Kyodo News: UNESCO Rejected South Korea's Appeal, the Dispute over "Militia Island" Heritage between Japan and South Korea Continues
Kyodo News reported on July 8 that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee rejected on July 7 at a meeting in Paris a request by South Korea to re-examine the historical interpretation of Japan's "Meiji Japanese Industrial Revolution Heritage," with a majority vote, supporting Japan's position that the dispute should be resolved through bilateral negotiations rather than an international institution. This heritage includes 23 sites, such as Hashima Island (known as "Militia Island") in Nagasaki City, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2015. At that time, Japan had pledged to establish an information center to commemorate the victims of forced labor during World War II. However, South Korea believes that Japan's subsequent measures have not fully fulfilled this commitment. A South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs official expressed regret, stating that South Korea will continue to urge Japan to fulfill its commitments, while emphasizing its willingness to maintain cooperation with Japan within the framework of "looking forward." This vote marks the first direct vote by UNESCO on the historical dispute between Japan and South Korea, highlighting the ongoing differences between the two countries on colonial history issues. Although the South Korean government has adopted a policy of easing relations with Japan during the current president's term, separating historical issues from economic cooperation, this result may intensify internal dissatisfaction in South Korea with Japan's conciliatory stance.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837025476100096/
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