South Korea marked a solemn commemoration on Sado Island Monday, honoring Korean victims of forced labor during World War II at Japan's Sado gold mines. The observance, led by South Korea's Foreign Ministry, came a day after the nation boycotted a similar event organized by Japan. South Korea voiced its protest against Japan's failure to adequately acknowledge the forced labor history tied to the site, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage location.
The memorial included moments of silence and offerings for the deceased Korean laborers. South Korea's Ambassador to Japan, Park Choel-hee, spoke of the enduring legacy of Korean sacrifices at Sado. He proposed that both nations strive to remember this painful past. He remarked, "We will never forget the tears and sacrifices of the Korean workers behind the history of the Sado mines." Park expressed hope this commemoration would comfort the affected families.
Japan's ceremony, held Sunday, did not explicitly apologize for or recognize the forced labor, causing further strain between the two countries. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi voiced disappointment over South Korea's absence, and said Japan adhered to promises made at a UNESCO meeting. Despite recent attempts to heal historical wounds, the diplomatic relationship between South Korea and Japan continues to be punctuated by differing narratives and unresolved grievances tracing back to World War II scars. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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