The sentence of the South Korean Court on Japan in compensation for women who were forced to work in military public buildings during World War II, caused tension between the two countries. The court in Seoul stated that the actions of the Japanese military, including the abduction and coercion of women into sex, violate international treaties and criminal law of Japan.
In 2016, a group of 16 plaintiffs, mostly members of the families of dead women, filed a lawsuit, but in 2021 the Central District Court of Seul rejected him, referring to the sovereign immunity of Japan. However, Seul's High Court questioned the decision and demanded that Japan from the government to pay $ 154,000 every woman as compensation.
Leen Su Su, 95-year-old activist and the only living sacrifice from the plaintiffs group, expressed gratitude for the court's decision: "I am grateful. I am very grateful."
In response to the sentence, Japan's Foreign Minister Yako Kamikawa called him "extremely sad and absolutely unacceptable", urging the Republic of Korea to take measures to correct violations of international law. The High Court rejected the idea of Japan's immunity, stating that the actions of the Japanese military were violations of international standards and domestic legislation.
