Anger At Painful Legacy Of Japanese Colonisation Runs Deep In South Korea • France 24 English

Brewing Tensions in Seoul

Foreign ER is brewing on the streets of Seoul. These South Koreans are protesting President Yun Sukyol's decision to compensate former laborers forced to work in Japan before and during the war. While this move could potentially improve bilateral ties, there's a problem. Under Yoon's plan, South Korean companies that received compensation from Japan decades ago will have to fund the payments. Additionally, Seoul has asked Japanese firms to contribute. Many South Koreans are angry that their country is being asked to pay for Japan's wartime misconduct .

A Call for Justice

The demand for justice is loud and clear. Japan must compensate the victims of massacres like my grandfather and other forced laborers . These survivors are still alive, so Japan should be made to act before they pass away . This month, the families of about 10 victims accepted the government's plan, but others, including three former laborers, rejected it.

During 35 years of colonial rule that ended with Japan's defeat in 1945, an estimated 780,000 Koreans were forced to work in Japanese mines and factories. They endured harsh conditions and were paid next to nothing or nothing at all. These workers labored for companies such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries that are still thriving today.

The Plight of Comfort Women

Bilateral ties between South Korea and Japan have also been marred by the issue of Comfort Women – a euphemism for tens of thousands of women and girls who were forced into frontline brothels during the war. Some brave survivors have found the courage to publicly share their experiences.

Lee Yongsu was just a teenager when she was taken to work at a comfort station on a Japanese warship. When she refused to go, they threatened her life and tortured her with electric shocks. She formed a bond with several Japanese soldiers who secretly helped her, but the trauma she endured haunted her for years. Today, she hopes for proper reconciliation between South Korea and Japan, viewing Japan not as an enemy but as a neighbor.

Seeking Recognition and Closure

A museum in South Korea is dedicated to shedding light on the plight of Comfort Women. While it is believed that as many as 200,000 women were forced into sexual slavery, only 240 Korean victims have been officially recognized. These women were subjected to unimaginable horrors, forced to have sex with dozens of soldiers