SADO ISLAND – Japan plans to host a memorial service for wartime forced laborers at a former gold mine on Sado Island, recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, potentially as early as September.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this decision follows a contentious debate and subsequent agreement between Japan and South Korea during the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi. The site, which was the world’s largest gold producer in the 17th century, has been a point of historical contention, particularly with South Korea highlighting Japan’s use of Korean forced labor during World War II. Under the terms of the agreement, Japan has committed to following the recommendations of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which include acknowledging the history of Korean laborers at the mine.
Several sites are under consideration for the ceremony, including a temple near the Aikawa Local Museum that hosts an exhibition about the Korean laborers and features a memorial tower dedicated to all mine workers. This location has previously hosted smaller scale commemorations organized by private groups.