SADO, Japan — A memorial event is scheduled for Sunday near the Sado Island Gold Mines, a site that was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage location this summer after Japan reached an agreement with South Korea regarding longstanding historical disputes and acknowledged the mines’ troubling past.
During World War II, many Koreans were subjected to forced labor in the mines under harsh and inhumane conditions, as noted by historians. Although the Japanese government announced that the ceremony would honor “all workers” who perished at the site, it has drawn criticism for failing to specify that many of these workers were Korean victims of forced labor, which some argue reflects an ongoing effort to downplay Japan’s historical involvement in sexual and labor exploitation during and prior to the war.
Ahead of the ceremony, it is essential to understand the significance and tumultuous history of the Sado mines, as well as the surrounding controversy.
The Sado gold mines date back to the 16th century and are located on Sado Island, which is similar in size to the Pacific island of Guam. The mines began operations in 1601 and remained active for nearly 400 years, becoming the world’s foremost producer of gold at one point, eventually closing in 1989. During the Edo period, the mines supplied gold currency to the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate.
Today, the area has been turned into a tourist attraction, where visitors can explore the remnants of mining infrastructure while learning about the evolution of mining practices.
Critics contend that the Japanese administration emphasizes the mines’ historical significance while neglecting to address the exploitation of Korean laborers and the dire circumstances they faced. The site was listed as a cultural heritage site in July after Japan committed to including information about the forced labor conditions in its exhibits and to conducting a memorial service in response to repeated protests from South Korea.
At a UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in July, Japanese representatives stated that new materials had been introduced to acknowledge the harsh working conditions faced by Korean laborers. They also conceded that some Koreans were assigned hazardous tasks, leading to fatalities due to workplace accidents, while many survivors suffered from respiratory diseases and other health issues because of inadequate food and the lack of days off. Police enforced strict measures against those who attempted to flee the mines. However, the Japanese government has refrained from labeling this labor as “forced.”
Initially, South Korea had opposed the Sado mines being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, as the accounts of Korean forced laborers were absent from the exhibits. However, it changed its stance following negotiations with Japan and assurances regarding the inclusion of this historical context in the exhibits and during memorial services.
Experts assert that hundreds of thousands of Koreans were employed under coercive conditions in Japanese factories and mines to compensate for labor shortages, as many working-age Japanese males were on military duty during wartime. Approximately 1,500 Koreans were forced to work in the Sado mines, according to research conducted by Yasuto Takeuchi, who specializes in Japan’s wartime history and relies on wartime documentation.
The South Korean government anticipates that Japan will fulfill its promise to present an accurate historical narrative concerning the Sado mines. Takeuchi argued that the ongoing controversy surrounding the exhibit reflects a broader issue of Japan’s reluctance to confront its wartime responsibilities alongside a worrying trend towards denialism regarding wartime crimes.
The upcoming ceremony will honor all workers who died at the Sado mines, including numerous Korean laborers who provided their labor during Japan’s colonization of Korea between 1910 and 1945.
This ceremony is coordinated by local Japanese politicians and business leaders who advocated for the Sado mines to achieve UNESCO recognition, with preparations primarily managed by local government representatives. Interestingly, these officials have kept details such as guest lists and ceremony programs under wraps until shortly before the event.
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya announced the plans for the ceremony but refrained from commenting on any diplomatic correspondence related to it. Approximately 100 attendees, which will include officials from both Japan’s central and local government, as well as South Korean Foreign Ministry representatives and families of Korean laborers, are expected to gather. Attendees will likely participate in a moment of silence to honor those who lost their lives at the mines due to various circumstances.
The event has raised sensitive issues and stirred up longstanding grievances in South Korea.
Critics have scrutinized South Korea’s Foreign Ministry for its handling of communications with Tokyo, questioning why they would support an event without clear commitments from Japan to fully acknowledge the plight of the Korean laborers. During their regular briefings, ministry officials have been tight-lipped about the specifics of dialogues with Japan and why the South Korean government agreed to cover the travel expenses for the invited family members of the Korean laborers.
Japan’s track record in confronting wartime atrocities has been criticized for its reluctance to engage in discussions surrounding these issues. This includes a refusal to come to terms with accounts of systemic sexual violence against women across Asia, many of whom were coerced into becoming “comfort women” for Japanese soldiers, in addition to the forced labor of Koreans.
Demands from Korea for compensation concerning Japan’s oppressive colonial rule have exacerbated tensions between the two nations, particularly following a 2018 South Korean Supreme Court ruling that mandated Japanese companies pay damages to forced labor victims. The Japanese government continues to assert that all reparations related to wartime grievances were settled under a normalization agreement established in 1965. However, recent diplomatic engagements have improved ties, largely spurred by U.S. advocacy for stronger trilateral security collaboration amid rising regional threats.
Historical revisionism, particularly during the administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has seen an increase in Japan’s whitewashing of its wartime actions since the 2010s. The use of euphemisms like “comfort women” and “civilian workers” reflects an effort to obscure the truth about these events.
South Korea’s current administration, led by conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, announced in March 2023 plans to utilize domestic corporate funding for compensating victims of forced labor without requesting financial contributions from Japan. Following this, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed empathy toward affected families during a visit to South Korea, facilitating a rapid improvement in bilateral relations across various sectors.
Takeuchi emphasized that the recognition of Japan’s modern industrial sites as UNESCO World Heritage indicates a governmental initiative aimed at boosting tourism. He believes that Japan seeks to present these sites, like the Sado mines, in a flattering light, effectively commercializing them while justifying their historical narratives for the country’s benefit.
