Seoul — Following a pivotal Supreme Court ruling, South Korean courts have resumed or scheduled hearings for compensation lawsuits filed by victims of forced labor during Japan's colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. The Seoul Central District Court held a hearing on Tuesday for a case filed in 2019 against Nippon Steel Corp. and JX Metals Corp., marking the proceedings' resumption after two years and seven months. Another trial involving 14 Korean plaintiffs against Mitsubishi Materials Corp. is set for April 19.
According to Yonhap News Agency, hearings for other lawsuits against Nippon Steel will take place in May and June, resuming after a hiatus of approximately two to three years. The Supreme Court in December rejected the Japanese firms' argument that the statute of limitations had expired, affirming the victims' rights to damages. This decision builds on the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that the 1965 treaty between South Korea and Japan, which normalized diplomatic ties, does not negate individuals' rights to claim damages, countering Japan's stance that all reparations were settled under the treaty.