Reiwa 7 (Gyo-Ku) No. 7 - Application for Stay of Execution

In 2025, South Korean national Kim Sung-soo, a long-term resident of Japan, filed an application for a stay of execution with the Tokyo District Court against a deportation order issued by Japan's Minister of Justice. The government sought his removal based on allegations of immigration violations and activities deemed detrimental to national security. Kim argued that immediate deportation would cause irreparable harm by separating him from his family and potentially exposing him to persecution due to his background. The case, classified as Reiwa 7 (Gyo-Ku) No. 7, quickly became a focal point in the context of Japan-Korea diplomatic sensitivities, testing the limits of executive immigration power against individual rights.

In March 2025, the Tokyo District Court dismissed the application. The court ruled that the plaintiff had not met the stringent legal requirements for a stay, holding that the claimed harm did not reach the threshold of irreparable injury required to block the execution of the deportation.

Whether the plaintiff demonstrated the irreparable harm necessary to justify an emergency suspension of the deportation order, and whether the administrative decision failed to adequately consider the historical context and risk of persecution upon return.

The dismissal intensified diplomatic friction between Japan and South Korea. It drew sharp criticism from Korean civic groups in Japan and international human rights organizations, who argued the ruling set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of ethnic Korean residents and ignored the broader historical grievances.