PM defends forced labor solution to mend ties with Japan

• Published date: 09 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Thursday defended the government's solution to resolve a forced labor row with Japan, saying that the decision is aimed at moving relations with Tokyo toward the future.

Han's remarks came days after Seoul announced the decision 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.

The solution was welcomed by the United States and Japan but has drawn strong criticism from victims of wartime forced labor and opposition parties.

"The government's solution is the result of repeated considerations to promote future-oriented Korea-Japan relations while swiftly healing the pain that victims of forced labor have suffered for a long time," Han told a...