Victim of Forced Labor during Japanese Colonial Rule, Grandma Yang Geum-deok, Awarded National Order of Merit after Three Years

Grandma Yang Geum-deok (96), a victim of forced labor during Japanese colonial rule, received the National Order of Merit from the Lee Jae-myung administration three years after it was originally denied during the Yoon Seok-youl government.

On the 2nd, the National Human Rights Commission delivered the National Order of Merit to Grandma Yang, who is hospitalized at Sejong Nursing Hospital in Gwangju Dong-gu.

This honor was awarded in recognition of Grandma Yang's human rights advocacy and contributions to national and social development, in the names of President Lee Jae-myung, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, and Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung.

Along with the medal, a commemorative clock was presented as a gift from the President. Yook Seong-cheol, head of the Gwangju office of the National Human Rights Commission, read the certificate of the medal and handed over the medal on behalf of the President.

Yook explained, "In 2022, the National Human Rights Commission recommended Grandma Yang as an awardee of the National Order of Merit, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs halted the process right before it was to be presented, citing that interdepartmental consultations had not been completed," adding, "After addressing various issues, three years later, Grandma Yang finally received the medal."

He emphasized the significance of the award, stating, "Notable recipients of the Order of Merit include Father Cho Byung-ho and Ms. Bae Eun-sim and Ms. Lee So-sun."

30-Year Struggle of a Forced Labor Victim and the Medal Award Process

Grandma Yang Geum-deok was born in 1929 in Naju and was forced to labor at Mitsubishi Aircraft Manufacturing in Nagoya, Japan, as a member of the Chosen Women's Labor Corps in 1944.

Since filing her first lawsuit against the Japanese government in 1992, she has continued her activities over the past 30 years, demanding compensation and an apology for forced labor victims, frequently traveling back and forth to Japan.

The government initially planned to award the medal to Grandma Yang during the Liberation Day ceremony on the 15th, but it was reported that they opted for a direct visit to present the award, considering her hospitalization due to her advanced age.

Only about ten individuals, including nursing home staff and close family, attended the award ceremony to celebrate Grandma Yang's achievement.

Struggling with mobility, Grandma Yang expressed her thoughts on the award with difficulty, saying, "Though you have gone through many hardships in various ways, I hope you remain steadfast for this country."

Regarding her family, she added, "There’s nothing more to say since we all know each other. I only wish for their health."

Grandma Yang and her family have been living in the hospital due to worsening health following the denial of the medal in 2022, and in October 2024, they accepted the government’s proposed third-party compensation plan.

The third-party compensation plan involves the South Korean government compensating victims on behalf of the Japanese government and war crime companies, using donations from domestic companies, and has faced strong criticism from related organizations.

Reactions from Civic Groups to the Medal Award and Controversy over the Third-Party Compensation Plan

During the Yoon Seok-youl government's term, the environment surrounding the issues faced by victims of forced labor changed significantly, leading Grandma Yang, who has spent her life demanding an apology and compensation from Japan, to receive the medal through a modest ceremony.

The Civic Coalition for Forced Labor, which has worked alongside Grandma Yang in her legal battles, stated in a press release, "As the organization that recommended Grandma Yang for the Korea Human Rights Award in 2022, it is truly painful and bitter for us, but after careful consideration, we decided not to participate in today's medal award ceremony." They criticized the sudden decision by Grandma Yang's side to accept the third-party compensation plan, stating, "This places the burden of compensation on us, the victim nation, rather than on the perpetrator."

The coalition further stated, "No matter how much rhetoric is employed, third-party compensation does not serve to wipe away the tears and grievances of the victims; it rather absolves Japan of its compensation responsibility." They emphasized that "the Lee Jae-myung government has made it clear that it has no intention of changing the third-party compensation plan, a regressive historical precedent set during the Yoon Seok-youl administration. This represents a half-measure of justice and selective justice, turning a blind eye to the demands of the people in the square."

Image source: News1