Forced labor victims and their families embark on another class action suit against Japanese companies

Forced labor survivors and their relatives hold a press conference on Jan. 14 in Gwangju calling for the Japanese government and companies to apologize for past war crimes. (Kim Yong-hee, Gwangju correspondent)

Victims insist that goal is not money but a restoration of dignity and receiving an apology

Forced labor survivors and their relatives hold a press conference on Jan. 14 in Gwangju calling for the Japanese government and companies to apologize for past war crimes. (Kim Yong-hee, Gwangju correspondent)

Survivors and family members of victims of forced labor mobilization under imperial Japan living in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province area are embarking another class action suit against Japanese companies implicated in war crimes. The participants were unanimous in saying their aim in taking part in the suit was less about compensation than about restoring their dignity and exorcising 70 years of bitterness.

The Gwangju/South Jeolla chapter of MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society and the group Citizen’s Forum for Halmuni held a press conference at the Gwangju Bar Association center on Jan. 14 to announce the filing of a second class action suit by Gwangju/South Jeolla-era survivors of forced labor mobilization and their relatives against companies implicated in war crimes.

“After 54 survivors filed the first lawsuit against nine criminal Japanese companies in April of last year, we enlisted additional survivors and relatives to file this second lawsuit,” they explained.

A condolence letter sent to the family members of Park Gi-chu, who was forced into labor at the Hokkaido Coal and Boat Company’s Yubari mining station in 1943. (provided by civic groups in support of forced labor victims)

2nd lawsuit involves 33 plaintiffs accusing 6 companies

The second lawsuit involves 33 plaintiffs accusing six companies implicated in war crimes. The Hokkaido Coal and Boat Company (15 plaintiffs) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (one) were named as defendants for the first time. The other four companies were Mitsubishi Materials (nine), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (four), Mitsubishi Mining (three), and Nishimatsu Construction (one). Actual survivors represented just two of the plaintiffs.

During the press conference that day, plaintiffs explained about the circumstances of the mobilized workers’ victimization.

Kim Seung-ik, son of Kim Sang-gi (1927-2015, Suncheon, South Jeolla), explained, “My father was forced to work at Kawasaki Heavy Industries in 1945 at the age of 18, and he was traumatized throughout his life from the fear of being killed in a bombing attack while he was making munitions.”

“Just before he died, he drafted a statement on the circumstances of his forced labor, and it was his dying wish that his sorrow should be resolved,” he said in explaining his motivation for taking part in the suit.

Park Yeong-suk is the son of Park Gi-chu (1910-1943), who died at the Hokkaido Coal and Boat Company’s Yubari mining station.

“My father left for Japan when I was three years old, and he ended up dying there,” Park explained.

“My whole life I have endured all kinds of grief not having a father. Japan needs to apologize now,” he added, sharing a condolence card received from Japan at the time.

Lee So-a, an attorney with MINBYUN’s Gwangju chapter, said, “The plaintiffs understand that it will not be difficult to win their case or receive compensation.”

“But they have agreed to work together on the lawsuit to the end in order to communicate to Japan their desire for an apology and leave a record with their victory,” she explained.

By Kim Yong-hee, Gwangju correspondent

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