Chairman Woo Won-sik: "Government Must Fully Disclose Negotiation Details Regarding Sado Mine Registration"

Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik demanded on the 6th that the government fully disclose the details of diplomatic negotiations related to the UNESCO listing of Sado Mine.

In a statement released that day, Speaker Woo said, "Public concern and criticism regarding the decision to list Sado Mine as a World Heritage site are growing," and added, "Following Gunhamdo, a site of forced labor so horrific it was called the 'Island of Hell,' the National Assembly has the responsibility to clarify the suspicions raised about our government's response during the process of listing Sado Mine as a World Heritage site."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Speaker Woo referred to the National Assembly's adoption of the 'Resolution Urging the Japanese Government to Withdraw the Promotion of Sado Mine’s World Heritage Listing and to Implement UNESCO Recommendations on Japan’s Modern Industrial Facilities,' pointing out that the Japanese government denied the coercive nature by not explicitly mentioning forced labor. He continued, "Nevertheless, our government tolerated this and agreed to the listing of Sado Mine as a World Heritage site," criticizing, "This not only directly contradicts the National Assembly’s decision urging appropriate responses as the government of the Republic of Korea, a victim country of illegal colonial rule and forced mobilization, but also greatly deviates from common public sense and universal historical understanding."

Regarding this, Speaker Woo demanded, "Disclose the entire process and content of the diplomatic negotiations surrounding the listing of Sado Mine." Concerning the materials related to the establishment of the Aikawa Local Museum, which the Japanese government claims as a preemptive measure, he said, "While it introduces the harsh labor environment and living conditions, it does not address the core issue we raise: the fact of forced mobilization and forced labor damage," adding, "If the government agreed to the listing without knowing this, it is a failure of diplomatic negotiations; if it agreed knowing this, it is an even bigger problem."

He also urged, "Take this opportunity to request the Japanese government to provide the list of forced mobilization victims."

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