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© KYODOForced laborers' right to compensation from Japan stands: Moon
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The never-dying cow
Cricky
Japan... Own up already, mass rape, mass murder brutal action against populations who did nothing to Japan. it's not so hard to say sorry. Say sorry, my Grand Father was a twat and I can either emulate his twatness or apologise for his twatness . or disregard historical fact, and carry a victim card. .
smithinjapan
Japan should offer an OFFICIAL apology, admitting they were forced labourers and not "willing volunteers from abroad" or what have you. As for compensation, not sure.
Raw Beer
From wikipedia:
"The South Korean government demanded a total of 364 million dollars in compensation for the 1.03 million Koreans conscripted into the workforce and the military during the colonial period... South Korea agreed to demand no further compensation, either at the government or individual level, after receiving $800 million in grants and soft loans from Japan as compensation for its 1910–45 colonial rule in the treaty."
"However, the South Korean government used most of the grants for economic development, failing to provide adequate compensation to victims..."
baktaka
Realistically Japan should just wait and do nothing. Given what has happened historically even if we settle things now.. we know all it takes is a new President to come into office for past apologies and payments to be nullified.
Ron Barnes
Tell South Korea If It wants Japans Support With North Korea To wake up The was is over long ago and Most of the Workers have Died .Those that are living should get help with Care now they are aged till no more outside of that do nothing .
thepersoniamnow
Japan has already paid and apologized.
I agree that it doesn't always seem sincere, but in all fairness, neither Korea or China are willing to let anything be bygones with Japan either.
Secondly, if whole nations (mind you, only the losers will be subjected to this) are made to pay compensation, this will be a never ending thing.
In a perfect world yes, Japan should be trying to see things from other's point of view, but realistically this is just nationalist saber rattling to benefit his own political agenda.
BertieWooster
Doesn't make a lot of sense for South Korea (excluding the North) to demand compensation for social crimes committed between 1910-1945 by Imperial Japan on people from both North and South Korea.
There is an issue here though. Japan does need to publicly apologise for its social crimes, including sex slavery, forced labor and the hideous experiments of Unit 731: (https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~kann20c/classweb/dw2/page1.html).
Until it does, these things will return to haunt. The Japanese policy of looking the other way and pretending it didn't happen just doesn't work.
domtoidi
If you have a couple of hours, you can read through this list of all of the apologies Japan has offered up:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan
OssanAmerica
Korea doesn't fit that vilification. For one, Koreans were part of the Imperial Japanese military. Two, the Comfort Women system existed to reduce instances of "mass rape".
GW
domtoidi
And for every "apology" how many denials, how many races to yasukuni??
Hint the latter FAR FAR outnumber the mostly VERY lame "apologies"
Carry on.....
domtoidi
Show us the list of denials.
smithinjapan
thepersonIamnow: "Japan has already paid and apologized."
Paid yes, apologized sincerely, no. In fact, companies like Mitsubishi Heavy two years ago apologized to American POWs for forcing them to work, admitting it happened. It was a huge step forward in making amends to the men who suffered... until Koreans and Chinese wondered why they were left out, and were told, "Well, why should we apologize? Korea was annexed, so you weren't technically POWs, were you?" as though it had all been their choice (hell, OssanAmerica and some other posters, forgetting the government for a moment, will tell you it WAS their choice!).
So, an HONEST apology, and admittance of the facts. The money? I'm not so sure.
toshiko
There are Koreans who are dependents of forced laborers. They did not go back to Korea.. Kim's grandfather created pinball industry in Japan. Then now, pinball business grew to be pachinko industry. These pachinko business owners rather stay in Japan than Japan pay Moon''s extortion money. going to Moon, I'd. bet,
Abey
The reason that the war criminals are still worshiped in Japan is that Japan never paid for their crimes. It is time to pay and pay bigly.
toshiko
@Abey: write how many % of enshrined are war criminals.
toshiko
Forget to ask. Where they were enshrined? In s korea?
