An exhibition hall commemorating Korean workers is installed at the Aikawa History Museum near the Sado mine site in Japan, in this photo taken days before the UNESCO announcement on the incorporation of the Sado mine as a World Heritage Site, Saturday. The exhibition hall opened to the public, Sunday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Japan's Sado mine, a controversial site linked to the wartime forced labor of Koreans, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Saturday after Seoul accepted Tokyo's promise to reflect that part of the history in the explanation of the mine.

The decision to add the mine to the World Heritage list was made during the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) session in New Delhi.

This development follows an agreement reached by Korea and Japan concerning the site, where thousands of Koreans were subjected to forced labor during Japan's colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. As part of the agreement, Japan committed to reflecting the "whole history" of the mine and opening an exhibition hall to commemorate the Korean workers.

According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japanese government has already installed an exhibition hall at the Aikawa History Museum near the Sado mine, highlighting the harsh working conditions and hardships endured by Korean workers. The exhibition opened to the public on Sunday.

Additionally, Japan plans to hold an annual memorial ceremony to honor the workers, including Koreans, near the mine site.

The exact date and location for this year's service are still under discussion, the ministry said, with the possibility that a Japanese central government official will attend.

"The Japanese government will develop an interpretation and exhibition strategy and facilities that comprehensively reflect the entire history of the Sado mine, sincerely commemorating all workers, especially Korean workers," said Kano Takehiro, Japan's ambassador to UNESCO, during the WHC meeting.

A former gold mine site on the island of Sado in Japan / Korea Times file

A day prior to the UNESCO announcement, Seoul's foreign ministry said it has tentatively decided to accept Japan's World Heritage bid for the Sado mine following extended negotiations.

"After a challenging negotiation process, a last-minute agreement between Korea and Japan is close to being reached. Unless unforeseen developments arise in the next 24 hours, Sado mine is expected to be inscribed as a World Heritage Site without a voting process," a foreign ministry official said Friday during a closed-door briefing.

The official explained that Korea's agreement to the listing was based on two main reasons: Japan's commitment to presenting the mine's full history — including the forced labor of Koreans — and the concrete steps Japan has already taken toward this direction.

Although the two Asian neighbors have reached an agreement on the Sado mine, concerns remain about what actions will be taken if Japan fails to uphold its commitments.

This uncertainty is rooted in past issues with the World Heritage listing of Japan's Hashima Island, also known as Battleship Island, where it is estimated that between 500 and 800 Koreans were forced to work from 1943 to 1945, with 122 of them dying.

When Hashima Island was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, Japan promised to fully disclose the history of forced labor by establishing an information center dedicated to the victims.

However, it set up the center in Tokyo rather than on the island itself, leading to criticism that it downplayed wartime atrocities. In 2021, UNESCO expressed strong regret over Japan's failure to fulfill its commitment regarding Hashima Island.

Regarding these concerns, the ministry official said, "This time, unlike the 2015 listing of Hashima Island, we have not only received Japan's promise to act but have also agreed on specific details and have already witnessed substantial actions."

The mine complex, located on Sado Island just off Niigata Prefecture on the west coast of Japan, was used for war-related manufacturing during World War II, with historical records indicating that nearly 2,000 Koreans were coerced into labor there.

Japan's bid for World Heritage status and subsequent campaigns have faced strong criticism from the Korean public, as its submission letter excluded references to 20th-century wartime atrocities linked to the mine while emphasizing the mine's historical significance from the 16th to mid-19th centuries.

The Korean government has insisted that Tokyo include the history of forced labor in its nomination bid, warning that it may formally oppose the listing if this demand is not met.

According to UNESCO guidelines, listing a site as a World Heritage property requires a two-thirds majority vote from 21 WHC members present. However, decisions are usually made by consensus, with formal voting reserved for when consensus cannot be achieved.

Both Korea and Japan are rotating members of this year's committee.

Korean Ambassador to Japan Yun Duk-min visits the Sado mine site in Japan, Dec. 1, 2023. Courtesy of Korean Embassy in Japan