Korean, Japanese companies need to donate more, head of forced labor reparation fund says

Shim Kyu-sun, chief of the Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization by Imperial Japan, speaks during his first-ever press interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, at the foundation’s headquarters in Jongno District, central Seoul, on May 23. [PARK HYUN-JOO]   The Korean government-backed fund to compensate the victims of Japan’s wartime forced labor needs local and Japanese companies to chip in more, the head of the fund’s foundation said.     “Since the end of last year, we contacted additional victims who received a final judgment for compensation for forced labor, and more than 90 percent expressed their intention to accept third-party payment, but financial resources are insufficient,” said Shim Kyu-sun, chief of the Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization by Imperial Japan, during his first-ever press interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, at the foundation’s headquarters in Jongno District, central Seoul, on May 23.   “For the total payment, we would need about 12 billion won ($8.8 million).”   Shim worried that third-party reparations “seem to have reached a crossroads,” adding that “the participation of Korean and Japanese companies is essential for the success of the solution.”   Related Article   In March 2023,...