Seoul: The government has officially withdrawn its appeal against a court ruling in a damages suit concerning the forced detention of women at state facilities decades ago. This decision was confirmed by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on Tuesday, marking a significant development in a long-standing legal battle.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the case centers on state-run facilities established to prevent prostitution, which were later revealed to have detained women without legal grounds. These facilities subjected the detained women to violence and deprived them of basic necessities. The Seoul Central District Court, in a ruling made in May, partially sided with the victims and their families, awarding them up to 240 million won (approximately US$161,800) in damages. This prompted the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to initially file an appeal against the decision.

The court's decision followed findings by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which reported in January of the previous year that 11 women detained in the 1970s and 1980s had experienced violations of their human rights. The ministry, considering the severe suffering endured by the now-elderly victims and a precedent set by another abuse case involving a children's facility, decided to withdraw the appeal.

This withdrawal allows the victims to receive the damages as confirmed by the court ruling, providing a sense of justice and closure. Gender Minister Won Min-kyong expressed hope that this action would restore the victims' honor and allow them to live the remainder of their lives with dignity and peace.

The female-only detention facilities were a product of a law enacted in 1961 aimed at eradicating prostitution. By 1971, there were 34 such facilities across the country, detaining a total of 2,717 individuals. The law was eventually repealed in 2004, and all facilities were closed by 1988.