동북아역사재단 2012년 02월호 뉴스레터
The year 2011 has been a very significant year for the Northeast Asia History Foundation; founded in 2006, NAHF has passed its fifth anniversary and had a time of self-reflection for its transition from infancy to adulthood as an organization. To further enhance its profile as an organization seeking to resolve historical conflicts and promote peace and prosperity, NAHF has conducted various studies and activities with good results. The year 2012 is going to be a more turbulent year than any other in the past, with the forthcoming announcement of Japan's high school textbook authorization results and the increased volatility of the political situation surrounding the Korean peninsular in the wake of the death of Kim Jong-il, the Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea. On the other hand, the year 2012 is also going to see many collaborative activities as it marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China. In this newsletter, NAHF's past projects in 2011 and upcoming projects in 2012 will be reviewed. _ Note by the Editors
In-Depth Study of Korea-Japan History: Analyzing and Coping with the Japanese History Textbooks
Last year, NAHF conducted many programs to cope with the issue of the Japanese history textbooks, including publishing the reference kit summarizing the key issues, translating relevant books and promoting them for publication overseas, and conducting featured research to establish an East Asian history. In particular, on the occasion of Japan's middle school textbook authorization results announced on March 30, 2011, NAHF hosted a conference to criticize Japan's distortion of history based on the analysis of the textbook authorization results. Furthermore, NAHF collaborated with civil society organizations in various activities to build an international network to prevent the adoption of the distorted textbooks.
This year, with the upcoming announcement of Japan's high school textbook authorization results, NAHF is planning on active response thorough the analysis and study of these results. In addition, NAHF will host related conferences and workshops in order to strengthen the network with experts in the textbooks of Korea and Japan while promoting dialogue and collaboration with them to counter the distorted textbooks.
Additionally, NAHF will be focused on furthering studies on the following subjects: pre-modern basic literature on Korea-Japan relations; the colonial period, including 'comfort women' for the Japanese army and the Koreans in Sakhalin; and Japan's understanding of history.
Laying a Foundation for Friendship and Cooperation between Korea and China to Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Bilateral Diplomatic Ties
As for its Korea-China history projects last year, NAHF published a reference kit on the historical trends of China and
For 2012, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Korea-China diplomatic relations, NAHF is planning on a variety of events and activities to promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries. To this end, on top of the existing studies on Korea-China history, NAHF will add research areas that can be shared from the viewpoint of Northeast Asia as a whole.
Its specific action plans include: studies on the origin and formation of the Korean national culture; systematic studies on the history of Korea-China and East Asia relations; and conferences to identify the issues of historical conflicts between Korea and China and to seek ways of resolving them. Additional plans include compiling the photos and material of Koguryo and Balhae sites/relics in China, Japan, and Korea into a digital database before they are damaged or destroyed. Specifically, a digital map of Koguryo relics will be produced and made public this year. And active efforts will be made for joint survey with neighboring countries such as Mongolia and Russia.
Additional projects include the excavation survey of, and further studies on, Koguryo and Balhae sites and relics in an effort to establish the history of Koguryo and Balhae as part of Korean history, and further studies on the formation of the Korean national culture and the ancient history of Northeast Asia. Moreover, the compilation of the Northeast Asia History Map designed to establish a new standard for history maps is an ongoing project. The Chinese textbooks, the official representation of China's understanding of history, will be also analyzed and countered where necessary as part of NAHF's major projects this year.
Active Policy Response to the Identified Trends of Historical Issues
In 2011, NAHF conducted a variety of programs and activities to build networks at home and abroad, establish peace and a community in East Asia, and strategically deal with historical issues. NAHF also held an Advisory Committee meeting and a gathering of experts to formulate alternative policies, collecting various views on business and striving to develop more in-depth policies and prepare quality reports.
In 2012, with the upcoming general elections in Korea and many other countries around the world, it is expected that there will be rapid changes in the political landscape of the Korean peninsula and the surrounding regions in East Asia resulting and a number of historical/territorial issues will be raised as a result. NAHF will significantly expand its capacity to monitor the related trends and find the quick and appropriate policy response.
