TOKYO (AP) — The UNESCO World Heritage committee on Saturday decided to register Japan’s controversial Sado gold mine as a cultural heritage site after the country agreed to include it in an exhibit of its dark history of abusing Korean laborers during World War II.
The decision signals an improvement in ties between Tokyo and Seoul.
The mine on an island off the coast of Niigata in northern Japan operated for nearly 400 years and was once the world’s largest gold producer before closing in 1989. It was also linked to Japan’s wartime abuse of Korean laborers.
Committee members, including South Korea, gave unanimous support to the listing at Saturday’s annual meeting in New Delhi, India. They said Japan provided additional information, made all necessary amendments to the plan and consulted with South Korea over the mine’s wartime history.
The Japanese delegate told the meeting that Japan has installed new exhibition material “to explain the severe conditions of (Korean laborers’) work and remember their hardship.”
Japan acknowledged that Koreans were put to more dangerous tasks in the mine shaft, which caused some to die. Many of them were also given meager food rations and nearly no days off.
Why give the heritage status first and hope they do a good job with the exhibition?
Japan is notorious for not admitting to their crimes in WW2 - the exhibit should’ve been first and then they could’ve the status - giving it on a promise is stupid
From the article and text body it explains that they already have, and also
A memorial service for all the workers at the Sado Island gold mines will be held annually at the site, Japanese officials said.
Not enough. That’s once a year. The exhibit needs to make very clear who was at fault. Like the person you responded to, I do not feel assured that they will do that.
