Japan honors Sado mine victims amid South Korea tensions

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Sado mines were listed in July as a UNESCO World Heritage Site after Japan moved past years of disputes with South Korea and reluctantly acknowledged the mines’ dark history.

Background on Sado Mines

The 16th-century mines on the island of Sado, off Japan’s north-central coast, operated for nearly 400 years before closing in 1989. Historians say about 1,500 Koreans were mobilized to Sado as part of Japan’s use of hundreds of thousands of Korean laborers at Japanese mines and factories.

Memorial Ceremony

Japanese officials paid tribute to workers at the Sado Island Gold Mines, but offered no apology for Japan’s brutal wartime use of Korean forced laborers. The ceremony was attended by four Japanese representatives, including central and local government officials and the head of the organizing group.

South Korean Response to Memorial Ceremony

Families of Korean victims of mine accidents and South Korean officials are expected to hold their own ceremony near the mine on Monday as an expression of their “firm resolve not to make a compromise with Japan on history issues.”

Separate Ceremony Planned by South Korea

The ceremony will be held in response to the Japanese memorial service, which was boycotted by South Korea. The event is seen as a way for South Korea to assert its stance on historical disputes with Japan.

Tensions Between Neighboring Countries

The boycott highlighted tensions between Japan and South Korea over the issue of Korean forced laborers at the site before and during World War II. The two countries have been working to improve their ties, but historical disputes remain.