Japan to Hold 'Partial' Memorial on the 13th
Government Prepares Its Own Ceremony
The government has decided not to attend the Sado Mine memorial ceremony hosted by Japan this year, following its absence last year. Although President Lee Jaemyung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have repeatedly expressed their commitment to "future-oriented cooperation" through summit talks, Japan continues to maintain its hardline stance on historical issues.
On September 4, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told reporters, "We have decided not to attend this year's memorial ceremony." The official explained, "Our government actively consulted with the Japanese side to ensure that this year's memorial ceremony could be held in a way that truly honors the spirits of Korean workers and comforts their bereaved families. However, we were unable to narrow the differences on key issues," adding, "Ultimately, we determined that it would be difficult to attend this year's ceremony."
The official continued, "The main point of contention, where the two sides had significant differences, was the expression of 'coercion' in the eulogy." The official explained, "For the Sado Mine memorial to be meaningful and respectful to the deceased Korean workers, it must appropriately reflect the origin and nature of their suffering-specifically, that the workers were mobilized and forced into labor against their will. However, the two sides could not find common ground on how to concretely express 'coercion' in the eulogy." The official added, "Given the time remaining before the ceremony, we concluded that it would be difficult to find a satisfactory compromise and secure enough time for bereaved families and others to prepare for attendance." The Japanese side is reportedly planning to hold the Sado Mine memorial ceremony on the afternoon of September 13.
The government notified the Japanese side of its decision and the reasons for not attending the ceremony on the morning of September 4, and the Japanese side listened attentively. The government plans to hold its own memorial ceremony at the site in Japan, with the participation of bereaved families of the Sado Mine victims.
The official stated, "Although we have decided not to attend this year's memorial ceremony, our government still hopes that the Sado Mine memorial will be held in a manner appropriate to its purpose and character." The official added, "Since the memorial ceremony was established as a result of the agreement between Korea and Japan at the time of Sado Mine's UNESCO World Heritage designation, we hope the Japanese side will show a more forward-looking attitude so that we can participate in the future. The government will continue to seek agreement in that direction."
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