Government: "Oppose Sado Mine World Heritage if Forced Labor Not Reflected"

Japan to Promote Forced Labor Sado Mine for World Heritage Listing
Government: "Whether Korea Supports Depends on Japan's Actions"

As Japan pushes for the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Sado Mine, which was also a site of forced labor of Koreans, a fierce diplomatic battle between South Korea and Japan is expected. Japan has sparked controversy by excluding the fact of forced labor and only highlighting that it is "Japan's largest gold mine."

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the 7th, when asked by reporters whether the government's position is not to oppose if the history of forced labor of Koreans is reflected in the UNESCO listing attempt of Sado Mine, "Whether to oppose or not depends on how Japan proceeds."

Sado Mine tunnels constructed since the Meiji era.
Photo by Seokyungdeok, Professor at Sungshin Women's University
Image source: Yonhap News

The official added, "If we judge that our position has been reflected, the government is also considering not blocking consensus (unanimous agreement)," but "If it is not reflected, we will block consensus to the end and go to a vote." He further explained, "The goal of both governments is to avoid going to a vote as much as possible and to reach an agreement between South Korea and Japan."

Located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, Sado Mine is a site where forced labor of Koreans occurred, similar to Hashima Island (Gunkanjima). However, the Japanese government, in the process of promoting the World Heritage listing, excluded such historical facts and only emphasized that Sado Mine was the largest gold mine in Japan during the Edo period in the 17th century and one of the world's largest gold producers. This has led to criticism that Japan is attempting a "tricky listing."

Our government has consistently demanded that Japan reflect the history of forced labor whenever Japan has tried to promote the World Heritage listing of Sado Mine. The official’s statement on this day can be interpreted as the government’s position that it will not oppose the listing if Japan takes measures to reflect the entire history of Sado Mine, including forced labor, during the listing process. Japan plans to push for the World Heritage listing of Sado Mine at the World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting to be held in New Delhi, India, from the 21st to the 23rd of next month. The listing decision requires the approval of two-thirds or more of the 21 WHC member countries. However, it is customary to decide by unanimous consent. Both South Korea and Japan are WHC member countries, which also implies that South Korea has indicated the possibility of casting a dissenting vote.

UNESCO’s advisory body, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), recommended the day before that the history of forced labor be reflected in the case of Sado Mine and issued a referral decision. Recommendations are divided into four stages: listing, referral, deferral, and not eligible for listing. Referral requires additional submission of materials or explanations. If the materials are supplemented, the site can be listed as a World Heritage site at the WHC meeting held in the same or the following year.

Interpretations of the advisory body’s decision vary. While some evaluate that South Korea’s demands have been substantially reflected, others speculate that the possibility of listing has increased since cultural heritage sites that received referral recommendations last year were eventually all listed.

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