<W Commentary> Considering holding a public debate on the former forced labor issue in South Korea: With the leaders of Japan and South Korea struggling with low approval ratings, can we make progress toward a solution?

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 29th of last month that it was considering holding a public forum to resolve the issue of former forced laborers, which is the biggest pending issue between Japan and South Korea. The public-private council, which was launched in July this year to resolve the issue, ended with the fourth meeting held on May 5th. At the end of the meeting, the South Korean government said it would establish a new forum for gathering opinions in a wide range of ways.

President Yoon Seo-gyul, who has expressed his desire to improve relations between Japan and South Korea, has taken vigorous action to resolve the issue of former forced laborers, which is the biggest pending issue between the two countries. Among them, a public-private council was launched in July. It was presided over by First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyung-don, and in addition to scholars, legal professionals, and former diplomats, the initial members included attorneys for plaintiffs in former forced labor lawsuits. However, the plaintiffs strongly opposed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' submission of a written opinion to the Supreme Court in July explaining diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue of forced labor. "It's an act that completely loses the relationship of trust with the victim," he said, indicating that he will not participate in the council in the future. Therefore, from the third time onwards, all the parties concerned on the plaintiff side were absent, and the fourth time held on the 5th of last month was the last.

Regarding the former forced labor lawsuit, South Korea's Supreme Court (Supreme Court) ordered Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal (currently Nippon Steel) in October 2018 and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in November to compensate the plaintiffs. Since both companies refused to comply, the plaintiffs took steps to seize and sell (cash) the assets of these companies in South Korea. It is even said that the Japanese government is ready to impose sanctions if it is cashed, and if that happens, relations between Japan and South Korea will collapse. Therefore, both the Japanese and South Korean governments agree that cashing must be avoided.

Since April 2019, hearings have been held on Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' re-appeal against the liquidation order. Some reports suggested that a final decision would be made before the Lord Chancellor retired, but no action was taken. With the retirement, the governments of Japan and South Korea are expected to postpone the final decision on cashing out for the time being.

On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin visited the homes of two plaintiffs in their 90s in former forced labor lawsuits. Park promised the plaintiff that he would do his best to quickly resolve the matter responsibly.

The public-private council ended on the 5th of last month, but Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lim Soo-seok said, "There will be no further meetings that are closed to the public and limit the number of attendees, but there is no intention to hold a fourth meeting. It's not the end of communication," he stressed. In the future, they will continue to collect opinions from plaintiffs and experts in a broader manner, and will focus on work to create a solution plan for the Korean government.

While attention was focused on the future process, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lim Soo-seok revealed at a regular press conference on May 29th that he plans to hold an open forum to seek a solution to the former forced labor issue. The specific form and methods are still under consideration, saying, "We will make diplomatic efforts to adopt the most rational measures that meet the common interests of the two countries. However, as with the third public-private council, If the plaintiff's side were to be held without participation, no great results can be expected.

On the 21st of last month (22nd Japan time), President Yoon and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met in New York for about 30 minutes. The two leaders shared the need to resolve pending issues, including the issue of former forced laborers, and restore healthy Japan-South Korea relations. It was the first time in two years and nine months since the December 2019 talks between then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in that the leaders of the two countries spent a certain amount of time discussing matters.

Prime Minister Han Duk Soo also met with Kishida on the 28th of last month. Han told Kishida, "South Korea and Japan are important partners for cooperation. I believe it is in our common interest to improve relations as soon as possible."

However, it is expected that there will be more difficult situations in the future. The Hankyoreh, a South Korean newspaper, focused on Kishida's declining approval rating. The newspaper divided public opinion into two, and the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which was one of the reasons for the decline in approval ratings, was held on the 27th of last month. For example, citing Japanese media reports that the Kishida administration could fall into a crisis situation, he analyzed, "If Prime Minister Kishida faces South Korea in such a situation, his approval rating will inevitably decline further." He expressed his skepticism about the possibility of Prime Minister Kishida actively engaging with South Korea.

President Yoon's approval rating has also dropped to the 20% level, and the opposition Democratic Party has criticized Yoon's policy toward Japan as "weak diplomacy."

Under these circumstances, will the public forum, which is expected to be newly opened to resolve the issue of former forced laborers, become a forum for meaningful discussion?