The memorial service for Sado Mine held on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, proceeded again this year without the Korean side. The Korean government said it decided not to attend after determining that the eulogy did not sufficiently reflect the history of forced mobilization of Koreans.
The Sado Mine memorial service executive committee held the service at the Aikawa Development General Center in Sado City on the afternoon of the 13th, proceeding in the order of a silent tribute, eulogies, and flower offerings. Attendance was about 80 people, similar to last year, but the rank of the Japanese government representative was lowered from Vice Minister last year to Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this year.
The Korean government consulted with the Japanese side but again did not attend, judging that expressions of "coercion" in the eulogy were insufficient. Instead, it plans to independently hold a separate memorial service in the fall.
Sado Mine became known as a gold mine during the Edo period and was used as a mine to secure war materials during the Pacific War. In this process, at least 1,519 Koreans were mobilized between 1940 and 1945 and forced to work under harsh conditions.
However, Japan has faced criticism for limiting the historical scope to the Edo period in the World Heritage inscription process and downplaying or ignoring the issue of forced labor of Koreans. In response, Korea repeatedly demanded "reflection of the entire history," and Japan promised to install exhibits and hold memorial services, but differences in perspective are still evident in the implementation.