South Korea has issued a formal call for Japan to honor its promises regarding the historical presentation of a controversial World Heritage site linked to wartime forced labor. The diplomatic request centers on the Sado Island Gold Mines.
Unesco Commitments and the Current Dispute
On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, South Korea's foreign ministry publicly urged Tokyo to implement its commitments related to the war-linked mine. This call was reported by the local broadcaster MBC and supported by an official statement from Seoul.
The ministry's core accusation is that Japan has failed to fully implement a decision by the Unesco World Heritage Committee. According to Seoul, Tokyo has not honored its specific pledges to ensure the entire history of the Sado Island Gold Mines is reflected at the site. This history includes the painful chapter of forced labor from the Korean Peninsula during Japan's colonial rule.
The Background of the Sado Mines Agreement
The roots of this dispute trace back to a diplomatic agreement made in July 2024. At that time, South Korea agreed not to block Japan's bid to inscribe the Sado gold mines as a Unesco World Heritage Site. In exchange, Japan made a clear promise.
Japan committed to displaying the complete history of the site, which explicitly included the forced mobilization of Koreans. However, South Korea now claims this agreement has been broken. Officials in Seoul assert that no mention of the forced labor victims has been made at the heritage site.
Historical Significance and Forced Labor
Historical records from South Korean scholars state that Imperial Japan forced thousands of Koreans into brutal, heavy labor at the Sado mines. The site's role expanded during World War II when it was converted into facilities for manufacturing war-related materials. The mine ultimately ceased operations in 1989.
Ongoing Diplomatic Engagement
In its recent statement, South Korea's foreign ministry urged Tokyo to faithfully implement the Unesco decision, its own commitments, and the existing agreements between the two nations. Ministry officials indicated that Seoul plans to continue discussions with Tokyo about necessary follow-up measures to resolve the issue.
This ongoing dialogue highlights the persistent sensitivity of historical issues in Northeast Asian relations. The dispute over the Sado Island Gold Mines remains a significant point of contention, testing the diplomatic resolve of both countries to reconcile their shared, though difficult, past.
