Japan May Compensate Koreans

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on November 5 that the Japanese government plans to compensate Koreans and Taiwanese with Hansen’s disease who were detained by force during the Japanese occupation.

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said that the compensation law for Hansen’s disease under which Japanese patients are compensated will apply to Koreans and Taiwanese as well.

The Shimbun estimated that those eligible for compensation in both countries numbers around 400.

The Japanese government won the lawsuit brought by Korean victims on October 25, but lost the one brought by Taiwanese victims.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Japanese government decided to change its compensation policy not only because they lost the Taiwanese lawsuit, but also because the Korean government has made the issue as an important diplomatic one.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com