Additionally, NAHF will provide research grants to encourage studies on Korean history overseas and seek international coalition to cope with attempts by neighboring countries to distort history. Furthermore, NAHF will actively promote basic research and conferences to develop a new understanding and practical programs for peace in East Asia beyond historical conflicts.
Effective On-/Off-line Public Promotional Activities
In 2011, NAHF enhanced its profile through promotional activities using a variety of media, online or offline; NAHF provided the major media (e.g. TV, newspaper) around the world with featured reports, sponsorship for featured shows, press releases, interviews and articles on the pending issues from the president and others on the staff. In particular, in June of 2011, NAHF hosted the history movie symposium under the theme 'The Assimilation Policy and the Name-Changing Program as Seen in the Movies' at the Korean Culture Center of the Embassy of Korea in Japan, attracting keen attention from the Korean residents and the local media in Japan. NAHF has also published and distributed a total of 52 volumes of academic or educational books of various forms in an effort to deliver its results to different circles.
Additionally, NAHF has been designated by the National Information Society Agency as the institution to conduct the national DB project; the documents that NAHF has compiled into a DB with the allocated budget include: historical records on the borders (memorandum on Mt. Paektu Demarcation Stone, memorandum on Joseon-Qing border talks, Dongmunwhigo (documents on foreign relations), a summary of Joseon-Qing talks and documents); chronology of the history of foreign relations (Goryeo Period), diplomatic documents of modern Korea, diplomatic documents on Korea-Japan talks, and catalogues/reports (rock paintings, Koguryo mural paintings).
As for its promotional projects in 2012, NAHF will effectively combine on/off-line promotion with media promotion to create synergy effects and systematically build and use the 'Northeast Asia History DB' to contribute to resolving the Northeast Asian historical issues. And for the peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia, NAHF will step up its various public promotional and support activities for the pending historical issues surrounding Korea, China, and Japan, and open the online historical information service to provide relevant information that will support its historical research and policy development efforts.
In addition, NAHF will systematically compile its self-published internal material, internal review material, and reports into the 'Internal Material Archive System' for reference. And NAHF will publish a variety of academic and educational books on East Asia and contact international publishers to publish selected books overseas, as part of its efforts to deliver and spread its research results to enhance its profile as an academic research institute.
Youth/Public Participating Events
NAHF held a group training for teachers of East Asian history in cities across the nation, including Seoul, Daegu, and Incheon. This training was part of the History Education Enhancement Program designed to promote an accurate understanding of Korean history, including the issue of history conflicts in Northeast Asia. For those who had completed this training, NAHF held a field training under the theme "Meet East Asia in Hokkaido, the Land of Diaspora." To encourage participation from more teachers, NAHF conducted various forms of teacher training programs, including the cyber-training program for teachers of East Asian history.
Additionally, NAHF offered various forms of classes and experiential leaning opportunities, including: the 6th Youth History Experience Presentation designed to allow the youth of the future generation to gain an understanding of history through international exchanges; and history teachers' visiting class overseas designed to build the infrastructure of history education professionals at home and abroad; international symposium of experts in history education; history education for the invited Chinese youth; experiential education of history for international residents in Korea; and history lectures on tour.
In 2012, NAHF will conduct a variety of programs designed to enhance the specialty of history education, help the citizens as well as the youth broaden their understanding of history, and spread the recognition of the East Asian community. Moreover, NAHF will help the civil society around the world hold favorable opinions for the resolution of historical conflicts in Northeast Asia and work with NGOs at home and abroad to broaden the basis of the correct understanding of history.
In addition, NAHF will host the History NGO Activists Conference and related symposium, workshop, and incidental events. The objectives of this conference are to strengthen the network of history NGO activists around the world working on issues related to the resolution of the historical conflicts of East Asia and to mobilize nationwide efforts, and to seek ways for collective civil movement. Additionally, the History Concerts will be held four times a year (March/May/August/October) to expand exchange and communication with the citizens, young or old, who are interested in history. These concerts will deliver the correct information on the pending issues of historical conflicts in Northeast Asia in an effort to promote the accurate understanding and cultivate mature civil consciousness.
