Conflict Erupts over Request to Designate Sado Island Mines a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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   The Japanese Sado Mines are well known in Korea as a site where its people were used as forced labor during the colonial era occupation. Currently, the mine is on the threshold of being registered as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It was recommended for designation on February 1. If the site is officially selected as a UNESCO World Heritage location, it will be considered a global treasure, protected not only by Japan, but also by the world. Japan has argued for its designation based on its preservation of 16th to 19th century traditional mining technology, while Koreans are calling for the plan to be rejected, because it fails to recognize the humanitarian costs of the mining operations during World War II. A final decision on the matter is due next year.

¡ã Forced labor during the Edo period have reproduced in the Sado Island Mine (Photo from The Joongang)

   For Koreans, the proposal has raised the ire of the nation as it fails to mention the sad history of using forced labor to operate the mines on the island. Records from the era prove the Koreans were designated for the dangerous mining jobs instead of local Japanese. In fact, an estimated 1,200 Koreans were forcibly drafted into working the gold and silver mines with the harvested materials being used for Japanese currency during the Edo period. The work was difficult and unsafe due to frequent mine collapses, so few Japanese worked there voluntarily. Miners also often suffered from silicosis a deadly breathing condition that develops when silicic acid accumulates in the lungs.

   This is not the only UNESCO listed mine where the Japanese used forced labor. The Hashima Coal Mine featured in the movie ‘Battleship Island (Gunhamdo, 2017)’, also relied on conscripted labor from several countries. In this case, Korea with the support of other impacted nations, was able to secure a commitment from Japan to recognize the historical fact that they relied on forced labor for their mining operations in Hashima. The United States, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic all took part in the lobbying efforts. However, in the case of Sado Island, securing help from other countries is proving more difficult given that only Koreans and Japanese were forced to work there. Furthermore, despite the Japanese promise to specify its history of using forced labor at Hashima, it has yet to materialize, leaving serious doubts that it ever will be. Koreans, as a result, are skeptical the Japanese will ever consider mentioning its use of forced labor on Sado Island.

   In order to secure international support for their efforts, the Korean government needs to highlight the fact that while the mines on Sado Island were worked by Korean and Japanese people, the fruits of their labor had a wider ranging impact. The resources extracted were used to support the war in the pacific, making its anti-humanitarian value significant and worthy of note. For this reason, the mine should be recognized as more than a valuable resource of traditional mining heritage, but equally for its role in funding the atrocities conducted by the Japanese during the Pacific War.

   However, until now the fight has been strictly a Korean one to undertake. When Japan first announced their intentions to put forward the mines for consideration as a World Heritage Site, Korea protested resulting in a postponement of the proposal. However, a week later, Japan shifted its position and pushed forward with their plans saying “Korea has no say in this matter. It is strictly up to the Japanese government.” The Japanese pointed out that Korea was drafted into labor during World War II, and the proposal recommends the Sado Island mine as being of value from Sengoku to the Edo period, excluding the time of the controversial labor issue. Korea reacted strongly against the Japanese argument saying excluding the period does not mean the historical facts disappear.

   With the passage of time, the urgency of the matter is increasing. Once the mine makes the tentative list, 21 state parties of the World Heritage Committee evaluate whether the site has enough value to be designated a UNESCO world heritage site. The group needs 14 state parties to pass, and it would be difficult to reverse the decision after the fact. There have been only three cases where the decisions have been reversed, so Korea needs to block the plan before it is approved. This is a difficult battle to win, given than the nation has to build support for its position with nations who have little to gain from adopting the cause. This is compounded by the fact that the number of states sharing ties to Japan through UNESCO has been increasing for the past 7 years. They are also a healthy financial supporter of UNESCO coming in second in the list of donors while Korea ranks 10th.

¡ã Sado Island Mines Where Koreans Were Forced to Work (Photo from Yonhap News)

   Experts argue the reason for registering the Sado Mines as a UNESCO World Heritage site is political. According to The Hankyoreh, Nakata Mitsunobu, a director of a network in Japan that aims to uncover the truth about the use of forced labor, said that there may be a genuine reason for registering the Sado Island mines as a World Heritage Site, but hardliners such as former Prime Minister Abe seem to be pushing it for political purposes, to expand the conservative base by inciting a sense of nationalism and hostility towards other countries. According to a report on News 1, Professor Ha Jong-moon suggested Japan was using the submission as a means to attract more supporters to their conservative base in the Liberal Democratic Party. He also pointed out “If Japan is viewed as yielding first, it would face resistance from party leadership,” and “If there is a problem at this point in time, Kishida’s cabinet will find itself short of support.” KBS News reported experts were advising the Korean government to respond to the overall distortion of Japanese history, not just the events at the Sado Island mines. Professor Kang Dong-jin from Kyung Sung University suggested if Japan fails in their attempt to register the mine as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we can expect them to fan the flames of the war on history with Korea by blaming ‘Korean slander’ for its rejection. Jeong Hye-kyung, a chief researcher of the Japanese Society for Compulsory Mobilization and Peace, pointed out “The representation of the Sado Mine as a national treasure is a means of historical distortion, followed by Japanese history textbooks and the mines on Hashima Island.” He added, “We need to cooperate with other countries who were also victimized by Japanese atrocities because if we continue to raise the issues alone, the international community will see it as a conflict between Korea and Japan, not one of historical distortion.” Mr. Jeong stressed, “The facts and the official position of the Korean government are important in the international community. To respond comprehensively to Japan’s effort to distort history, the Korean government should collect objective accounts to prove the damage caused by the Japanese was not strictly a Korean affair and submit the information through organizations such as the ‘Forced Mobilization Damage Committee’."

   Though the Sado Island Mines have a tragic and painful history, we cannot stop the efforts of the Japanese government from pushing forward with their submission for UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. However, we have a duty to lobby for solutions that will prevent this painful part of our history from becoming a site for Japanese pride. It is important we inform the world about the historical importance of the mines on this island and seek out their support in addressing this complicated problem. The best way to protect our history is ‘to know the facts.’ Through this article, we hope that many people will gain a better understanding about the tragic history of the Sado Island mines.


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