Goyang:Seoul The South Korean government has successfully won a lawsuit to reclaim assets worth 2.7 billion won (approximately US$2 million) from the descendants of a pro-Japanese collaborator from the era of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over Korea.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court ruled in favor of the government last Thursday. The lawsuit aimed to recover "unjust proceeds" from the sale of assets by Shin Woo-sun, a collaborator who held a vice councilor position at the Japanese colonial government's advisory body and was recognized with honorary medals by Japan at that time.

The court's decision confirmed the government's right to seek recovery of proceeds from assets linked to pro-Japanese collaborators, even if these assets were transferred to third parties prior to 2005. This was the year when the law mandating the reversion of pro-Japanese collaborators' property to the state was enacted.

The justice ministry initiated the lawsuit in January, targeting 2.43 billion won in proceeds from asset sales and a parcel of land valued at approximately 270 million won, based on its officially assessed land price.