SEOUL, Dec. 31 (UPI) — The Japanese government could face a lawsuit, filed in a South Korean court, related to the issue of “comfort women,” sex slaves forced to serve in military brothels during World War II.
The lawsuit filed by some of the women comes after Tokyo and Seoul reached a landmark agreement that would establish an $8.3 million fund for the victims and included formal apologies from the Japanese government.
South Korean television network SBS reported the lawsuit demands compensation for the surviving victims, whose ages range between 88 and 100.
The elderly women had said on Monday that they are grateful for government efforts, but they were not consulted on the details of the deal.
On Thursday, a Seoul Central District Court ruled against civil arbitration, or settling the dispute out of court.
The decision comes after the Japanese government returned all documents submitted by the South Korean court and refused to cooperate with mediation procedures. A full trial on the case is to resume, according to the Seoul court.
Im Gwang-ho, a presiding civil court judge, said it is unlikely there is room for further adjustment, as attempts at arbitration have been terminated. In accordance with South Korea’s Civil Reconciliation Act, the case will go to court, Im said.
The former comfort women had requested arbitration after losing a case in a Japanese court in 2003 – more than a decade ago.
In 2013, 12 of the plaintiffs, including Lee Ok-seon, had again requested $830,000 in damages per victim.
Some South Koreans are opposed to the deal reached by the two governments.
South Korean newspaper Maeil Business reported Thursday college students entered the Japanese embassy to protest the agreement, calling it “invalid.”
The South Korean students entered the second floor of the embassy lobby, where they staged a protest and were arrested by Seoul police for intrusion and holding an illegal assembly.
The protesters shouted slogans opposing the removal of a monument to the women.
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