By Lee Jihae

The Seoul Central District Court on Nov. 13 held the first hearing of a lawsuit filed by "comfort women," or those who were forced into sexual slavery by Japan in the early 20th century, against the Japanese government three years after the suit was lodged.

The Japanese government snubbed the hearing.

Plaintiffs Lee Yong-soo, Kil Won-ok and Lee Ok-seon testified at the hearing in wheelchairs.

Calling herself a "witness of history" at a news conference before the hearing, Lee said, "It's been 30 years since we requested an apology and reparation (from the Japanese government)."

"If the Japanese government is proud of what it did, it should attend the trial."

Tokyo insists that the suit be dismissed citing international law, which stipulates that sovereign states are exempt from civil suits or criminal prosecution by courts of other nations.

The victims' attorney Ryu Kwang-ok, however, said the exemption cannot be applied to an illegal act that gravely violated human rights.

Eleven surviving victims of Japan's sexual slavery in December 2016 filed the suit against the Japanese government but the case was delayed for three years due to several dismissals.

The Japanese government ignored the lawsuit but the court proceeded with the hearing as the document was assumed to have been conveyed to the defendant (the Japanese government), which continuously refused it. Five of the victims died during this period.

The second hearing is slated for next year on Feb. 25.

jihlee08@korea.kr