Abey
There are clear definition in internationals about war criminals. Anyone who invaded other's countries, murdered other's peoples, raped other's women, burned other's houses, conquered other's land, are, by nature, criminals.
englisc aspyrgend
% is Irrelevant, war criminals are enshrined there. When Japanese Politicos make offerings to war dead but not war criminals, then may be. But it will never happen.
toshiko
@engle. I don't think war criminals are enshrined there, S Korea.
OssanAmerica
Nobody "worships" war criminals in Japan. The Shrine honors over 2 million war dead from the 1800s, of which 14 are class-A war criminals. Everybody from the public to politicians go there to pray for peace and no more wars. The shrine has been visited by foreign leaders and dignitaries as well as military officers including he U.S. Marine Corp. They wouldn't have done that if it was a place to "worship war criminals".
OssanAmerica
What amazes me is how can South Korean people, and by extension their politicians not see the sheer hypocrisy of their constant demands be it the comfort women or the workers? If South Korea is a country that can not abide by the treaties it signs, why are 28,000 Americans purring their lives on the line to protect them? How do we know that South Korea won't turn on the US?
albaleo
In case you weren't joking, I think most of us will have to look at our countries' histories and work out how much we have to pay.
Midnight Sun Tribe
The Korean government swindled its people out of the money. The Korean government needs to apologize to its people and tell them to move on with their lives, or start paying them. This had nothing to do with Japan anymore and should be dismissed. If Korea's government wants to abrogate the previous treaty to allow such litigation, it should first pay Japan back the money it took.
Garthgoyle
The denials, yes. We have quite a few politicians with the foot in the mouth syndrome. Races to Yasukuni, what's exactly wrong with it? The place is used to honor those who died in wars. Not just 14 people but EVERYONE else. Every single country has a place like that. The fact that China and South Korea use it to fuel hatred for a war that happened almost a century ago doesn't mean that Japan is worshipping war criminals. Japan might not be the saint they portrait to be but they certainly are not the demon China and South Korea paint it like.
Dango bong
hey Korea, why don't you try moving forward? Maybe then people would respect you instead of thinking you are petulant children
Scrote
There is little point having any dealings with South Korea when they cannot be trusted to do as they promise. I really think it's time Japan broke off relations with South Korea. Japan should also make clear that US forces stationed in Japan will not be allowed to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks.
dcog9065
Jees, even with the threat of nuclear destruction from NK looming over them, SK just can't help itself by taking a cynical swipe at Japan. I get the feeling that they are trying to shift NK's focus onto Japan to make Japan a nuclear target. That is not an ally and is in fact an enemy nation.
Japan should ignore this latest joke
Dango bong
South Korea has a massive inferiority complex regarding both Japan and China. Korea is the Asian nation that is not quite strong nor weak, kind of mediocre. So they try every chance they can to tear others down instead of trying to lift themselves up. Just like a child
GW
Garthgoyle, you REALLY believe that!! I DONT, if the war criminals were somehow removed the politicians would hardly bother with yasukuni.
I mean just look a Chidorigafuchi, there is a much better place for politicians to frequent, BUT most prefer yasukuni, pretty obvious WHY!!
Most have no issues with the average Japanese going to yasukuni, it the politicians that ARE the issue & as I said they are not going there to worship the little guys, they will get a mention in passing, its the war criminals, THAT is why the black car & guys in penguin suits go there!
Triring
@GW
Wrong.
PM Abe and many of the cabinet members pays respect at Chidorigafuchi each year.
It just doesn't gain any coverage by the media.
http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/97_abe/actions/201708/15chidori.html
Basically Chidorigafuchi Senbotsushaboen is only dedicated to the unidentified soldiers who perished during the war and not to all soldiers who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice during the war.
The only memorial dedicated to all soldiers is Yasukuni shrine and that is why everyone pays their respect there.
Justin Challener
No. I absolutely do not want to pay. Why should I pay? I did nothing wrong. Such compensation comes from the present generation of taxpayers, none of whom were even alive then. It's wholly unethical to punish folks for their predecessors actions, let alone those of us who've immigrated here.
