The government announced on the 29th that it was “planning to deliver a request for correction to the Japanese side” in relation to the results of elementary school textbook inspections that contain Japan’s recent assertion of territorial sovereignty over Dokdo.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the same day, “In the future, the Northeast Asian History Foundation, a related institution, will acquire the textbook and analyze it closely.”
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasized that “the government will respond sternly and firmly to Japan’s unjust claims of territorial and historical revisionism.”
In the social studies and guidance textbooks for 3rd to 6th grade elementary school students that passed the approval of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology the previous day, the existing description related to Koreans’ conscription during the Japanese colonial period was changed to expressions such as ‘support’, which is pointed out as ‘diluting coercion’. .
In addition, regarding Dokdo, the content that ‘Takeshima (the name of Dokdo claimed by Japan) is Japan’s inherent territory’ was published in all textbooks that passed the inspection. These textbooks will be used in elementary schools in Japan from next year.
In response, the South Korean government expressed “deep regret” through a statement from the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the day before, and First Vice Minister Cho Hyun-dong invited Naoki Kumagai, acting ambassador (general manager) of the Japanese Embassy in Korea.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The Japanese government has strongly protested against passing the inspection of an elementary school textbook that followed the unreasonable claims that have been made over the past decades.” We urged them to show more responsible behavior in the education of future generations.”
However, this official was reserved about the reaction of the Japanese side, saying, “We cannot disclose the details of the discussion between the diplomatic authorities.”
According to Japanese media, Kumagai is known to have repeated the claim that “Takeshima is Japan’s own territory” at a meeting with Vice Minister Cho the day before.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.