A 77-year-old Korean hibakusha will file a lawsuit seeking nullification of Nagasaki's rejection of his request for money to cover medical costs.
The government covers the cost of checkups and medical treatment for atomic bomb survivors, but to receive such benefits they must personally submit relevant documentation to Japanese authorities.
Choi Gye Chol, who now lives in Pusan, South Korea, had his request rejected by the Nagasaki Municipal Government because the documents were presented by a proxy.
Choi's supporters said Tuesday he hopes to file the suit in Nagasaki next month. Supporters plan to set up a relief fund and send Choi, who is bedridden, the equivalent of the government payments, or some 33,000 yen, every month.
After being exposed to the atomic bomb on Aug. 9, 1945, Choi returned to South Korea. He returned to Japan in 1980 to undergo an operation on his hip. He became eligible for the government payments at that time, but they were terminated when he returned to South Korea the same year.
On Jan. 8, he filed a request with the city for the resumption of the medical payments via his supporters. The request was rejected Jan. 22.
After the Osaka High Court ruled against the government in 2002 regarding its policy of excluding hibakusha who live overseas from the program, it became possible for such payments to continue even if the person lives abroad.