Published on February 7, 2020.
This article reconstructs a chapter originally posted on January 4, 2019, discussing Yang Sun-im’s “Civil Claims Against Japan Litigation Group” in the comfort women issue, the possible emergence of litigation brokers in the wartime laborer issue, the Japan-Korea Claims Agreement, the South Korean Supreme Court ruling, and the possibility that North Korea may use the wartime laborer card against Japan.
Through a dialogue between Takayama Masayuki and Otaka Miki, it presents the structure in which Korea has dug its own grave, the reasons Japan should keep its distance from the Korean Peninsula, and the need to learn from history.

2020-02-07
She was indicted on charges of defrauding them… yet it is said that she was acquitted by the South Korean president at the time because she had “contributed to anti-Japanese activities” (bitter laugh).
I am republishing the chapter posted on January 4, 2019, under the title:
“In the case of the comfort women, Yang Sun-im, the mother-in-law of Uemura Takashi and chair of the Association of Bereaved Families of Victims of the Pacific War, formed the ‘Civil Claims Against Japan Litigation Group’ in 2010,”
after correcting paragraphs, typographical errors, and the like, and adding emphasis in the text apart from the headings.
Otaka:
Just as with the comfort women, there is a strong possibility that litigation brokers over wartime laborers will operate behind the scenes.
In the case of the comfort women, Yang Sun-im, the mother-in-law of Uemura Takashi and chair of the Association of Bereaved Families of Victims of the Pacific War, formed the “Civil Claims Against Japan Litigation Group” in 2010 and gathered members by saying that “bereaved families of people born between the 1900s and the 1930s can receive compensation money.”
However, by 2011, she was indicted on charges of defrauding approximately 30,000 people of 1.5 billion won, about 150 million yen, under the pretext of lawyers’ fees and other expenses.
Takayama:
In the end, was she acquitted?
Otaka:
Yes, she was.
The reason was reported in Shukan Bunshun, but it is said that she was acquitted by the South Korean president at the time because she had “contributed to anti-Japanese activities” (bitter laugh).
Takayama:
So it was like a distinguished service award (laughs).
Korea Dug Its Own Grave
Otaka:
This time as well, strange brokers may operate behind the scenes, saying, “Please come forward as wartime laborers.”
Takayama:
According to one theory, there are 220,000 of them, and compensation would amount to two trillion yen.
In response to Japan’s fierce backlash, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon brazenly expressed “deep concern that the leaders of the Japanese government continue to make extreme remarks,” and objected by saying that the criticism was “neither appropriate nor wise.”
He shows no sign of flinching at all (laughs).
Otaka:
It cannot be denied that Korea has dug its own grave.
At the time of the Japan-Korea agreement, it was decided that “the Korean government will take responsibility for compensating both laborers and comfort women for wages.”
Therefore, the party to whom wages should be claimed is the Korean government.
Takayama:
Perhaps this ruling has finally brought the chance to sever ties with Korea.
Otaka:
I would like to hope so, but the first to set up the wartime laborer issue were China and North Korea.
Even if the Republic of Korea eventually disappears under the concept of a Koryo Federation, the command center for the wartime laborer issue is the North, so it is truly troublesome.
Moon Jae-in probably prepared the ground for Kim Jong-un so that, when Japan and North Korea eventually normalize diplomatic relations, they can use the wartime laborer card to extort money from Japan.
That is why North Korea also denounces the Japanese government’s response as “shameless,” and even brazenly declares that it must receive Japan’s apology and compensation “a hundredfold and a thousandfold.”
I would like to return those words exactly as they are.
Takayama:
Japan should not get involved with that country.
This demand too should be thrown aside, just as was done in the time of Syngman Rhee.
Even if they come crying for help, Japan should not deal with them.
Looking at the past, every time Japan dealt with Korea, various misfortunes befell Japan.
If one studies the past, the answer naturally becomes clear.