South Korea court dismisses comfort women case against Japan
Issued on:
21/04/2021 - 06:32 The issue of wartime sex slavery has been at the core of frosty ties between Seoul and Tokyo in recent years Jung Yeon-je AFP/File 3 min
Seoul (AFP)
A South Korean court on Wednesday dismissed a case brought by a handful of World War II sex slaves and their families against the Japanese government, saying Tokyo enjoyed sovereign immunity over the issue, reports said.
The ruling comes after the same court in January ordered Tokyo to compensate a dozen women forced to serve Japanese troops euphemistically labelled comfort women marking the first civilian legal victory against Tokyo in South Korea.
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Comfort Women Lose Lawsuit Against Japan Over Sexual Slavery During WWII
On 4/21/21 at 6:47 AM EDT
A South Korean court has dismissed a lawsuit filed against the Japanese government by a group of South Korean comfort women who were forced to work in brothels serving Japanese soldiers during World War II.
Citing sovereign immunity, which allows a state to be immune from a civil suit in foreign courts, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the case brought forth by 20 people, including surviving victims of wartime sexual slavery and the families of some who have died.
Under the lawsuit, the group sought a total of 3 billion won (over $2.6 million) in reparations from the Japanese government.
WORLD / ASIA-PACIFIC
Japan ‘comfort women’ abuses has shocking legal verdict
By AFP Published: Apr 21, 2021 07:58 PM A South Korean court on Wednesday dismissed a case brought by a handful of World War II enslaved women, and their families against the Japanese government, saying Tokyo enjoyed sovereign immunity over the issue.
The ruling comes after the same court in January ordered Tokyo to compensate a dozen women forced to serve Japanese troops - euphemistically labeled comfort women - marking the first civilian legal victory against Tokyo in South Korea.
One plaintiff pledged to fight Wednesday s different verdict, which an analyst said would be a plus for improving ties between South Korea and Japan, whose disputes have spread to affect trade and security in recent years.