US firms to make donations to Korean victims of Japan's forced labor

• Published date: 08 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) said Wednesday that it will make a donation to the Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization by Imperial Japan.

The decision was made to support the Korean government's announcement earlier this week that Korean victims of Japan's forced labor during World War II will be compensated through a fund created by Korean companies, without the direct involvement of responsible Japanese firms.

The lobby group for U.S. firms operating in Korea added that it will also encourage its member companies to support the initiative.

"I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the historic agreement announced by the Korean and Japanese governments concerning the conclusion of discussions on sensitive historical issues," AMCHAM Chairman James Kim said. "As President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken have stated in their remarks, the trilateral partnership between the U.S., Korea and Japan is critical to the peace and prosperity of the region."

The AMCHAM chairman made the remarks during his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho, on the day the Korean and the U.S. governments announced that the leaders of both countries will have a summit in Washington, D.C., on April 26.

During the...