UNESCO presses Japan on Sado mine

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee on Wednesday issued a draft decision reviewing Japan's follow-up measures after the Sado gold mines were added to the World Heritage List, saying the site still fails to adequately reflect the history of Koreans who were forced to work there during Japan's colonial rule. The committee urged Japan to "present the property's full history comprehensively at the site level" and to work closely with relevant parties to address the shortcomings. The decision effectively found that measures Japan pledged when the Sado mines received World Heritage status in 2024 have not been fully implemented. UNESCO also requested a clearer explanation from Japan and a report on future progress.

The message from UNESCO's decision is clear. Japan pledged during the inscription process to present the site's "full history," yet it has fallen short of acknowledging the forced mobilization of Korean workers. About 1,500 Koreans were forced to work at the Sado mines during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, leaving the site as a painful reminder of that period. The mines were ultimately added to the World Heritage List after Japan accepted South Korea's call to reflect the site's complete historical record, including exhibits on Korean workers and annual memorial services.

Those commitments, however, remain largely unfulfilled. Museum exhibits acknowledge that Koreans worked at the mines, but they do not state that many were forced to do so. More than 10 new signs have been installed to guide visitors to sites including former Korean workers' dormitories, yet none refers to the coercive nature of their labor.

That is why UNESCO noted "some progress" while still concluding that Japan's response was insufficient. The annual memorial ceremony has also fallen short of its intended purpose. By excluding references to forced labor from official remarks, Japan has turned the event into a largely domestic commemoration.

South Korea and Japan have continued to pursue a two-track approach, separating historical disputes from efforts to expand future cooperation. Seoul has sought to avoid allowing historical issues to dominate bilateral relations, while hoping Tokyo would take voluntary steps toward addressing the past. That approach has produced limited results.

Rather than directly confronting historical issues, Japan has increasingly acted as though the matter has already been resolved. At the same time, Tokyo has continued to pursue a more assertive security agenda, including discussions over a bilateral Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement with South Korea, despite broader regional concerns.

History cannot be erased by simply looking away. Attempts to downplay or obscure an uncomfortable past will only cast doubt on commitments made for the future. If Japan seeks to build a stronger partnership with its neighbors, it must first honor the commitments it has already made.