Nikkei: "No Need to Exhibit Korean Workers at Sado Mine"

Editorial Criticizes Bilateral Agreement Details
Japanese Government Agrees to Install Exhibits in Local History Museum

On the 28th, the right-wing Sankei Shimbun expressed a different opinion from its own government, stating that the installation of an exhibition room related to Korean laborers, promised by the Japanese government to the Korean government for the UNESCO World Heritage registration of Sado Mine, is "unnecessary."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In an editorial titled "Exhibition of Korean Laborers at Sado Mine is Unnecessary," Sankei pointed out that "there was a decision during the registration process that could cause trouble," criticizing the agreement between the two governments regarding exhibitions related to Korean laborers during the Japanese colonial period.

Earlier, ahead of the World Heritage registration decision, the Japanese government negotiated with the Korean government, which had demanded that "the entire history be reflected," and agreed to install exhibits related to Korean laborers in a local museum about 2 km from Sado Mine. Takehiro Kano, Japan's ambassador to UNESCO, also stated at the World Heritage Committee meeting, "We will continue to make efforts to strengthen explanations, exhibitions, and facilities that comprehensively cover the entire history of Sado Mine in close consultation with Korea."

Regarding this, Sankei stated, "Are you saying you will allow Korea's involvement in the Sado Mine exhibition? If so, we absolutely cannot accept it." It added that since the Japanese government applied for the World Heritage registration limiting the period to the Edo era, from the 16th to mid-19th century, there is no need for such an exhibition.

Meanwhile, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on the behind-the-scenes negotiations between the two governments, stating that "Japan proposed not using the term 'forced labor' but instead having a permanent exhibition on site that introduces the fact that 1,500 workers were from the Korean Peninsula and that the working conditions were harsh, and Korea ultimately accepted this."

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly stated that the Japanese media reports claiming that the two countries had pre-agreed to remove the term "forced labor" from the exhibition are "completely unfounded."