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| Author | 국제팀 | Hit | 105 | Date | 2024-08-28 오후 2:35:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | [Statement]The Governments of Korea and Japan Must Strive to Uncover the Truth Behind the Sinking of the Ukishima Maru |
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On August 24, 1945, the Ukishima Maru, carrying Koreans who were returning to their homeland after liberation, was en route from Japan to Busan when it exploded and sank off the coast of Maizuru, resulting in the drowning of many Koreans. Even though 79 years have passed since the incident, the cause of the sinking and the scale of the casualties remain unclear. Recently, however, a passenger list that the Japanese government previously claimed had been lost during the sinking of the Ukishima Maru was disclosed through a request for information made by a Japanese journalist. In May of this year, the Japanese government reversed its previous position and acknowledged the existence of the passenger list. The Korean Bar Association (President Young-Hoon Kim) urges the Korean government to swiftly secure and disclose the passenger list to uncover the truth behind the Ukishima Maru incident. Additionally, we call on the Korean government to demand that the Japanese government take measures for the restitution of victims, including the repatriation of remains. The Ukishima Maru was a merchant vessel requisitioned by the Japanese Navy and used as a military transport ship. On August 22, 1945, it departed from Ōminato in Aomori Prefecture, carrying thousands of Korean laborers conscripted by the Japanese during the colonial period, their families, and Japanese naval personnel. While en route to Busan, the ship attempted to dock at Maizuru Port but exploded and sank after an explosion occurred in the lower part of the hull. Immediately following the incident, the Japanese government reported that 524 of the 3,725 Korean laborers and 25 of the 255 Japanese crew members on board had died. However, these figures have been criticized as inaccurate since they were based on the list of people who applied to board rather than an actual passenger list. According to survivors, approximately 5,000 individuals who had not registered were also aboard, and the number of casualties could reach several thousand, far exceeding the official figures. The cause of the sinking also remains unclear. Survivors of the Ukishima Maru and the bereaved families of the victims have consistently called on both the Korean and Japanese governments to uncover the truth behind the incident and take responsible follow-up actions. The failure to identify the victims and reveal the truth about the sinking of the Ukishima Maru is, in itself, a grave human rights violation. Given the confirmed existence of the passenger list, the Korean government must immediately secure and disclose it. In addition, it must conduct a thorough investigation of the victims and demand that the Japanese government take appropriate measures to uncover the truth, repatriate the remains, and ensure restitution for the victims of forced labor. August 28, 2024 Young-Hoon Kim President, Korean Bar Association |
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