An agreement has been reached between South Korea and Japan regarding the inclusion of the Sado Mine in Japan, a site of forced labor during the Japanese occupation, on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This agreement is seen as a result of Japan's acceptance of South Korea's demand to reflect the full history and its implementation of substantial measures.
The decision on the Sado Mine's World Heritage listing is expected to be made on July 27 at the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) in New Delhi. Here, we review the key aspects and outlook related to this negotiation.
1. Background of Sado Mine's World Heritage Listing
The Sado Mine is a site where Korean laborers were subjected to forced labor during the Japanese occupation. There has been ongoing discussion about including this site on the World Heritage list. Japan aimed to list the Sado Mine as a modern industrial heritage site but faced criticism for not adequately reflecting the historical facts of Korean forced labor.
Past instances, such as the 2015 listing of Hashima Island ("Battleship Island"), have raised concerns about Japan's reliability in fulfilling its promises regarding historical issues.
2. Contents of the South Korea-Japan Agreement
In this agreement, Japan has accepted South Korea's demand to "reflect the entire history," including the forced labor of Koreans. A South Korean foreign ministry official stated on the 26th that Japan has promised to reflect the full history and has already taken practical steps to do so. This is viewed positively compared to the 2015 Hashima Island listing, where Japan had failed to fully implement its promises.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that Japan has agreed to exhibit the history of Korean laborers at the Sado Mine on-site, which is included in Japan's plan to present this stance to the UNESCO WHC. This move is interpreted as a concrete effort by Japan to reflect the full history.
3. Additional Measures by Japan and Future Outlook
Japan plans to include historical facts related to Korean forced labor in the Sado Mine listing, rather than limiting the period to the Edo era. The UNESCO advisory body, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), has evaluated the site as worthy of listing but recommended a comprehensive strategy for explanation and exhibition of the full history.
The Japanese government has accepted these recommendations and engaged in negotiations accordingly. South Korea has emphasized the need for assurances that Japan will fulfill its promises, given past failures to do so.
If the negotiations conclude successfully, the Sado Mine is expected to be listed as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO WHC on July 27.
Conclusion
The provisional agreement between South Korea and Japan regarding the Sado Mine's World Heritage listing represents a significant step in addressing historical issues, particularly the forced labor of Koreans. This agreement marks an important advancement in resolving longstanding disputes between the two countries, with an official decision expected from UNESCO.
Ongoing attention will be given to how Japan reflects historical facts and the effectiveness of the measures taken.
3-Line Summary
A provisional agreement has been reached between South Korea and Japan on the Sado Mine's UNESCO World Heritage listing. Japan has agreed to reflect the "full history," including Korean forced labor, and practical measures have been taken. The listing is expected to be confirmed by the UNESCO WHC on July 27, with positive evaluations of Japan's adherence to past promises.
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