Conspicuous absence of 'forced labor' references at Unesco-registered mine in Japan raises eyebrows in Korea

Japan's omission of references to the "forced mobilization" of Korean laborers in the exhibition space for the Sado mines, a site associated with large-scale forced labor of Koreans during Japan's colonial rule of Korea, sparked controversy in Seoul.

The photo, taken by Prof. Seo Kyung-deok, shows a tunnel inside Japan's Sado mines that the country is trying to register as a Unesco World Heritage Stie. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Japan's omission of references to the "forced mobilization" of Korean laborers in the exhibition space for the Sado mines, a site associated with large-scale forced labor of Koreans during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, has sparked controversy in Seoul.

As part of the agreement to secure Korea's consent for the Unesco registration, Japan committed to two main actions: establishing an exhibition hall near the Sado mines and holding an annual memorial ceremony for all laborers, including those from the Korean Peninsula.

In 2015, when Japan registered the Hashima Island, or the "Battleship Island" — another site linked to the forced labor of Koreans in Nagasaki Prefecture — as a Unesco World Heritage site, it acknowledged the forced labor of Koreans and promised to set up an information center to honor the victims. However, criticism arose after it emerged that the center was located far from the site in Tokyo and provided insufficient information.

The exhibition facility of Sado mines at Aikaiwa History Museum [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

Consequently, the Korean government called on concrete actions rather than mere promises in its negotiations over the Sado mines, leading to Japan's preliminary measure of setting up the exhibition before registration. The exhibition space at the Aikawa History Museum is about 2 kilometers from the Sado mines.

While Japan's establishment of the exhibition facility and promise of a memorial ceremony are seen as progress, critics argue that the core issue of "forced mobilization" has been overlooked.

The exhibition facility of Sado mines at Aikaiwa History Museum [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

The exhibition at the Aikawa History Museum explains that the National Mobilization Law, promulgated in 1938, introduced "open recruitment," "official placement" and "requisition" in the Korean Peninsula, with the involvement of the Government-General of Chosen, an administrative body established by Japan. The exhibit also describes the harsh working conditions, stating that a higher percentage of workers from the Korean Peninsula were engaged in dangerous tasks inside the mine shafts. However, there is no mention of the forced mobilization of Korean laborers.

Unlike the registration of Hashima Island, where the Japanese delegation acknowledged forced labor and displayed this acknowledgment in the information center, the Japanese representatives did not explicitly mention forced labor at the Unesco meeting for the Sado mines.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Sunday that the governments of Korea and Japan agreed not to use terms related to "forced labor" at the exhibition facility and instead explain the living conditions of the workers. The report suggested that both governments were motivated by a desire to "avoid having another cause of conflict" as they approach the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations next year.

The Korean Foreign Ministry dismissed claims of an agreement to exclude the term "forced labor" from the exhibition, asserting that the reference to forced labor in the 2015 agreement for Hashima Island indirectly confirms the same for the Sado mines.

"We have already addressed the issue of forced labor, so it only needs to be confirmed again — and we tried to ensure better implementation measures," a ministry official said.

On the day of the registration decision, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his desire to share the joy with the local community and citizens, without mentioning forced labor.

Some lawmakers from the conservative People Power Party (PPP) issued a joint statement Saturday, praising the government for "creating a virtuous cycle in Korea-Japan relations" through dialogue and diplomacy on such sensitive issues.

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) argued that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration agreed to the registration of the Sado mines based solely on Japan's verbal promises without ensuring their actual implementation.

DP leader Park Chan-dae criticized the government's response, stating that they would conduct a thorough investigation into the government's diplomatic failures and hold them accountable.

"The Sado mines have been registered as a World Heritage site with the endorsement of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration," Park said during a supreme council meeting Monday. "It feels as if our government is acting as a puppet of Japan, disregarding Japan's wartime crimes."

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]