Seoul court orders N. Korean leader to compensate Korean War POWs

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Seoul: A Seoul court has ordered North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his government to pay damages to five former South Korean prisoners of war (POWs) for forced labor endured during decades of captivity. 

On Thursday, the Seoul Central District Court awarded 21 million won (approximately $14,000) to each plaintiff, all of whom are now in their 90s.

The five men, including 95-year-old Ko Kwang-myun, were captured during the 1950-53 Korean War. Despite the 1953 armistice, they were never repatriated and were instead forced to work in North Korean coal mines for over 50 years before escaping in the early 2000s. The court’s decision follows a legal process known as ‘public notification,’ as direct communication with the North is impossible.

This ruling marks the third time since 2020 that South Korean courts have held Kim Jong-un liable for war-era forced labor. However, previous victors have yet to receive compensation, as North Korean assets in the South remain legally difficult to seize.

 With only six known surviving POWs left in South Korea, families continue to urge the government to find practical ways to enforce these historic judgments.