The ”Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution” were registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, but South Korea's dissatisfaction remains unresolved.

The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) this month decided to reject the "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution," which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015 and consists of the Hashima Island (Gunkanjima) in Nagasaki City.
On the 7th, the government rejected the South Korean government's request to reexamine Japan's efforts regarding the negative history of the island. South Korea argued that forced labor by Korean former member laborers had taken place on Hashima Island, and that
The Korean government has expressed regret over the outcome of the committee. The "Meiji Industrial Revolution Heritage Sites" are 23 constituent heritage sites across eight prefectures and 11 cities, including Nagasaki.
The cultural heritage of Japan is related to coal mining, steel and shipbuilding, which developed rapidly between the 1850s and 1910, and which was a fusion of the transfer of technology from the West to the non-Western world and traditional Japanese culture.
It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015. However, South Korea opposed the registration, claiming that Gunkanjima, which is included among the 23 sites, was the site where many Koreans were forced to work and sacrificed their lives.
In response, Japan stated that it would "take appropriate measures to remember the victims," and in June 2020 opened the Industrial Heritage Information Center in Tokyo to provide an overview of the "Meiji Industrial Revolution Heritage Sites."
However, the center initially stated that Korean former members were working there, and also introduced the testimony of former islanders who said they had not been treated with discrimination. The Korean side responded by saying, "The exhibit is not a representation of Korean former members who were forced to work there.
"The damage suffered by former members has not been clearly explained, and the promises made at the time of the heritage registration have not been kept," UNESCO said in July 2021.
The World Heritage Committee expressed "strong regret" and called for improvements, with the Industrial Heritage Information Center's exhibits in mind. The resolution stated that the explanation was insufficient, and that the victims were taken against their will and subjected to harsh conditions.
The government responded by saying, "Our government has faithfully implemented the measures it promised.
"We would like to respond appropriately, taking this position into consideration." However, former islanders who spent time on Gunkanjima during the war were opposed to the World Heritage Committee's resolution, and when the resolution was issued, Sankei Shimbun
The article introduces the voices of angry former islanders. "The documents that the Korean side has cited as evidence that Koreans were forced to do hard labor are all false documents," "We cannot accept this at all. Why is UNESCO only taking the Korean position?"
In response to the resolution, the World Heritage Committee asked the Japanese government to report on the progress of improvements, and the government submitted a report in December 2022.
The report stated that it "sincerely accepts" the World Heritage Committee's "strong regret" expressed in the resolution, and that it will continue to respect the history of Gunkanjima based on documents and testimonies whose sources have been made clear.
The World Heritage Committee will consider additional efforts made by Japan, such as strengthening the exhibits at the facility regarding the history of former Korean workers, in September 2023.
However, the South Korean side said that there had been no clear progress in the dialogue with Japan, and that it would add Japan's response to the agenda at this World Heritage Committee meeting and hold talks with the committee.
In response, Japan presented an amendment that deleted the Korean appeal, arguing that this was something that should be discussed between the two countries. The committee members voted with 7 in favor and 3 against for Japan's amendment.
The Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, which reported on the vote, said, "Not only at this meeting, which is scheduled to run until the 16th, but in the future, there is little prospect of UNESCO bringing up any issues related to Gunkanjima.
The JoongAng Ilbo reported, "It can be said that this leaves room for conflicts over past history to be reignited." In response to the decision, an official from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret.
"The government's position is that Japan should faithfully implement the commitment it made with regard to modern industrial facilities and the decisions of the World Heritage Committee that include this commitment," he said. "We will continue to raise the issue at the committee.
On the other hand, he also stated that, "While clarifying our position on issues of historical concern, we will continue to cooperate with Japan in a future-oriented manner based on mutual trust."
A Japanese government official responded, "We will continue to respond sincerely to the South Korean side, as we have done in the past."