South Korean government holds ”Sado Gold Mine Memorial Ceremony”... ”Japan and South Korea share the same grief”

At the Sado Gold Mine Memorial Ceremony held on the 21st, South Korean Ambassador to Japan Lee Hyuk said, "I hope that in the future, both Korea and Japan will remember the history of pain and sorrow together and move towards a bright future of cooperation and solidarity."
Ambassador Lee said at the memorial service for Korean victims of forced labor at the Sado Gold Mine held in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, that day, "Today, we are here to commemorate the victims of forced labor at the Sado Gold Mine.
"We have gathered here to remember together the pain and sorrow of all the workers who were there," he said.
The event was attended by 11 government officials and bereaved families. Ambassador Lee said, "More than 80 years ago, on Sado Island, people were recruited, arranged, and conscripted under the involvement of the Government-General of Korea, and were forced to work against their will.
"In contrast, there were many Korean workers who were mobilized and forced to work," he said. "Korean workers had to do more dangerous and difficult work and were treated poorly.
"They had to endure a harsh life," he said. "Even in such circumstances, the people of both countries would understand each other's positions and sometimes reach out to help each other."
He continued, "These memories will not be forgotten even as time passes, and the residents of Sado Island will remember the joys and sorrows of the Korean workers.
"We have been able to continue to mourn quietly," he said. "Today, reflecting on the pain of the past and sharing the meaning of mourning here will only deepen these feelings of empathy and healing."
After the memorial service, the bereaved families visited the site of the Korean workers' dormitory where the memorial service was held last year to lay flowers and pay their respects at key sites related to Korean workers.