# Japan-South Korea Sado Mine labor dispute > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/japan-south-korea-sado-mine-labor-dispute > Updated: 2026-09-13T07:57:06.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 3. A diplomatic dispute continues between South Korea and Japan regarding the memorialization of Korean workers at the Sado Island Gold Mines. The disagreement centers on whether the coercive nature of labor mobilization during the Japanese colonial period is adequately acknowledged at the UNESCO World Heritage site. On September 12, a memorial service was held in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, to honor workers associated with the site. However, South Korean representatives were absent from the ceremony for the third consecutive year. During the service, Yukiya Hamamoto, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed condolences and noted that workers from the Korean Peninsula endured “difficult labor in dangerous mine environments during the war.” Despite these remarks, the Japanese government did not use the specific term “forced labor,” a point of contention that has contributed to ongoing diplomatic friction. Sado City Mayor Ryugo Watanabe expressed condolences to the deceased and urged the Japanese government to continue discussions with South Korea to resolve the impasse. South Korea maintains that the “entire history” of the site, including the forced mobilization of over 1,500 Koreans between 1910 and 1945, must be addressed. Critics have also raised concerns regarding broader omissions in Japanese historical documentation, such as a Ministry of Education guidebook that focuses on technological achievements while failing to mention forced mobilization. Additionally, concerns persist regarding the potential UNESCO nomination of the Ashio Copper Mine, where approximately 2,416 Koreans were reportedly mobilized during the Pacific War. ## Claims - Yukiya Hamamoto, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, stated that Korean Peninsula workers faced dangerous and harsh conditions in mines during the war. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Japanese government did not use the term 'forced labor' during the memorial service for the Sado Gold Mine. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Sado City Mayor Ryugo Watanabe requested that the Japanese government engage in discussions with South Korea. (single source) - South Korean representatives have been absent from the memorial service for three consecutive years. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-13: Japan accused of erasing Korean forced labor history in World Heritage sites Japan is under fire for omitting the history of Korean forced labor at industrial sites like the Ashio Copper Mine and Sado Mine in new UNESCO-related guides and World Heritage nominations. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-accused-of-erasing-korean-forced-labor-history-in-world-heritage-sites ### 2026-09-12: Sado Gold Mine memorial service held without South Korean attendance South Korean representatives missed the Sado Gold Mine memorial service for the third year running, as Japan continues to avoid using the term 'forced labor' when discussing Korean workers' wartime conditions. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sado-mine-memorial-service-omits-mention-of-korean-forced-labor ### 2026-09-09: South Korea to skip Japan's Sado Mine memorial for third year South Korea will skip the Sado Island Gold Mines memorial in Japan for the third straight year due to unresolved disputes over how to characterize the forced mobilization of Korean laborers. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-to-skip-japans-sado-mine-memorial-for-third-year --- Cite as: Japan-South Korea Sado Mine labor dispute. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/japan-south-korea-sado-mine-labor-dispute