South Korean Court Orders Japan To Pay Son Of "Comfort Woman"

A South Korean court has ordered the Japanese government to compensate the son of a former "comfort woman" for abuses suffered during World War II, Kyodo News reported.

The son of the comfort woman was awarded 200 million won ($140,000) in damages by the Cheongju District Court. I Photo: Neoalpha Wikimedia Commons

The Cheongju District Court awarded 200 million won ($140,000) in damages, marking the third known South Korean ruling in favor of comfort women claims. Previous similar rulings in 2021 and 2023 were finalized after Japan declined to contest them.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya condemned the ruling as “extremely regrettable and absolutely unacceptable,” arguing it violated international law and the 1965 bilateral agreement, under which Japan claims all wartime claims were "completely and finally" settled.

The comfort women issue has repeatedly strained Japan-South Korea relations, despite a 2015 agreement intended to settle the matter "finally and irreversibly," Mainichi Japan noted.