⚖️ On Thursday, December 11, the Supreme Court of South Korea upheld a lower court’s order for Japan’s Nippon Steel to compensate the family of Jeong Hyeong-pal, a Korean forced-labor victim during Japan’s colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.
Jeong was taken to a steel mill in Iwate Prefecture from 1940 to 1942 and died years later. His four children filed a lawsuit in 2019 seeking 200 million won (approx. $136,000), but the court awarded 100 million won (about $67,900).
This is the first Supreme Court ruling on such cases since its landmark 2018 decision that recognized Japanese companies’ liability for forced labor. After a lower court initially dismissed the claim in 2021, the appellate court reversed course last year, citing exceptions to the standard 10-year statute of limitations when victims face “objective reasons” for incapacity.
Since 2018, South Korean courts have consistently sided with victims of colonial-era forced labor, signaling momentum for historic justice. This verdict not only brings closure to Jeong’s family but also underscores a broader movement to address past wrongs and demand corporate accountability.
Legal experts say the decision could spark more claims and deepen dialogue on reconciliation between South Korea and Japan. For now, Jeong’s children see it as a step forward in honoring their father’s memory—and a reminder that history, no matter how painful, can’t be forgotten.
Reference(s):
S. Korea court orders Nippon Steel to compensate forced-labor victim
cgtn.com
