South Korea – Court Rules in Favor of ‘Comfort Women’

Sex Slaves from World War II Ordered Compensation from Japan

By Noël James, Guest Contributor

Last week, a South Korean appellate court ordered Japan to compensate the remaining Korean ‘comfort women’ who were forced to work in military brothels during World War II. These women, who had been kept as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers, filed a lawsuit demanding 200 million won ($155,000) in 2016. The case was originally dismissed by the Seoul Central District Court in 2015 over sovereign immunity, but the Seoul High Court overturned that ruling this week, claiming, “It is reasonable to consider that there is a common international law which does not recognize state immunity for an illegal act…regardless of whether the act was a sovereign act.”

Lee Yong-soo, a ninety-five-year-old activist and victim told reporters, “I’m grateful. I’m really grateful” and only wished that victims who had already passed away could be told of the ruling.

WUNRN

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