The Sado Mine in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, was a site where Koreans were subjected to forced labor during the Japanese colonial period. The photo shows a tunnel inside the Sado Mine. /News1

The South Korean government announced on Nov. 23 that it would not participate in a memorial ceremony for victims of wartime forced labor at Japan’s Sado Mine, scheduled for Nov. 24.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, “After considering various circumstances surrounding the memorial service, the government has decided not to attend.” It further noted, “The decision reflects insufficient time to resolve differences between the diplomatic authorities of both countries, making it unlikely to reach a mutually agreeable resolution before the event.”

Akiko Ikuina, a parliamentary vice minister at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is reportedly set to attend the "Sado Mine Memorial Ceremony" on Nov. 24 on Sado Island, Japan. /Instagram

Akiko Ikuina, a parliamentary vice minister at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is slated to attend the memorial. The South Korean government had previously requested representation at the vice-ministerial level, which Ikuina’s participation fulfilled. However, the decision to have Ikuina represent Japan has sparked controversy. Ikuina visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors several Class-A war criminals from World War II, on Aug. 15, 2022, marking Japan’s surrender in the Pacific War. Critics contend that appointing someone linked to the Yasukuni Shrine to attend a commemoration for Korean forced labor victims is both inappropriate and disrespectful to the South Korean bereaved families expected to be present.