On August 18, 2026, South Korea's YTN reported that "the Pro-Japanese Property Investigation Committee, which had ceased its activities since 2010, will restart from the end of this year." It is reported that efforts to confiscate the property of pro-Japanese anti-national collaborators who cooperated with Japan's rule during the Japanese imperial era are expected to fully resume.

According to the article, the "Special Act on the National Attribution of Property of Pro-Japanese Anti-National Collaborators," which includes provisions for attributing the property of pro-Japanese individuals to the state, will come into effect on December 3.

The first investigation committee, established in 2006, was disbanded in 2010, creating an institutional void where no legal body existed to investigate new pro-Japanese property. To address this issue, the current special act was enacted. The special act also clearly states that even if descendants dispose of related property to avoid confiscation, the proceeds obtained from such disposal will be subject to confiscation. Furthermore, a clause was included to establish a reward system for individuals who discover and report pro-Japanese property.

According to the Ministry of Justice and others, the first investigation committee, over a four-year period from July 2006 to July 2010, decided to attribute 2,359 parcels of land owned by 168 pro-Japanese individuals to the state. For 24 descendants of pro-Japanese individuals who had already disposed of pro-Japanese property to third parties, a confirmation decision was made that the property in question was pro-Japanese property. The total value of the property that became state-owned as a result amounted to 237.3 billion won at the time.

Jeong Seong-ho, the Minister of Justice, stated on his SNS that "at least 32.5 billion won (approximately 3.6 billion yen) or more of pro-Japanese property can be recovered." An official from the ministry said, "In the future, the recovered pro-Japanese property will be prioritized for use as a business fund related to patriotic martyrs and national heroes."

In response to this article, Korean internet users commented: "Property should be confiscated from pro-Japanese, pro-China, and pro-North Korea individuals," "Confiscate property from communists too," and "Taking this opportunity, let's investigate all pro-Japanese individuals, pro-North Korean spies, Yoon Mi-hyang and her associated organizations and politicians who exploited comfort women victims, and confiscate all their property."

Additionally, comments such as "This is something that should have been continued, but since they're restarting now, let's support it," "It's too late. There probably isn't any property left," and "Rewards obtained by flattering the Japanese Empire. The owners are Koreans, not Japanese, and they've been properly paying taxes so far, so why not just leave it alone?" were also seen. (Translation/Editing: Asa-e)