Japan holds 1st memorial for World War II-era forced mine laborers, South Korea boycotts event

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Japan on Sunday held its first memorial honoring World War II-era forced laborers at the Sado gold mines, despite a last-minute decision by Seoul to boycott the event, according to South Korean media.

South Korea announced it would not attend the event due to Japan’s decision to send Akiko Ikuina, a parliamentary vice minister with hardline historical views, as its government representative, according to Yonhap News.

More than 1,500 Koreans are believed to have been forced to work at the Sado gold and silver mines during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea in 1910-1945. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry confirmed it would not attend the ceremony, citing Akiko’s role as envoy.

The ceremony, held at 1 p.m. local time (0400GMT) on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, was attended by Ikuina along with regional and civic officials, though over 20 seats reserved for South Korean attendees remained empty.

Nine of the 11 family members of Korean victims are already in Japan, and they plan to hold a separate memorial and visit sites related to the Sado mines, accompanied by South Korean officials.

Tokyo had agreed to host the memorial as a condition for Seoul’s support of Sado mines’ designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July, making this the inaugural event of its kind.

South Korea’s absence, however, is viewed as a setback in the two nations’ efforts to mend ties, which have improved recently through US-led security cooperation against China and North Korea.

Japan expressed regret over South Korea’s decision, with its embassy in Seoul noting that both sides had engaged in “polite communication” but said it was “unfortunate” Seoul chose not to participate.

The Sado mines, located off Japan’s northern coast, were once the world’s largest gold producer, operating for nearly 400 years before closing in 1989.