UNESCO Ambassador: "Japan Broke Its Promise and Disregarded the Authority of the World Heritage Committee" (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The government has begun to exert full pressure on Japan for distorting the facts of forced labor suffered by Koreans while introducing Meiji-era industrial heritage.

On the 25th (local time), Kim Dong-gi, Ambassador of the Korean Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, held a press briefing with Korean media correspondents at the ambassador's residence near Paris and revealed that he is informing the 21 countries of the World Heritage Committee that Japan has not properly fulfilled the promises made when registering the heritage as a World Heritage site.

In 2015, Japan registered 23 Meiji-era industrial heritage sites, including seven forced labor facilities for Koreans such as the Hashima (端島, also known as 'Gunkanjima') coal mine, as World Cultural Heritage sites. Amid controversy, Japan promised to establish an information center to explain the forced labor of Koreans and take appropriate measures to honor the victims.

However, the information center opened on the 15th in Shinjuku, Tokyo, mainly introduced Japan's industrialization achievements. Even in the introduction of the Gunkanjima coal mine, testimonies and materials denying the forced labor itself were exhibited. In response, the Korean government protested that Japan has not implemented any of the promised follow-up measures.

At the briefing, Ambassador Kim said, "We are informing the 21 member countries of the World Heritage Committee that Japan must comply with the publicly made promises related to humanity's shared cultural heritage in the international community," and added that when the World Heritage Committee convenes, the issues requested by our government will be formally discussed.

Regarding Japan's omission of forced mobilization facts at the Industrial Heritage Information Center, Ambassador Kim said, "Japan is not keeping its own words and is disregarding the authority of the World Heritage Committee," and raised his voice, saying, "Japan is damaging its own image."

He continued, "If Japan does not want to be criticized internationally as a country that does not keep its promises, it must immediately implement the follow-up measures," urging prompt action.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.