Labor Service Corps Victim Grandmothers File Administrative Appeal Against Gyeonggi Province

Five women including 85-year-old Kim Seong-ju from Anyang, who were forcibly taken to Japan during the Japanese colonial period and subjected to forced labor, filed an administrative appeal against Gyeonggi Province, which enacted an ordinance to support labor service corps victims but has failed to implement it for over a year.

The grandmothers held a press conference on the 22nd in the Gyeonggi Provincial Council briefing room, announcing that they filed both "a mandatory performance ruling requiring the payment of living subsidies in accordance with the ordinance" and "a cancellation ruling against the refusal to pay compensation" with the province on the 21st.

In their appeal statement, Kim and the others argued that "the province's failure to provide compensation is a clear breach of duty" and described it as "an unjust disposition that shirks its responsibilities and refuses to be held accountable."

The province enacted the "Gyeonggi Province Ordinance on Support for Female Forced-Mobilization Victims During the Japanese Colonial Period" on December 11, 2012, which provides living subsidies to labor service corps victim grandmothers, and implementation began last January.

The ordinance was the second to be enacted among major local governments nationwide, following Gwangju Metropolitan City.

The ordinance provides monthly living subsidies of 300,000 won and medical expenses up to 300,000 won per month, as well as 1 million won in funeral assistance upon death, to grandmothers who have resided in the province for at least one year among female labor service corps victims confirmed by the Committee for Investigation of Forced-Mobilization Victims During the Japanese Colonial Period and Support for Overseas Forced-Mobilization Victims.

There are a total of 34 eligible recipients including Kim, with an annual budget of approximately 200 million won. However, the province has not paid living subsidies even once in the over one year since implementation of the ordinance.

In December of last year, the province also rejected the living subsidy applications of Kim and the others, citing "financial difficulties that prevented the securing of the required budget."

This contrasts with Gwangju Metropolitan City's payment of 65.96 million won to 16 labor service corps grandmothers last year.

Kim, who has Grade 2 hearing impairment, tearfully stated at the press conference, "I have lived a life of suffering," adding, "It is deeply unfair that there is no compensation simply because we are labor service corps victims."

A representative of the Citizen's Coalition for Labor Service Corps Victims stated, "How can we face Japan with dignity when we ourselves are neglecting the victims?" and added, "If Gyeonggi Province does not demonstrate its historical will, we will not shy away from filing an administrative lawsuit."

A provincial official said, "While it is regrettable as an official, the province faces dire financial circumstances."