The Ongoing Issue of Wartime Forced Labour and Korean Victims: A Historical and Legal Analysis

World War II took a toll on Japan’s economy and industrial capacity; to support its war effort, the government resorted to the conscription of workers from various occupied territories, especially Korea. It is estimated that around 780,000 Koreans were subjected to forced labour during the Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula, between 1938 and 1945. Men and women were conscripted and sent to work in harsh conditions across Japan, its colonies, and other occupied territories. They were employed in shipyards, factories and mines, often under brutal conditions with long hours, inadequate food and medical care, and were subjected to severe punishments. That of forced labour remains a contentious issue because, after World War II, the 1965 treaty between Japan and South Korea, which aimed to normalise relations, included financial settlements. South Korean courts have ruled, in recent years, that individuals still have the right to seek reparations, since the agreement did not explicitly address individual claims for forced labour compensation. These rulings have caused significant tension between the two nations, as Japan maintains that all compensation issues were resolved by the treaty. Legal disputes on the matter have seen a continuous evolution in the past few decades, but for many families and former workers, the issue still remains unresolved.