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Japan fails to attend court hearing on sex slaves

June 15, 2015

SEOUL, June 15 (Yonhap) — A representative from Japan on Monday failed to attend the first conciliation hearing in Seoul on the country’s enslavement of Korean women for sex during World War II.

Twelve Korean former sex slaves lodged a damages suit against the Japanese government in August 2013, asking for a compensation of 100 million won (US$89,500) each.

More than 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, are estimated to have been forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese troops during World War II.

This is the second time Japan’s foreign ministry snubbed calls by the Seoul Central District Court to partake in the conciliation process.

Japan reportedly cited Article 13 of the Hague Convention, which apparently supports its argument that the judicial sovereignty of South Korea does not extend to matters involving Japan.

But Kim Kang-won, an attorney representing the former sex slaves, said it was unclear which convention the Japanese foreign ministry was referring to as there have been several.

The Japanese embassy in Seoul was not immediately available for comment.

Kim was the only attendant of the hearing, as the plaintiffs were unable to attend due to health reasons. All of them are above the age of 80.

Two of the twelve plaintiffs — Bae Chun-hee and Kim Oi-han — have passed away since the filing of the suit, Kim said.

He said the judges suggested he take a wait-and-see approach until South Korea and Japan mark the 50th anniversary of the normalization of its ties next Monday.

The next conciliation hearing is slated for July 13.