February 25, 2015 12:05
The Japanese government has paid a paltry 199 yen in compensation to three victims of forced labor during the Japanese occupation.
According to a group fighting for the victims, three Koreans who were forced to labor for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries during World War II and the brother of a deceased former sex slave filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government last year seeking compensation from their former employer.
They hired a Japanese attorney through the victims' group.
The Japanese government already whipped up a storm of condemnation in 2009 after awarding a mere 99 yen each to eight former forced laborers as compensation.
Civic groups here boycotted Japanese products and held protest rallies, while five of the victims sued Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
In 2013, a Gwangju District Court sided with the victims and ordered Mitsubishi to pay each of them W150 million and W80 million to one surviving family member. The Japanese giant has appealed the ruling.
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