▲ Sado Mine, Japan
An international body has recommended that the Japanese government improve its efforts to inform the public about the history of forced labor of Koreans at the Sado Mine, noting that Japan has failed to properly address the issue contrary to the promises it made when the site was inscribed as a World Heritage site.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee stated this in a draft decision circulated to member states today (July 15), following an evaluation of the State of Conservation (SOC) report for the Sado Mine submitted by Japan.
The draft decision assessed that while there has been "some progress" by Japan in implementing the committee's recommendation to establish an interpretation and exhibition strategy that reflects the "entire history" of the Sado Mine, it remains insufficient.
The committee recommended that Japan "closely consult with the concerned parties to comprehensively address the entire history throughout the entire period of mine development at the site level, and to improve the interpretation and exhibition strategies and facilities at the site."
While acknowledging the additional measures Japan has taken to implement the recommendations, the World Heritage Committee requested that Japan provide a clearer explanation of how its interpretation and exhibition strategies and facilities comprehensively cover the entire history of the Sado Mine, and report on related progress to the committee on a regular basis.
A South Korean Foreign Ministry official explained that "entire history" includes the history of forced labor of Koreans at the mine by Japan during the Japanese colonial period.
The World Heritage Committee has instructed Japan to submit a report on the implementation of these recommendations by December 1, 2027, and plans to review the report at the 50th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2028.
This recommendation is seen as a move that bolsters the position of the South Korean government.
The South Korean government has reportedly conveyed its position to Japan through two rounds of director-general-level in-person consultations this year, emphasizing that the forced nature of the labor involving Koreans must be more clearly expressed in the interpretation and exhibition of the Sado Mine. It is also known that the government has consistently explained this position to UNESCO.
"We view this as a reflection of our consistent position, given that Japan's implementation of the relevant recommendations has been insufficient," said a Foreign Ministry official. "We will continue to exert necessary efforts while working closely with the UNESCO Secretariat and related countries to ensure that Japan faithfully implements the World Heritage Committee's decision and the promises made at the time of inscription."
The draft decision is scheduled to be discussed as an agenda item at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, which will be held in Busan from July 20 to 23, and is expected to be adopted by consensus if there are no objections among member states.
Although the decision to be adopted is binding, it remains uncertain how much Japan will comply with the recommendations, as the consequences for failing to do so are not clearly defined.
According to the World Heritage Committee website, a total of 1,248 cultural and natural heritage sites are currently inscribed.
A Foreign Ministry official explained that only three cases have had their inscriptions revoked, and the criteria for revocation are extremely limited, such as damage to the site itself.
Furthermore, as South Korea's term as a member of the World Heritage Committee ends next year, South Korea's influence within the committee may not be the same after this year.
However, as Japan has also promised to implement the recommendations, it is taking some very limited measures.
There had been criticism that it was difficult to find facilities used by Korean laborers, such as dormitory sites or communal kitchens, and a Foreign Ministry official explained that Japan installed about 10 related signposts at the site in the first half of this year.
The Sado Mine was famous as a gold mine during the Edo period (1603–1867) and was mainly used as a mine to secure war supplies after the Pacific War intensified.
During this time, Koreans from the colony were forcibly mobilized and worked under harsh conditions while facing discrimination.
It is known that 1,519 Koreans were forced to work at the Sado Mine between 1940 and 1945.
The Sado Mine was inscribed as a World Heritage site at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, India, in July 2024.
Ahead of the inscription, the South Korean government demanded that Japan reflect the "entire history," including forced labor of Koreans, at the Sado Mine.
In order to succeed in the inscription, Japan, which could not simply ignore the demands of South Korea—one of the 21 member states of the World Heritage Committee—accepted those demands.
Accordingly, when deciding on the inscription, the World Heritage Committee recommended that Japan "develop an interpretation and exhibition strategy and facilities to comprehensively address the entire history of the site throughout the entire period of mine development," and Japan promised to faithfully implement the recommendation.
In this context, Japan set up a space at the Aikawa Local Museum near the Sado Mine to explain the harsh working conditions of Korean laborers and display related historical materials. However, criticism has been raised that it did not sufficiently express the fact of forced labor, such as by not using the term "forced."
As Japan's sincerity is being questioned, the South Korean government has boycotted the Sado Mine memorial service held by Japan for Korean laborers for two consecutive years, and its attendance this year remains uncertain.
Regarding the memorial service, a Foreign Ministry official said, "It has not entered a very concrete stage (of discussion), and I understand that the Japanese side is reviewing the related schedule."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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