A planned memorial to jointly honor the sacrifices of forced wartime laborers, including Koreans, ultimately fell through. The failure was attributed to the Japanese government's increasing lack of sincerity toward Seoul and complacency on the part of the Korean government. On Sunday, a memorial was held for those who were forced to work in the Sado mines, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but no Korean delegation was present. Instead, Korean family members of the forced laborers and government officials held a separate memorial on Monday.
The fallout has become a roadblock to improving relations between Korea and Japan. The Korean foreign ministry withdrew from attending the event after discovering, too late, that the Japanese government representative, parliamentary vice minister Akiko Ikuina, had visited Yasukuni Shrine. This shrine, a symbol of Japan's militaristic past, is a frequent source of controversy between the two nations.
Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, warned Japan on Monday not to undermine the growing friendly relations with Korea. "Clear atonement and self-reflection on its colonial past, including sincerely remembering and mourning the forced laborers, is the foundation for future-oriented Korea-Japan relations," Rep. Choo said. In response, a Japanese cabinet spokesman expressed regret over Seoul's decision. Tensions between the two countries also arose over the timing of the parliamentary vice minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine. Many are left wondering why the two nations continue to bicker over such facts.
The decision to appoint such a representative is deeply regrettable. Seoul played a key role in facilitating the inclusion of the Sado mines in Niigata Prefecture as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July. Since a consensus among member nations is required for UNESCO registration, Korea consented to this for the larger goal of improving relations. At that time, Japan had pledged to hold an annual memorial and to acknowledge the sacrifices of the forced Korean laborers. However, Seoul opposes visits by Japanese government officials to Yasukuni Shrine, and the selection of a representative with such a controversial record reflects an absence of diplomatic sensitivity. Moreover, at Sunday's memorial, the parliamentary vice minister failed to acknowledge the forced labor of Koreans, referring to them only as "many people from the Korean Peninsula" who were at the mines under Japan's wartime labor policies.
In light of President Yoon Suk Yeol's bold efforts to strengthen ties with Japan, further supported by the trilateral alliance between Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington, the Japanese government's mishandling of the memorial should be strongly addressed by the Korean government. Koreans are reminded of the painful memories following Japan's registration of Hashima Island as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. At the time of the Hashima Island registration, Japan agreed to take steps to ensure a full understanding of the site's history. However, when the Industrial Heritage Information Center opened in Tokyo in 2020, it failed to explicitly address the facts surrounding Korean forced labor.
Japan must now recommit to authentic and sincere diplomacy, ensuring that such insincere diplomatic gestures do not occur again in the future. For its part, the Korean government cannot escape criticism for its complacency in this matter, having focused more on the official ranking of the Japanese government representative without carefully reviewing her record.
To that end, Japan should fully and wholeheartedly acknowledge the pain of the victims of forced labor and other wartime atrocities. Approximately 1,500 Koreans were forced to work in the Sado Mines under harsh conditions, and their suffering must be acknowledged with sincerity.
The challenges arising from the new geopolitical order, particularly with the looming inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, are expected to be unprecedented. In this context, Tokyo must show greater sincerity, especially in light of Seoul's progressive efforts to improve ties, by courageously addressing the lingering pain of the victims of forced labor and facing the facts head-on. Seoul, for its part, must continue to vigilantly monitor and demand meaningful action from Tokyo, while also holding itself accountable. As the two nations approach the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, they must remember that sensitivity and diplomacy are essential qualities of an advanced nation — qualities that must guide all their efforts moving forward.