Story perspectives

South Koreans Urge UNESCO to Register Comfort-Women Records

9/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

South Korean citizen groups urged UNESCO to add wartime comfort-women documents to the Memory of the World Register.
The coalition announced the UNESCO request at a press conference in Seoul.
On Aug 12, the Korean Supreme Court dismissed Nippon Steel’s appeal, upholding 80 million won compensation for Min Moon-sik’s family.
UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in Busan urged Japan to present full forced-labour history, noting over 1,500 Koreans at Sado mine.

History

Historical Context

The 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and Republic of Korea, signed in June 1965, declared earlier Japan-Korea agreements null and ended hostilities. Under its aid provisions Nippon Steel paid 80 million won to Min Moon-sik family, a payment Korean Supreme Court affirmed in 2023. Korean groups cite precedent, urging UNESCO to archive comfort-women material and Japan to disclose forced-labour records for 1,500 Sado-mine workers.

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Story summary

South Korean citizen groups urged UNESCO to add wartime comfort-women documents to the Memory of the World Register.
The coalition announced the UNESCO request at a press conference in Seoul.
On Aug 12, the Korean Supreme Court dismissed Nippon Steel’s appeal, upholding 80 million won compensation for Min Moon-sik’s family.
UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in Busan urged Japan to present full forced-labour history, noting over 1,500 Koreans at Sado mine.

1 / 2