[Global Issue+] Sado Mine Caught in Controversy Over UNESCO Listing in Japan

Local Governments Apply for Registration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Restrains
Voluntary Withdrawal Expected to Prevent Registration of Comfort Women Records

[Image source=Sadogwangsan Tourism Website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Controversy is spreading within Japan over the 'Sado Mine,' which was submitted for UNESCO World Heritage registration at the end of last year. Local governments, including Sado City in Niigata Prefecture where the Sado Mine is located, are pushing for the registration, but unusually, the central government is showing signs of trying to restrain this move.

According to Japan's Sankei Shimbun on the 22nd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan is reportedly advocating caution regarding the UNESCO World Heritage registration of the Sado Mine, which local governments such as Sado City in Niigata Prefecture and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are strongly demanding. Earlier, at the government cultural council meeting held on the 20th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed opposition.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "If faced with opposition from Korea, registration will be impossible... Caution is necessary"

[Image source=Seoul Records Office]

The reason the Ministry of Foreign Affairs argues that the registration of the Sado Mine should be postponed is that if it encounters opposition from neighboring countries such as Korea and China, the registration itself will be impossible. Like Hashima Coal Mine, also known as 'Gunkanjima,' which was embroiled in global controversy after its World Heritage registration, the Sado Mine is notorious as a site of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period. Therefore, Korea and other neighboring countries strongly oppose its UNESCO cultural heritage registration.

According to Sankei Shimbun, the Japanese government is reportedly trying to block the registration application for the Sado Mine, even to prevent the registration of records of Japanese military comfort women during the Pacific War, which were jointly submitted by eight Asian countries including Korea and China. Previously, Japan proposed to UNESCO a regulation to cancel the registration of heritage sites if any member country expresses opposition, aiming to block the registration of comfort women records.

Ultimately, to register the Sado Mine, Japan would have to withdraw this proposed regulation, placing it in a difficult position. This is why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is advocating caution to prevent the registration of the Sado Mine.

Aiming to Register Pre-Modern Cultural Heritage Excluding Forced Labor History from Japanese Colonial Period

[Image source=Sadogwangsan Tourism Website]

However, Sado City and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party strongly oppose the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' cautious stance. Sado City claims that the Sado Mine's registration to UNESCO will focus only on the pre-modern period, specifically the Edo period when it was Japan's largest gold mine, excluding the modern history part, so neighboring countries cannot oppose it.

The Sado Mine operated from 1601 to 1989, so there is a history of operation during the pre-modern period. However, excluding the war crime history from the Pacific War period is considered an attempt to whitewash the past, which has sparked controversy even within Japan. Like Hashima Coal Mine, it was purchased by Mitsubishi Group, a major war crime company after modernization, and there is a clear history of forced labor exploitation involving over 1,100 Koreans as well as workers from China and Taiwan.

The Japanese government is expected to coordinate opinions among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local governments, and the Liberal Democratic Party by the 1st of next month to reach a conclusion on the registration of the Sado Mine. Regardless of the decision, controversy is expected to continue both inside and outside Japan.