South Korean nationals forced to work in Siberia during Japanese colonial rule have requested compensation from Japan as Tokyo recently introduced legislation to compensate Japanese forced laborers.

In a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, a group of South Korean victims said that Koreans were also forced to work in Siberia over three years. The group urged Tokyo to swiftly identify and compensate South Korean victims.

Japan on Wednesday introduced a law that stipulates a payment of 250-thousand to one-and-a-half million yen in compensation for about 70-thousand Japanese victims. The law, however, excluded Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean victims.

Among 35-hundred Koreans forced to work in Siberia, about 500 chose to return to South Korea. About 20 of them are reportedly still alive.