Opposition leader claims forced labor compensation plan may lead to military consequences

• Published date: 11 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung again denounced the government's compensation plan for victims of wartime forced labor Saturday, claiming that the solution may result in Japan's Self-Defense Forces entering the Korean Peninsula.

Lee, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, made the remarks in a rally protesting against the government's plan to compensate the Korean victims of Japan's forced labor through a foundation supported by donations from Korean businesses, not the Japanese companies accused of forced labor during World War II.

Opposition parties, victims and activists have strongly denounced the decision, saying that it makes no sense to compensate forced labor victims with public donations, rather than money from Japanese companies that exploited forced labor victims.

"There is the possibility of the military boots of the Self-Defense Forces again disgracing the Korean Peninsula under the excuse of joint drills between Korea, the United States and Japan," Lee said in the rally held in central Seoul.

"What awaits after the enforcement of the humiliating compensation plan...