On Tuesday, South Korea's Foreign Ministry took Japan to task over its promises to tell the full story of the Sado Island Gold Mines, a site tied to wartime forced labor ⚒️.
The ministry warned that Tokyo hasn't fully implemented the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decision or its own commitments to include the experiences of Korean laborers at the mine. Seoul had agreed in July 2024 to support the mine's UNESCO listing in exchange for a complete, honest display of its history 🌏.
According to South Korean historians, thousands of Koreans were forced by Imperial Japan into hard labor at the site, where the gold mine was converted into war-material facilities during World War II. Despite the mine shutting down in 1989, no mention of these victims appears at the attraction today 📜.
Seoul is calling on Tokyo to faithfully carry out the UNESCO decision, honor bilateral agreements, and update the site with comprehensive historical information. The Foreign Ministry says talks with Japan will continue until follow-up measures are in place 🤝.
Reference(s):
S Korea urges Japan to fulfill commitments related to war-linked mine
cgtn.com
