No Sign of the Promise to Commemorate Korean Victims...

Japanese Forced Labor Modern Industrial Facilities Recognized for Korean Forced Labor upon World Heritage Listing
Last December, SOC Denied and Distorted Facts... Government Urges Implementation of Recommendations
Preparing Public Discussion Ahead of July World Heritage Committee... Raising Awareness and Seeking Countermeasures at International Seminar

Movie 'Goonhamdo' Still Cut

Japan's "Meiji Industrial Revolution Heritage" was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2015. Among the 23 registered locations, seven bear the sorrow of forced labor by Koreans. These include the Hashima (Gunkanjima) coal mine, Miike coal mine, Takashima coal mine, Yahata Steelworks, and Mitsubishi Shipyard's 3rd dry dock, large cranes, and pattern shop.

According to the 2016 report by the "Committee for the Investigation of Forced Mobilization Victims during the Anti-Japanese Struggle Period and Support for Overseas Forced Mobilization Victims," Koreans were isolated on Hashima and forced to work in underwater coal mining. Many died or were injured due to 12-hour workdays, malnutrition, accidents, and diseases. Cases of drowning while attempting to escape the harsh conditions were not uncommon.

The situation at Takashima coal mine was similar. Japan produced 470,000 tons of coal for the war effort there in 1941 alone. Koreans were mobilized for 12-hour daily coal mining work. Frequent cave-ins and poor living conditions threatened their survival.

Japan initially tried to conceal these dark aspects during the World Heritage inscription process. The application did not mention forced labor and limited the period to the Meiji era (1867?1912). However, the industrial revolution heritage flourished as a military industry during the Pacific War period. The South Korean government protested this maneuver, arguing that Japan's attempt violated the World Heritage Convention, which serves the global community, as well as the UNESCO Charter that emphasizes international cooperation and peace maintenance.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Eventually, Japan reflected the issue of forced Korean labor in the delegation's statements and annotations. The delegation stated, "In the 1940s, many Koreans and other nationals were mobilized against their will at some facilities and subjected to harsh labor conditions," and pledged to "take measures to help understand the implementation of Japan's conscription policy during World War II." They also added, "We are prepared to include victim memorial measures such as establishing an information center in the interpretation strategy."

However, the promises have not been kept. Instead of memorializing the victims, the Industrial Heritage Information Center, opened in June last year, was filled with testimonies and materials denying the forced labor facts. The implementation plan report (SOC) submitted to the World Heritage Center in December last year by Japan’s Cabinet Secretariat, local governments, and individual heritage element owners contains no mention of forced labor.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Cultural Heritage Administration disclosed key contents of the "Follow-up Implementation Progress Report on the Registration of Modern Industrial Facilities as World Heritage" on the 29th of last month to urge Japan to comply with the recommendations. This report serves as basic data investigating how much Japan has implemented the World Heritage Committee's recommendations and post-inscription preservation management advice.

Forced labor victims on Hashima Island (Photo by MBC 'Infinite Challenge')

According to the report, Japan distorted the "Koreans forcibly mobilized against their will," recognized in the 39th recommendation, as "many people from the Korean Peninsula who supported Japan's industry" in the 2018 SOC, and completely omitted it in the 2019 SOC. Japan even blurred the essence by claiming that Japanese workers and workers from the Korean Peninsula and other regions were under "equally harsh conditions."

Lee Jeong-hyun, Director of the International Culture Division at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, criticized this interpretation as "an evasion of the World Heritage Committee's recommendations and Japan's own promises." Yeo Sun-hee, head of the World Heritage Team at the Cultural Heritage Administration, pointed out the stark contrast with Germany, which reflected forced labor facts in the interpretation and exhibition of the Essen Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex and V?lklingen Ironworks, and added:

"The World Heritage Committee's decision encourages considering international best practices in interpreting the entire history. Japan, however, neglects these best practices by limiting interpretation to promotional materials or applications merely for conveying heritage information."

The government plans to publicize this issue ahead of the 44th World Heritage Committee session scheduled for July this year. Director Lee said, "We plan to produce and widely distribute a promotional video comparing the World Heritage Committee's recommendations and Japan's non-compliance," adding, "We will continuously collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cultural Heritage Administration, and others to ensure the promises are fulfilled."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Cultural Heritage Administration will hold six international seminars under the theme "One Heritage, Different Memories" to raise international expert interest. Team leader Yeo stated, "We plan to inform world heritage interpretation experts about the seriousness of this issue and seek new response measures."

Although Japan continues to ignore its promises, the possibility of delisting the World Heritage designation is slim because this issue does not directly affect the value and preservation of the World Heritage. Team leader Yeo said, "Since the registration was limited to the Meiji period, cancellation is difficult," and added, "The focus is on ensuring promise fulfillment. If this issue is continuously raised based on national interest and international support, Japan will not be able to remain passive."

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