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Korea HeraldNov 27, 2022
South Korea Announces Deal on Japan Forced Labor Dispute
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Image copyright: Reuters [via The Wall Street Journal]
The Facts
South Korea on Monday announced a plan to compensate victims of forced labor during Japan's 35-year colonial rule, as Seoul and Tokyo seek to ease their relationship amid a turbulent Indo-Pacific security situation.
The proposed compensation will see those who successfully sued Japanese firms for damages receive money from a fund reliant on private donations. However, the plan has drawn backlash from former forced laborers and their supporters, who demand direct compensation and desire an official apology from the Japanese government.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This deal is a step toward justice for South Korean victims of Japanese forced labor. While it would be nice for Japanese firms to voluntarily support the foundation benefiting the victims, the most important thing at this point is that Japan is sincerely reasserting its previous apologies and survivors are receiving their compensation.
Establishment-critical narrative
This deal is only a victory for Japan, as the nation will avoid paying a single yen to the victims of its forced labor practices, while the companies that benefited from them will face no legal consequences for their war crimes. This is submissive diplomacy meant to patch up relations between Japan and South Korea, but this half-cooked attempt to resolve the biggest humiliation and disappointment in Korea's history will never be accepted by Seoul.
