[Event]Landmark Ruling on North Korean Human Rights

28 Sep 2024
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On September 12, 2024, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Repatriated Koreans—Korean residents from Japan who were lured back to North Korea with false promises of a “paradise on earth.” The court recognized the illegal actions of North Korea and ordered the government to compensate the plaintiffs for the psychological damages they incurred during their unlawful detention.

The court deemed North Korea a "domestic entity," allowing legal proceedings to proceed through domestic channels. The NKDB Center for Human Rights Legal Support filed this civil lawsuit on March 15, seeking 100 million won (approximately $77,000) per individual for the mental suffering caused by North Korean propaganda and inhumane acts.

From 1959 to 1984, around 93,340 Korean residents from Japan were deceived into returning to North Korea, where they faced severe restrictions on their freedoms, including forced assignments of residence and jobs, monitored communications, and systemic discrimination.

Currently, about 500 Repatriated Koreans and their families have defected to South Korea and Japan, while others remain concerned about relatives in North Korea. The plaintiffs hope this ruling will bring attention to their human rights abuses and provide some comfort to those who endured inhumane conditions.

In response to this ruling, the NKDB Center for Human Rights Legal Support will intensify efforts to provide meaningful remedies for victims of human rights violations in North Korea. We will investigate unpaid funds related to inter-Korean economic cooperation and explore legal measures, including seizures, to ensure these victims receive compensation.

This landmark decision is a crucial step toward holding North Korea accountable for its actions and supporting victims of these egregious human rights abuses.