UNESCO Interference

[Anchor Lead]

Civic groups in Korea and other countries victimized by the Japanese military's wartime sex slavery program have nominated documents relating to comfort women for listing on the UNESCO Memory of the World register. But the UNESCO listing was postponed because the Japanese government delayed payment of its dues to pressure the international organization.

[Pkg]

Fourteen groups from eight countries, including Korea, China, and Taiwan, took part in the nomination of the documents related to "comfort women" becoming listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World. Documents from Korea included some 650 pieces of materials provided by the history museum of the House of Sharing, a nursing home for living comfort women in Seoul. UNESCO initially rated these documents highly, calling them irreplaceable and unique, but ultimately delayed their inscription onto the registry. In the decision posted on the UNESCO homepage, disputed nominations should be urged to "abide by the principles of dialogue, mutual understanding and respect and to avoid further political tensions." This regulation, which was slated to be enforced starting next year, was implemented ahead of schedule as per Japan's request.

[Soundbite] Yoshihide Suga(Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan) : "UNESCO's recent decision was appropriate given the principle of avoiding political tension."

Japan is known to have pressured UNESCO incessantly, delaying the payment of its dues to the international organization.

[Soundbite] Shin Hye-soo(International "Comfort Women" Coalition) : "We're going to investigate the Japanese government's unfair pressure on UNESCO and expose it to the world. At the same time, we are going to monitor and check UNESCO to make sure that it maintains its objectivity."

The rule stipulates that Korea and the concerned parties discuss the matter with Japan for up to four years, which is why experts point out that now is the time for the government to step in to change UNESCO's decision.