Ceremony remembers Koreans killed in Japan mining accident

“How scared and lonely you are in such freezing water.”

Four ethnic Koreans were near the shore of Nishikiwa, Japan, Sunday. A gray-haired man silently shed tears looking at the quiet winter sea.

They were among the relatives of the estimated 183 Koreans killed by the collapse of the Chosei mine on Feb. 3, 1942. Despite several warnings over the danger, the Japanese government pushed for the development of the risky area banned by law because it urgently needed energy due to the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific.

Among the victims, 136 were Korean laborers taken by force to Japan. They were detained in a place surrounded by high fences and worked day and night at the mine. They were buried at sea instead of being returning home. After the accident, the mine handed over ancestral tablets and compensation. Since then, the Korean victims have been forgotten.

The nightmare at the mine was highlighted again after a committee for the study of forced labor exploitation and victims under Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula and The Dong-A Ilbo began to document survivors’ testimony. Certain conscientious Japanese nationals also helped the initiative.

Members of a Japanese group purchased a lot near the sea three years ago to help the bereaved families to commemorate their deceased relatives. “We wanted a memorial service at a place where we could see the ventilated opening of the seabed mine best. But we couldn’t do it because the place belonged to a descendant of the mine owner,” said Kim Hyeong-soo, a representative of Korean bereaved families. “Now, we can have a memorial service thanks to Japanese.”

The bereaved families got emotional at the joint memorial service for the 70th anniversary of the accident on the site offered by Japanese. One member said, “If it`s this cold here on land, how cold would it be deep down in the water? The bodies might not have rotted away yet because it`s too cold there.” After the service, they went to the chimney in a ship and laid flowers.

The committee said, “We will do our best to find the victims’ bodies and bring them home.”

jhk85@donga.com