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After the government announced a solution to forced labor, POSCO became the first Korean company to donate 4 billion won to the damage compensation foundation.
This “third-party reimbursement” method is a government plan, but the victims are rejecting it, and there is still public opinion once morest it.
Umjiin is a reporter.
◀ Report ▶
POSCO donated 4 billion won to the Foundation for Supporting Victims of Forced Labor in Japan, which was supposed to pay compensation on behalf of Japanese companies.
With the remainder of the 10 billion won that POSCO promised to help victims of forced labor at the time of the foundation’s establishment, POSCO explained that it was “fulfilling the promise in accordance with the purpose of the government’s announcement.”
Previously, the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea and others made donations, but POSCO is the first Korean company to do so.
The government is emphasizing the ‘voluntary donation’ of 16 companies that received help from the Korea-Japan Claims Fund in 1965, such as POSCO.
The 15 victims who received the Supreme Court’s judgment are regarding 4 billion won in compensation.
The funds are in place, but the road ahead is not smooth.
So far, only four bereaved families have agreed to compensation from the government, but in particular, three surviving victims have clearly opposed it.
[양금덕/강제동원 피해자](Last 13th, National Assembly)
″I would never take that kind of money, even if it meant starving to death.″
Even in the current civil law, there is a proviso that ‘third party repayment’ cannot be made when the party does not allow it.
Therefore, if the government enforces a third party reimbursement, it may escalate into a lawsuit between the government and the victim.
Equity issues also remain To support all 210,000 victims of forced labor recognized by the government, more money is needed along with a special law.
However, there is still no response from Japan that the government has announced, and other domestic companies such as KEPCO, Korea Expressway Corporation, and KT are also cautious, saying, “If the government requests it, we will review support.”
This is MBC News Umjiin.
