NEW DELHI: A South Korean court has ordered Japan to provide compensation to women who were forced to join military brothels in World War Two, BBC reported.
These 16 women used as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers, had their case previously rejected.
According to the report, the lawsuit was filed in 2016 and was dismissed by the Seoul Central District Court five years later, citing sovereign immunity.
However, the recent decision by the Seoul High Court has overturned this ruling. The court said that it acknowledges South Korea‘s jurisdiction over the Japanese government because the women lived in the country and sought compensation for acts deemed “unlawful”.
“It is reasonable to consider that there is a common international law which does not recognise state immunity for an illegal act… regardless of whether the act was a sovereign act”.
Lee Yong-soo, a 95-year-old activist and victim, was thankful for the court’s ruling on this issue.
She said, “I’m grateful. I’m really grateful”.
Lee Yong-soo also wished she could tell all the victims who had already passed away about the verdict.
The number of women and girls coerced into prostitution during World War Two is estimated around 200,000, according to the BBC.
Among those used as comfort women were mostly Korean. While other women were from mainland China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
Japan’s Foreign Minister, Yoko Kamikawa, expressed deep dismay at the court’s decision, labeling it as “extremely regrettable and absolutely unacceptable.
“Japan once again strongly urges the Republic of Korea to immediately take appropriate measures to remedy the status of its breaches of international law,” she said.