.

South Korea's top court has ordered Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. <7011> and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. <5401> to pay compensation to South Korean plaintiffs for what they claim to be forced labor during World War II, when the Korean Peninsula was under Japan's colonial rule. Jiji Press