OssanAmerica
LOL. So you believe that politicians go to Yasukuni ONLY to pay respects to the 14 War Criminals, but not the over 2 million others? I repeat again. nobody goes to worship war criminals. Everybody goes there to pray for peace and no more wars. Foreign leaders dignitaries and military offices, such as the former President of Taiwan and a USMC General have visited Yasukuni. Do you think they all went to worship the Class-A War Criminals?
Abey
If you broke it, you pay for it. You have to pay, that is the law and that is the justice. Even after 1000 generations, you still have to pay if you haven't.
toshiko
S K water $364. million and. Japan paid $800 million. Moo want. money,, not apology.
Abey
From 1910 to 1945, how many Koreans died ? how many treasure was lost ? $800 milion for compensation? What kind of joke is that?
OssanAmerica
Ask the South Korean government.
"In January 2005, the South Korean government disclosed 1,200 pages of diplomatic documents that recorded the proceeding of the treaty. The documents, kept secret for 40 years, recorded that the Japanese government actually proposed to the South Korean government to directly compensate individual victims but it was the South Korean government which insisted that it would handle individual compensation to its citizens and then received the whole amount of grants on behalf of the victims.[9][10][11]
The South Korean government demanded a total of 364 million dollars in compensation for the 1.03 million Koreans conscripted into the workforce and the military during the colonial period,[12] at a rate of 200 dollars per survivor, 1,650 dollars per death and 2,000 dollars per injured person.[13] South Korea agreed to demand no further compensation, either at the government or individual level, after receiving $800 million in grants and soft loans from Japan as compensation for its 1910–45 colonial rule in the treaty.[11]
However, the South Korean government used most of the grants for economic development,[14] failing to provide adequate compensation to victims by paying only 300,000 won per death in compensating victims of forced labor between 1975 and 1977"
GW
Tiring,
I am well aware of that, BUT it IS very telling WHY the govt doesn't make more use of Chidorigafuchi, ie make it a place for worshipping those who lost their lives MINUS the war criminals, it would be EASY to do, BUT it hasn't been done, telling, just saying
Triring
@GW
No it only worships the unknown soldiers that perished in WW2 or are you trying to say that the known soldiers that made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the nation through out history less significant?
Your logic is based on some misplaced self righteousness having no heart to the people who pay respect to ALL soldiers protecting this nation.
GW
Please read what I said, I said make Chidorigafuchi a place for:
That means EVEYONE who lost their lives during WWII, known & those unknown, just LEAVE out the war criminals, this could be EASILY done at Chidorgafuchi, BUT it has not
Triring
@GW
Don't care what you want since you have no knowledge nor have interest in learning the history.
Like I said Chidorigafuchi Senbotsushaboen is only for unidentified fallen soldiers during WW2 it does not represent all soldiers who perished to make the ultimate sacrifice through out history.
You can't forcefully make it to represent all.
GW
Not forcing ANYTHING here, just illustrating a way to take the WAR CRIMINALS out of the picture, IF anyone is interested, clearly neither the govt or you are, got it, I DO understand, but there are consequences
So Nothing will change, hey no sweat off my back, like I said I don't & wont force anything, this is for Japanese to decide & so far it hasn't been going too well, I wonder why......
Triring
Oooohh brother,
Stating not forcing anyone and yet completely neglects and does not address the fact that Chidorigafuchi is a facility only for the unidentified soldier of WW2 which has nothing to do with the ones that had been identified nor to soldiers who perished before WW2 which means those identified soldiers who are worshiped at Yasukuni will lose respect from the government they served with their relatives who pays their respect at Yasukuni labeled as some kind of extremists/ right wingers?
And you call that not ramming something down someone's throat?
OssanAmerica
It has been going very well for the Japanese people and even their politicians. It's only "not going well" if you buy into China and S.Korea's anti-Japan nonsense.
"General LeMay, the American Army Air Corps Commander who directed the bombing of Japan resulting in 300,000-350,000 civilian dead and many more wounded, framed the debate best: “I suppose if I had lost the war, I would have been tried as a war criminal.”