The Sado Mine was repurposed as a facility to secure wartime materials following the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1879, during which countless Koreans were forcibly brought to the site and subjected to hard labor. According to declassified Japanese government documents, at least 1,000 Koreans are known to have been forced to work at the mine. The photo shows the interior of Japan’s Sado Mine (Image source: Sado Mine Official Website).
SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s abrupt decision to boycott a memorial ceremony at Japan’s Sado Mine has ignited controversy, with Seoul accusing Tokyo of reneging on promises to honor Korean forced laborers from Japan’s colonial era.
The decision, announced on November 23, underscores tensions over Japan’s perceived backtracking on commitments to address historical grievances.
The Sado Mine, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbolizes a dark chapter in Korean history, as thousands of Koreans were forcibly conscripted to work there during Japan’s occupation.
Yet Japan has largely sidelined this painful past, framing the site’s heritage around the Edo period (16th–19th century) while minimizing its wartime legacy.
A model has been installed inside the Sado Mine in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interior of the Sado Mine is divided into two sections: “Sodayuko,” which retains traces of the Edo period, and “Doyuko,” representing modern industrial heritage. The photo shows the Sodayuko section. (Yonhap)
The planned memorial service, meant to honor labor victims, quickly became a flashpoint. Outrage erupted when it was revealed that Japan’s official representative, Akiko Ikuina, had previously visited Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead, including World War II war criminals.
South Korea condemned this choice as a profound insult to Korean victims and their families.
Adding to the sense of betrayal, South Korea was left to shoulder logistical costs for its participants, while Japan offered little transparency on the event’s substance.
The ceremony’s vague title, “Sado Mine Memorial Service,” failed to explicitly acknowledge Korean forced laborers, and there were no guarantees that the eulogy would mention their suffering.
Tunnels of the Sado Mine constructed after the Meiji era (Yonhap)
Seoul’s frustrations mirror earlier disappointments over Japan’s failure to fully acknowledge Korean forced labor at other UNESCO sites, such as Hashima Island, where promised exhibits about wartime atrocities fell short.
This recurring pattern, South Korean officials say, reinforces doubts about Japan’s sincerity in confronting its imperial history.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong criticized Japan’s actions, emphasizing that unresolved disputes had made participation in the memorial “impossible.” The controversy has cast a shadow over efforts to improve ties ahead of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization in 2025 and could complicate regional cooperation with the U.S.
Seoul’s accusations of betrayal reflect a deeper frustration: Japan’s perceived unwillingness to reconcile with its colonial past continues to test the fragile relationship between the two neighbors.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
