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Attorneys Im Jae-sung and Chang Wan-ick, who represented Korean plaintiffs in a case against Nippon Steel, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nachi-Fujikoshi for forced labor, as well as Kim Young-hwan, the head of external cooperation for the Center for Historical Truth and Justice, among others, hold a press conference outside of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on July 4, where they speak on behalf of victims of forced labor by Japan. (Kang Chang-kwang/The Hankyoreh)

On Monday, the public-private consultative group that the South Korean government formed to resolve the issue of compensation for Korean victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period held its first meeting. There, representatives of the victims requested the South Korean government invoke diplomatic protection so that they can directly negotiate with the offending Japanese companies. Additionally, they hinted that if direct negotiation were to commence, they may delay the process of liquidation of certain Korea-based assets held by Japanese companies that used forced labor.

Members of a victims advocacy group as well as those legally representing the victims in the lawsuit against Nippon Steel, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nachi-Fujikoshi, and others — companies that conscripted Korean laborers during the Japanese colonial period — held a press conference in front of the Central Government Complex Monday afternoon. There, they requested “the invocation of the South Korean government’s ‘right to diplomatic protection,’ which the Supreme Court of Korea’s verdict ordering compensation for victims of forced labor recognized.”

The right to diplomatic protection is a right recognized by international law through which a country can demand a foreign government for adequate protection or relief for its citizens by taking diplomatic measures when those citizens have been subjected to illegal or unjust treatment abroad.

The Supreme Court of Korea reached final verdicts for lawsuits concerning Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in October and November of 2018, respectively, ordering them to compensate Koreans forced to provide wartime labor for the companies. However, the Japanese companies refused to fulfill the ruling, which led to victims taking measures to liquidate assets held by these companies in Korea.

Observers say the court’s final ruling regarding the commencement of compulsory liquidation proceedings may be decided as early as this fall.

Monday’s first meeting of the public-private consultative group that took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building was presided over by First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun-dong. The meeting was reportedly attended by 12 participants, among them academic experts such as Jin Chang-soo, director of the Center for Japanese Studies at the Sejong Institute, and Korea University professor Park Hong-kyu; as well as Suh Hyung-won, former South Korean ambassador to Croatia; Kim Min-chul, head of the history compilation division at the National Institute of Korean History; Seo Seok-soong, vice president of the Korea-Japan Economic Association; and lawyers Chang Wan-ick and Lim Jae-sung, the legal representatives of the victims.

After the meeting, a Foreign Ministry official met with reporters and said, “Participants proposed various opinions based on their experience with intimate communication with victims on the ground and their knowledge of South Korea-Japan relations.” They added, “Going forward, we will listen closely to the opinions of concerned parties and various circles including that of the victims and continue to make efforts to come up with a reasonable solution.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to hold one to two more consultative meetings this month.

By Seo Hye-mi, staff reporter; Jung In-hwan, staff reporter

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