Korean Government Expresses Regret Over Japan's Unfulfilled Promises at UNESCO

The South Korean government has expressed disappointment after its attempt to question Japan's adherence to commitments made regarding the Hashima Island (군함도) coal mine, a site of forced labor during the Japanese occupation, was thwarted at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's 47th session held in Paris on July 7, 2025.

During the meeting, the South Korean representative argued that Japan's insufficient actions should be reassessed in this year's committee discussions. However, Japan countered that the matter should be addressed bilaterally rather than through the committee, leading to the submission of a revised proposal to remove the agenda item. South Korea rejected this and called for a vote.

The vote, conducted via secret ballot among 21 member countries, resulted in Japan's proposal passing with 7 votes in favor and 3 against, while some countries appeared to abstain. This outcome indicates a preference among committee members for resolving the issue through direct discussions between South Korea and Japan rather than through UNESCO.

As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for South Korea to raise issues related to Hashima Island at UNESCO during the ongoing session, which will last until July 16. Hashima, also known as Gunkanjima, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2015 as part of Japan's industrial revolution heritage.

Japan had publicly committed to addressing the forced labor of Koreans during the listing process but has since failed to fulfill this promise. Critics argue that Japan has instead intensified claims that there was no coercion involved in the recruitment of Korean laborers and has focused on presenting a narrative favorable to its own history.

The information center opened in 2020 has been criticized for omitting any mention of Korean forced labor, instead highlighting Japan's industrial achievements, which some see as a distortion of history. The center's location in Tokyo, rather than in Kyushu, where many heritage sites are located, has also sparked controversy.

Over the past decade, Japan has repeatedly faced scrutiny from the committee regarding its inadequate follow-up actions, with four related decisions adopted in 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2023. However, the most recent decision in 2023 required Japan to submit an 'update report' rather than a formal report, which would automatically be subject to committee review. This change occurred when South Korea was not a member of the committee, limiting its negotiating power.

In response, South Korea has been actively pursuing diplomatic efforts to bring this issue back to the committee's agenda. Conversely, Japan argued that since it has already undergone multiple reviews by the committee, the matter should now be resolved through bilateral discussions with South Korea. The lack of consensus ultimately led to the unprecedented failure to formalize the agenda item.

Analysts suggest that Japan's significant financial contributions to UNESCO and the prolonged nature of discussions surrounding this issue influenced the committee's decision. While the South Korean government remains committed to revisiting Japan's inadequate fulfillment of its promises, it appears challenging to do so within the UNESCO framework. Additionally, Japan's rigid stance on historical issues may further strain relations between the two countries.