Japan urged to address dark history sincerely
Japan’s Sado complex of mines, a controversial site linked to the wartime forced labor of Koreans, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 46th UNESCO World Heritage Committee made this decision during its meeting in New Deli, India, Saturday, with unanimous consent from all 21 participating member countries, including South Korea.
Seoul initially opposed the site’s registration due to its history of forced labor involving Koreans. However, a recent decision was made following an agreement between Seoul and Tokyo about the site, where approximately 1,500 Koreans were conscripted for labor from 1939 to 1945 during the Japanese colonial period. Seoul has been urging Japan to acknowledge the full history of the site, while Japan has agreed to establish exhibits and hold annual ceremonies to commemorate the forced laborers, according to Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
When applying for the listing last year, Japan only highlighted the fact that the site had been the world’s largest gold mine in the 17th century. It also limited the historical context to the Edo era (1603-1867), in an apparent bid to whitewash its dark history of forcing Koreans to work in the mine and deflect Korea’s objections. This decision also raises concerns about whether it complies with UNESCO’s guidelines on historical accuracy.
Last month, the International Council on Monuments and Sites recommended the postponing of the listing until Japan could adequately explain the full history. Tokyo agreed to the move, vowing to take relevant measures, prompting the committee members, including Seoul, to approve the bid.
In 2015, Japan successfully listed Hashima Island, also known as Battleship Island, as a UNESCO heritage, pledging to acknowledge and memorialize the forced labor of Koreans. Yet Japan faced criticism for opting to set up a memorial in Tokyo rather than on-site and for not fully addressing the forced conscription and human rights abuses experienced by Korean workers.
Given this precedent, there are concerns that Japan may not fully honor its commitments regarding the Sado mines. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that it had focused on securing concrete actions from Japan this time. Japan pledged to install relevant exhibits at a museum in Aikawa, some 2km away from the Sado mines and hold annual commemorative events for the forced laborers.
Sincerity is crucial. There is growing anxiety over the possibility Japan may not faithfully carry out its pledge regarding the forced mobilization of Korean workers. Kano Takehiro, Japan’s UNESCO ambassador, stated Japan would develop an interpretation and exhibition strategy and facilities that will comprehensively reflect the entire history of the Sado mines, sincerely commemorating all workers, especially Korean workers. But he did not explicitly mention “forced labor.”
The foreign ministry reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to providing a full account of the site’s history including the forced labor. Japan should take measures to clearly highlight in the exhibits the forced conscription of Korean workers against their will and dispel lingering doubts about its insincerity on the issue.
By doing so, Seoul and Tokyo will be able to boost their cooperative relations. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration should step up pressure on Japan to abide by its pledges and rigorously monitor the details.
Seoul and Tokyo have maintained friendly relations, boosted by summit talks between Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Yet these ties could be jeopardized once Japan again reneges on its promises.
Japan should remember it cannot enhance future relations with South Korea unless it stops its bids to whitewash its dark past. Japan can obtain the trust of the international community and South Korea, as well, only when it faithfully carries out its pledges.
