Japan again makes no mention of Koreans' forced labor at Sado memorial event

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

TOKYO, Sept. 12 (Yonhap) -- Japan again stopped short of acknowledging the forced nature of Korean labor during a ceremony Saturday commemorating victims of a World War II-era mine complex in the country.

The annual ceremony was first held in 2024 as a fulfillment of Japan's pledge when the Sado mine in Niigata Prefecture was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2024.

Hamamoto Yukiya, director-general for cultural affairs at Japan's foreign ministry, attended the ceremony in his capacity as a government representative, along with about 70 other participants.

"Workers from the Korean Peninsula engaged in arduous labor in dangerous and harsh conditions inside the mine during the war," Hamamoto was quoted as saying by Japan's Kyodo News. "Sadly, some people lost their lives here."

In this photo released by Japan's Kyodo News, a Japanese government-led ceremony is held to commemorate the victims of the Sado mine complex in Japan on Sept. 12, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

However, his remarks were largely similar to those made at the two previous ceremonies and made no mention of the forced nature of Korean labor at the time.

South Korea boycotted the event for the third consecutive year, saying no agreement was reached with Japan on Seoul's demands that the ceremony acknowledge that Korean workers were mobilized against their will.

On Wednesday, Seoul's foreign ministry said it would hold its own ceremony later this year, urging Japan to "fully and faithfully implement" the recommendations set out in a decision adopted by the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee.

In July, the World Heritage Committee adopted a decision calling on Japan to adequately reflect the "whole history" of the Sado mine, noting the need for "further clarification" on its interpretation and presentation strategy, and facilities "throughout all periods of mining exploitation."

The "whole history" includes the period during which more than 1,500 Koreans were mobilized to work at the mine during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, Seoul officials said. Once known for its gold production, the complex was later used to produce war supplies for the Japanese imperial army during World War II.

ejkim@yna.co.kr (END)

S. Korea not to attend Japan's Sado mine memorial event this year for 3rd year

(2nd LD) World heritage representatives gather in Busan for UNESCO committee session

UNESCO panel urges Japan to fully reflect history of forced Korean laborers at Sado mine

(LEAD) UNESCO panel recommends Japan reflect history of forced Korean laborers at Sado mine: officials

S. Korea holds own memorial ceremony for Sado mine forced labor victims for 2nd yr

Assembly speaker calls on Japan to face up to 'painful history' of wartime aggression

BTS concludes N. American tour with record-breaking LA shows

BTS' Jungkook hits 500 mln Spotify streams with self-written 'Still With You'

(LEAD) Philippine defense chief slams China over audience note on South China Sea at Seoul forum

Son Ye-jin returns to historical drama in remake of 'The Scandal'

(LEAD) Lee heads to France for state visit, summit with Macron

(News Focus) S. Korea faces high-stakes decision on potential Hormuz Strait deployment

'The Odyssey' tops weekend box office for 5th week

(2nd LD) S. Korea's nominal GDP grows at fastest pace in 47 years in Q2; $40,000 per capita GNI on track

(3rd LD) N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS

(LEAD) N. Korea fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: JCS

N. Korea fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: JCS

(URGENT) N. Korea fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: JCS

(2nd LD) FM Cho tells Iran no decision made on possible Hormuz deployment during ministerial talks

N. Korea opens Korean barbecued beef 'bulgogi' restaurant

Giant panda cub named Shu Bao

U.S. destroyer Decatur

Japan again makes no mention of Koreans' forced labor at Sado memorial event

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

东京，9月12日（韩联社）——周六，在日本举行的纪念二战时期矿难受害者的仪式上，日本再次回避承认韩国劳工的强迫性质。

这项年度仪式于 2024 年首次举行，是为了履行日本的承诺。2024 年 7 月，新潟县佐渡矿山被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录。

日本外务省文化局局长滨本幸也以政府代表的身份出席了仪式，其他约70名参与者也出席了仪式。

据日本共同社报道，滨本表示：“战争期间，来自朝鲜半岛的工人们在矿井内从事艰苦的劳动，工作环境危险恶劣。令人悲痛的是，有些人在这里失去了生命。”

这张由日本共同社发布的照片​​显示，2026年9月12日，日本政府主持举行仪式，悼念佐渡矿难遇难者。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

然而，他的讲话与前两次仪式上的讲话大体相似，并未提及当时韩国劳工的强迫性质。

韩国连续第三年抵制该活动，称首尔方面要求仪式承认韩国工人是被迫动员起来的，但双方未能就此达成协议。

周三，首尔外交部表示，将在今年晚些时候举行自己的仪式，敦促日本“全面忠实地执行”世界遗产委员会第48届会议通过的决定中所提出的建议。

7 月，世界遗产委员会通过一项决定，呼吁日本充分反映佐渡矿山的“完整历史”，并指出需要“进一步澄清”其解释和展示策略，以及“在采矿开发的所有时期”的设施。

首尔官员表示，所谓的“完整历史”包括日本在1910年至1945年殖民统治朝鲜半岛期间，征召1500多名韩国人到该矿工作的历史时期。该矿区曾以黄金生产而闻名，二战期间则被用于为日本皇军生产军需品。

ejkim@yna.co.kr (完)

韩国连续第三年不参加今年的日本佐渡矿难纪念活动

（第二届LD）世界遗产代表齐聚釜山参加联合国教科文组织委员会会议

联合国教科文组织专家组敦促日本全面正视佐渡矿山强征朝鲜劳工的历史。

（新闻）联合国教科文组织专家组建议日本反思佐渡矿强迫朝鲜劳工的历史：官员

韩国连续第二年举行悼念萨多煤矿强征劳工受害者的仪式

国会议长呼吁日本正视其战争侵略的“痛苦历史”

BTS北美巡演圆满落幕，洛杉矶站演出打破多项纪录。

BTS成员柾国凭借自作曲《Still With You》在Spotify上的播放量突破5亿次。

（导语）菲律宾国防部长抨击中国在首尔论坛上就南海问题发表的发言。

孙艺珍回归古装剧​​，翻拍《绯闻》

（导语）李将军前往法国进行国事访问，并与马克龙举行峰会

（新闻焦点）韩国面临是否在霍尔木兹海峡部署武器的高风险决定。

《奥德赛》连续第五周蝉联周末票房冠军

（第二部分）韩国第二季度名义GDP增速创47年来最快；人均国民总收入有望达到4万美元

（第三份报告）朝鲜向东海发射多枚短程弹道导弹：联合参谋本部

（导语）朝鲜向东海发射不明飞行物：联合参谋本部

朝鲜向东海发射不明飞行物：联合参谋本部

（紧急）朝鲜向东海发射不明飞行物：联合参谋本部

（第二次）外交部长赵立坚告诉伊朗，在部长级会谈期间，尚未就霍尔木兹号潜艇部署问题做出决定。

朝鲜开设韩式烤牛肉（bulgogi）餐厅

大熊猫幼崽名叫舒宝

美国驱逐舰“迪凯特”号

在佐渡纪念活动中，日本再次对韩国人遭受强迫劳动只字未提。