Seoul, South Korea - The South Korean government has announced the complete acquisition of passenger lists related to the ill-fated Ukishima-ho, a ship that sank in 1945 carrying forcibly mobilized Koreans. This comes after receiving 22 additional documents from the Japanese government, completing the transfer of all 75 lists Japan acknowledged possessing.

The announcement, made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 21st, precedes upcoming diplomatic meetings in Tokyo, including a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting and a bilateral South Korea-Japan session.

The Ukishima-ho tragedy occurred shortly after Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, when the naval transport ship, carrying thousands of Koreans seeking to return home, sank near Kyoto. While Japan attributed the sinking to an accidental mine explosion, survivors and families have long alleged a deliberate act by the Japanese government, claiming a much higher death toll than officially reported.

For decades, Japan denied the existence of passenger lists. However, a partial list was released last year following a journalist's information request. Now, with the full set of documents in hand, South Korea aims to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and provide long-awaited relief to the victims and their families.

The Foundation for Support of Victims of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Colonial Rule will analyze the lists to determine the true extent of the casualties and to reassess compensation claims that were previously denied. This move marks a significant step towards addressing a painful chapter in the history of both nations.

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