South Korea: The government of South Korea has unveiled a plan to settle a long-running issue on compensation for those who were made to work in Japanese mines and factories during World War II.

In response to North Korea’s expanding nuclear and missile programs, South Korean President Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol announced a plan that was immediately received with outrage in South Korea but was praised as “historic” by the United States.

A lawyer for numerous victims, Mr. Lim Jae-sung, claimed in a Facebook post that the agreement was “a complete victory for Japan, which has said it cannot pay a single penny on the forced labour issue.”  cited initial reports in the media that the agreement had been reached.

South Korean Foreign Minister Mr. Park Jin revealed the plan, saying that rather than being compensated by the Japanese companies responsible for the forced labour, a public foundation funded by private-sector businesses will instead be used to pay the former workers, the majority of whom are now in their 90s.

The proposal was first put forth by the South Korean government in January 2023, drawing criticism from the victims and their families because it excluded contributions from Japanese businesses, including those that had been mandated to make reparations by South Korean courts, like Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

As Park made the announcement, about a dozen protesters stood in front of the crowd. The idea was criticised as “submissive diplomacy” by the Democratic Party, which is the biggest opposition party.

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