<Commentary W> South Korea opposes Japan's textbook approval, "unfair claims were included"

On the 28th of this month, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced the results of the examination of textbooks that will be used in elementary schools from next spring. A spokesperson issued a statement expressing strong regret that "the textbooks contained unfair claims" regarding Takeshima (Korean name: Dokdo). He also criticized the issue of former forced labor, saying, "Changes have been made in a way that makes it less coercive."

This textbook examination is the second examination in line with the new curriculum guidelines for elementary schools introduced in 2020, and emphasizes the perspective of "proactive, interactive and deep learning" that makes children think for themselves and group activities. The content is conspicuous. All 149 points (259 books) used in elementary school passed. The total average number of pages in all subjects increased by 2% from the previous year (2018).

Of these, 12 applications from three companies were submitted by elementary school societies. The 5th and 6th graders have written about Takeshima, the Northern Territories, and the Senkaku Islands as 'inherent territories of Japan'. The description was in line with the view of the Japanese government. Until now, some textbooks referred to Takeshima as "Japanese territory."

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement following the end of the textbook review process. The statement said, "We express our deep regret that the Japanese government passed the examination of elementary school textbooks, which followed the unreasonable claims that have been made for decades. We strongly protest against re-passing the review of textbooks containing unfair claims to Dokdo, which is Korea's inherent territory and is clearly recognized by international law, and we cannot accept any claims made by Japan to Dokdo. In addition, regarding the description of the former forced laborers, he expressed his strong regret that the expression and description were changed in a way that weakened the symbiosis, and sincerely expressed the spirit of apology and remorse related to history that the Japanese government has expressed itself. I encourage you to put it into practice." Finally, he said, "In order to build a constructive and future-oriented relationship between the two countries, the foundation must be the correct understanding of history by the generation who will lead the future, should educate future generations to show more responsible behavior."

Furthermore, on the evening of the 28th, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyung-don of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Naoki Kumagai, Minister-General of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge a protest. In response, Minister-General Kumagai said, "Takeshima is clearly Japan's inherent territory both in light of historical facts and under international law." He also countered South Korea's claims about the issue of forced labor, saying, "The allegation is not true."

According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, South Korean experts have voiced concerns about the descriptions in the textbooks that have passed the examination. Jo Yoon-soo, director of the Center for Textbook Research at the Northeast Asian History Foundation, a South Korean government-affiliated think tank, said that textbooks that passed the examination used the expression "young people who volunteered to become soldiers" in descriptions of former forced laborers. In an interview with Yonhap, he said, "The implementation of the system (of sending them to the battlefield) itself is pressure," and pointed out, "It could lead to the misunderstanding that they wanted to become Japanese soldiers."

Also, regarding the deletion of the 'conscripted' part from the description in another textbook that "conscripted as soldiers of the Japanese army and sent them to the battlefield," he said, "However, if the textbook deliberately excludes conscription and emphasizes volunteering, it is difficult to see it as a well-balanced description. I worry that future generations who have learned from such textbooks will have prejudices and misunderstandings about South Korea," Cho added.

In addition, Lee Shin-cheol, director of the Asian Institute for Peace and History, told Yonhap, "It is true that there were volunteers, but emphasizing them as if they were willing to do so precludes an understanding of the situation under colonial rule." he pointed out.

The South Korean Ministry of Education (Ministry is equivalent to a ministry) said, "For future-oriented South Korea-Japan relations, we hope that the Japanese government will immediately stop its unjust claims to South Korea's territory and history." Showeing a policy to strengthen.