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S. Korea ordered to compensate lepers for forced vasectomies, abortions

July 16, 2015
SOROK ISLAND, South Korea -- The facade of the charnel house on the island of Sorok, where the remains of deceased Korean lepers are kept. Japan set up a hospital and other facilities on the island off the Korean Peninsula during its 1910-45 colonization of the peninsula to quarantine Korean lepers there. (Yonhap)

SOROK ISLAND, South Korea — The facade of the charnel house on the island of Sorok, where the remains of deceased Korean lepers are kept. Japan set up a hospital and other facilities on the island off the Korean Peninsula during its 1910-45 colonization of the peninsula to quarantine Korean lepers there. (Yonhap)

Due to a court ruling on Thursday, the South Korean government has been ordered to provide compensation to 139 individuals with leprosy for forcing them to undergo vasectomies and abortions up until 1990.

Each of the plaintiffs will receive up to 40 million won (US$34,800).

This is not the first time that South Korea has legally dealt with its actions in regards to discriminating against lepers. It lost two additional cases in February and May, but has since made official appeals to the original rulings. It has revealed no plans to take similar actions to its latest case.

“Constitutional rights should not be infringed upon just because of their disease,” the court said according to Yonhap News Agency.

The first recorded case of such discrimination was recorded as early as 1937.