South Korea to Analyze Passenger List of Sunk Fushima Maru Ship
Seoul, September 12, 2024 – TheSouth Korean government will analyze the partial passenger list of the Fushima Maru ship, which was sunk in 1945, recently provided by theJapanese government. A South Korean Foreign Ministry official announced on Tuesday that the list has been forwarded to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for analysis.
The analysiswill be conducted by a volunteer group dedicated to historical issues under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The duration of the analysis is yet to be determined. The official emphasized that the government’s priority is to provide relief to the victims andwill exert all efforts towards this goal.
The Japanese government recently provided 19 digitized records from the 75 passenger-related documents through the South Korean embassy in Japan, after completing internal investigations. The official stated that the government willfirst assess the number of South Korean individuals included in the complete list before determining whether Japan intends to provide all the data. Considering Japan’s previous commitment to providing the information, the official expressed confidence that they will fulfill their promise.
The Fushima Maru was a Japanese naval transport ship carrying Korean nationals returning toKorea from Japan after being forced into labor during World War II. On August 24, 1945, the ship exploded and sank while docked at Maizuru Port in Kyoto, Japan, en route to Busan. Most of the passengers were Korean forced laborers. Due to the lack of salvage efforts bythe Japanese government, the truth behind the incident remains shrouded in mystery.
The South Korean government and families of the victims have repeatedly demanded that the Japanese government disclose relevant information. However, Japan has consistently maintained that the passenger list was lost due to the sinking. Recently, under pressure from local media, the Japanese government releasedthree lists.
The South Korean government’s decision to analyze the passenger list comes amidst heightened tensions between the two countries over historical issues. The Fushima Maru incident is one of the most sensitive issues in South Korea-Japan relations, as it symbolizes the suffering of Korean forced laborers during the Japanese colonial period.
The South Korean government’s analysis of the passenger list is expected to shed light on the fate of the victims and provide valuable information for historical research. The outcome of the analysis could also have significant implications for future bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan.
Background:
- The Fushima Maru incidentoccurred on August 24, 1945, when the Japanese naval transport ship carrying Korean nationals returning to Korea from Japan exploded and sank while docked at Maizuru Port in Kyoto, Japan.
- Most of the passengers were Korean forced laborers who were brought to Japan during World War II.
*The Japanese government has not salvaged the ship or the remains of the victims, and the truth behind the incident remains unknown. - The South Korean government and families of the victims have repeatedly demanded that the Japanese government disclose relevant information.
- The Japanese government has consistently maintained that the passenger list was lost due to the sinking.
- The South Korean government’s decision to analyze the passenger list comes amidst heightened tensions between the two countries over historical issues.
Significance:
- The analysis of the passenger list could shed light on the fate of the victims and provide valuable information for historical research.
- The outcome of the analysis couldalso have significant implications for future bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan.
Future Implications:
- The South Korean government’s analysis of the passenger list could lead to a renewed demand for a full investigation into the Fushima Maru incident.
- The analysis could also lead to a renewed call for theJapanese government to apologize for its actions during the colonial period and to provide compensation to the victims.
- The outcome of the analysis could have a significant impact on the relationship between South Korea and Japan.
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