The first-ever memorial ceremony for laborers in the Sado mines, linked to the forced labor of Koreans during Japan's colonial rule, is scheduled to take place by the end of the year, as stated by Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul during a parliamentary session. Negotiations with Japan are ongoing to determine the exact date of the ceremony, with initial plans for September now being deemed challenging due to Japan's upcoming leadership election. This ceremony, agreed to be held annually, is one of two commitments made by Japan to obtain South Korea's approval for the registration of the Sado Island gold mines as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The other commitment involves installing exhibits at the Aikawa History Museum, though Japan has reportedly rejected using the term "forced" to describe the Korean laborers in the exhibition. The Korean government is still awaiting confirmation from Japan regarding the details of the ceremony, with concerns being raised about the limited time left before the end of the year. Members of the Democratic Party of Korea have criticized the lack of clarity and urged the Korean government to firmly request that Japan proceed with the ceremony.