On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, ten family members of Koreans who were forcibly conscripted by Japan during World War II filed a lawsuit in South Korea. They are demanding the removal of their relatives' names from Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines those who died in service of the Japanese empire.
The plaintiffs are seeking the deletion of records — which list names and dates of death — and 880 million won (about $594,000) in damages from the Japanese government and the shrine itself.
According to Yonhap News, roughly 20,000 Koreans are believed to be enshrined at Yasukuni. The shrine, located in central Tokyo, honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II and has long sparked diplomatic friction between Japan and its neighbors.
This lawsuit highlights ongoing efforts in South Korea to address historical grievances and may influence the evolving dialogue between Seoul and Tokyo as both nations navigate their complex wartime legacies.
For young global citizens, the case raises broader questions about how societies remember and reconcile past injustices, blending legal accountability with historical memory on the world stage.
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Korean WWII conscripts' families sue Japan and Yasukuni Shrine
cgtn.com
