In October, South Korea's highest court ruled that the Japanese Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal company should pay the four Korean wartime slaves should receive 100 million won or $88,000 each. These four men claimed that they were forced to work at the Japanese company's steel mill between 1941 and 1943. Only one of the four claimants is still alive.
As a sign of support for the four former slaves, their supporters went to the Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal company headquarters in Tokyo. They were demanding for compensation. One of the lawyers, Kim Se Un, said that they are now starting the effort to seize some of the properties of the company's South Korean affiliates.
Many observers have noted that the recent ruling may have sparked a little bit of tension between Japan and South Korea. It is important to note that the two countries are staunch allies of the United States as the North American country continues to counter China's growing influence over the region.
This recent development was considered as a landmark ruling for South Korea, especially since the issue has been highly toxic in the region. While Japan has been consistent in terms of wartime reparations, some countries are still reserved when it comes to human rights abuses.-
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticized the recent ruling. Prime Minister Abe described the ruling as "impossible," especially when international law is considered. Mr. Abe added that the issue had been "settled" in 1965 through a treaty which restored diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan.
The recent ruling has fueled tensions not only between Japan and South Korea but also from close allies of the two nations. In an effort to address the growing tension, Japanese cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga pressed Seoul to help in calming the escalating situation.
In a statement, Mr. Suga asked the South Korean government to help Japan in addressing the highly sensitive issue. Mr. Suga added that despite the sensitivity of the issue, Japan is in constant connection with other Japanese firms that are also embroiled in similar issues.
During Japan's 35-year occupation of the South Korean peninsula, about 780,000 Koreans were conscripted and forced into various labor camps. This is according to the figures released by South Korea. It is important to note that these figure does not include women that were forced into working in wartime brothels, otherwise known as comfort women.
