Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul stated on Wednesday that he takes "full responsibility" for the controversy surrounding Japan's memorial ceremony for Korean wartime forced labor victims at the Sado mine. He expressed regret over Tokyo's failure to honor the promises it made to the international community.According to Yonhap News Agency, criticism arose following Japan's hosting of the event earlier this week, which did not adequately acknowledge the victims or the site's complete history of forced labor mobilization during World War II, when Korea was under Japan's colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. Holding a memorial ceremony was a condition for Seoul's agreement to the site's inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Critics have accused the South Korean government of a "diplomatic failure" with Tokyo over historical issues, a persistent challenge in the bilateral relations between the two nations."Consequently, I take full responsibility for how things have turned out," Cho told reporters upon arr iving at Incheon International Airport from the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting in Italy. "I regret that the outcome was not carried out properly," he added.Cho highlighted concerns about Japan's commitment to fulfilling its promises during the negotiations. "It's not a matter of negotiations, but a matter of judgment on whether or not Japan has carried out the promise it made to South Korea and to the international community," he stated. He emphasized that the government would persist in addressing this issue with the World Heritage Committee and urge Japan to faithfully implement its commitments.Cho also expressed his regret over the Sado mine memorial in a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, during the G7 gathering. He explained the reasons behind South Korea's decision not to attend Japan's ceremony. "How could this have been explained without expressing regret?" Cho remarked.Furthermore, Cho clarified that the attendance of a Japanese vice foreign minister, mistaken ly believed to have visited the Yasukuni Shrine, was "not the decisive reason" for boycotting the event. The shrine honors Japanese war dead, including World War II criminals, and any visits or offerings by Japanese officials are strongly protested by countries such as South Korea and China.Seoul's foreign ministry reported that it had expressed regret to Japan over the memorial service's handling, a day after boycotting the Japan-hosted event. Instead, the ministry joined bereaved family members in a separate ceremony near the mine site to pay respects to the victims.
- October 12, 2026
