Japan's 8-Year Failure to Fulfill 'Battleship Island' Promise, UNESCO Urges Dialogue with Korea

2015, Battleship Island Registered as World Cultural Heritage
Japan Promises Exhibition on 'Victims' Forced Labor History'
8 Years Unfulfilled... UNESCO Urges "Dialogue with Korea"

On the 14th (local time), the UNESCO World Heritage Committee once again urged Japan to engage in dialogue with South Korea (neighboring country) and properly convey the history related to the Meiji Industrial Revolution Heritage, including Japan's Hashima Island (Gunkanjima).

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the 45th World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the same day, the committee adopted a resolution stating that it "will continuously encourage dialogue with the concerned countries regarding follow-up measures after the inscription of Japan's modern industrial facilities as World Heritage." This followed the draft content published on the website on the 9th.

Previously, in 2015, Hashima Island, where forced labor of Koreans was severe, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. During this process, Japan pledged to establish exhibition facilities to remember the victims of forced labor and to engage in dialogue with related countries including South Korea. However, even after eight years, Japan has not kept this promise. The information center to honor the victims was built in Tokyo rather than at the heritage site, and the exhibits at the information center did not highlight the discrimination or human rights violations against Koreans.

In response, the World Heritage Committee expressed "strong regret" to the Japanese government in July 2021 and requested the submission of related reports by December last year. However, the report submitted by Japan contained claims that there was "no evidence" to support that the treatment of Korean workers was harsher.

This resolution serves as an additional recommendation to Japan for failing to fulfill its promises despite the recommendations in 2015 and 2021. UNESCO requested Japan to submit progress reports by December 1, 2024, so that the World Heritage Centre and advisory bodies can review them. In particular, Japan was advised to conduct further research, data collection, and verification work including new testimonies related to Hashima Island, and to maintain continuous dialogue with "concerned countries," including South Korea.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea stated regarding this decision by the World Heritage Committee, "We expect Japan to fulfill its promises and submit progress reports by December 1 next year to strengthen interpretative strategies that can understand the entire history of the modern industrial facilities World Heritage." It added, "Our government will also continue dialogue with Japan and the UNESCO Secretariat in accordance with this decision."

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