THE Seoul government disclosed on Tuesday newly found lists of nearly 230,000 Korean victims of massacre and forced labour during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule.

The revelation shed new light on Japan’s past brutalities and is expected to spark further disputes between the two countries over Japanese apologies and compensation.

The National Archives of Korea released the lists of those who were killed during the March 1 independence movement in 1919 and in an alleged massacre by the Japanese after a devastating earthquake in Kanto in 1923, and who were mobilised for forced labour.

The rosters, contained in 65 books, were unearthed in June at the Korean Embassy in Japan during its renovations and then handed over to the National Archives. The lists were compiled from nationwide surveys which were conducted in 1953 under the direction of then-President Syngman Rhee as part of preparation for bilateral talks with Tokyo that year, officials said.

One of the books lists 630 victims killed during the 1919 nationwide protests, while another identifies 290 Koreans allegedly slaughtered after the Great Kanto Earthquake. The remainder carries the names of 229,781 Koreans forced to work during colonial rule.

Experts said the rosters would serve as crucial historical records when negotiating with Japan for an apology and compensation for the victims.

By arrangement with The Korea Herald/ANN