Koreans Win Japanese Rent Bias Case

A Japanese court sentenced a homeowner to pay compensation for refusing to rent to Koreans yesterday.

The ruling is significant because it may set a precedent in Japanese society where Japanese homeowners often refuse to rent to Koreans out of hand.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported on January 25 that the Amagasaki Department under the Kobe District Court ruled in favor of an ethnic Korean couple in Japan, Lee Jun-hee (29) and Park Hyeon-ja (29), who sued their landlord, “A,” for damages on January 24.

“Refusing to rent a house based on nationality is against the constitution, which stipulates that everybody is equal under the law,” the court said. It ordered “A” to pay 220,000 yen (1.9 million won) to the couple to compensate for their suffering.

Kwang-Am Cheon iam@donga.com