On December 16, 2025, South Korea's Foreign Ministry urged Japan to fully implement its UNESCO-backed commitments at the Sado Island Gold Mines, local broadcaster MBC reported. The site, inscribed in July 2024, is linked to wartime forced labor under Japanese colonial rule.
Seoul's statement said Tokyo has yet to reflect the entire history at the heritage site, as required by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and by Japan's own promises to South Korea. The ministry pointed out that there is currently no mention of forced labor victims at the site, and called on Tokyo to honor the WHC decision, its commitments, and bilateral agreements.
South Korea agreed to the UNESCO listing in exchange for Japan's vow to display the full history of the Sado mine, including the forced mobilization of Korean workers during World War Two. Historians estimate that thousands of Koreans were sent to the mine—later used for war-related manufacturing—until its closure in 1989.
The diplomatic push underscores ongoing challenges in addressing wartime legacies between Seoul and Tokyo. The Foreign Ministry said it will continue discussions with Japan on follow-up measures to ensure transparency and historical accuracy at this internationally recognized heritage site.
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S Korea urges Japan to fulfill commitments related to war-linked mine
cgtn.com
