South Korea
S. Korea court rules in favour of victims of wartime sexual slavery
South Korean court orders Japan to compensate 16 women for wartime sexual slavery, overturning a 2021 ruling. Each victim is awarded 200 million won. Tensions persist between Seoul and Tokyo over historical issues. Japan denies direct responsibility, citing civilian recruitment and commercial military brothels.
![](https://gutzymedia.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/wp/2023/11/17062018/344H3RE-Preview-1-1.png)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — A South Korean court on Thursday ordered Japan to compensate 16 women over wartime forced sexual slavery, overturning a lower-court ruling that had dismissed the case.
The 2021 ruling said the women were not entitled to compensation, citing “sovereign immunity” for Tokyo, and ruling that accepting the victims’ claims could cause a diplomatic incident.
But the Seoul High Court ruled Thursday it was “reasonable to say sovereign immunity should not be respected… in case of illegal conduct”, according to a court document seen by AFP.
It ordered that some 200 million won (US$154,000) be paid to each of the complainants.
The court said the victims were “forcibly abducted or lured into the sexual enslavement”.
It ruled that as a result they had suffered “damage” and “could not live a normal life post-war”.
Lee Young-soo, a 95-year-old victim and one of the 16 plaintiffs, threw her arms high in joy as she exited a court building, telling reporters: “I am very thankful… I thank the victims who have passed away.”
Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women — mostly from Korea, but also other parts of Asia including China — were forced to become sex slaves, so-called comfort women, for Japanese soldiers during World War II.
The issue has long bedevilled bilateral ties between Seoul and Tokyo, which colonised the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945.
The ruling comes as the conservative South Korean government of President Yoon Suk Yeol has sought to bury the historical hatchet and improve ties with Tokyo to jointly confront growing military threats from North Korea.
The Japanese government denies it is directly responsible for the wartime abuses, maintaining that the victims were recruited by civilians and that military brothels were commercially operated.
— AFP
![](https://gutzy.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gutzy-Logo-whiteS.png)
-
Singapore4 days ago
Dr Tommy Koh: “INCOME and Fairprice should never be sold”
-
Business2 days ago
Concerns over conflict of interest and corporate governance arise in Income’s sale to Allianz
-
Singapore2 weeks ago
Youngest self-radicalised Singaporean and 33-yr-old former public servant issued restriction order under ISA
-
Comments2 weeks ago
Voters interviewed at West Coast GRC, expressed hope for PSP representation in Parliament
-
Singapore2 weeks ago
Singapore’s birth rates decline by 5.8% as total fertility rate drops below 1
-
International2 weeks ago
Attempted assassination at Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania: Shooter and one attendee dead, two critically injured
-
Singapore1 week ago
AGO Report reveals lapses in MOE’s school projects; Police report filed over possible falsifications
-
Singapore2 days ago
NTUC Enterprise Chairman assures affordable insurance for lower-income customers amid Allianz deal concerns