뉴스레터

On April 4, 2014, the Education Ministry of Japan (MEXT) announced the results of primary school textbook approval. In response, the NAHF held an emergency expert discussion the next day, on April 5, jointly with the education committee under the National Assembly. The purpose of this discussion was to review the descriptions of Korea, especially Dokdo, found in the approved textbooks, and to discuss the problems with the textbook descriptions, and outlook. And this discussion was held in a conference room in the National Assembly Hall, for the National Assembly education committee was also interested, amid the strained Korea-Japan relations over historical issues. Let me note first that since the approval-related materials were not made public, only the press releases and some materials that had been obtained with difficulty were available for the discussion, there was a limit to the depth of the review.

Japanese Textbooks Describing Dokdo Change for the Worse

Eight types of social studies textbooks for 5th and 6th grades by four publishers have been approved, and all of them include descriptions or maps indicating that "Dokdo is Japanese territory." One type of the textbooks currently in use contained the description that (Dokdo was) "illegally occupied by Korea." The recently approved textbooks contain more blatant phrases, such as "an inherent part of Japanese territory", and "illegal occupation," and photos in addition to maps. These textbooks will be used in the classrooms of all primary schools across Japan, starting from next year. This means, from the Korean point of view, that the quality and quantity of Dokdo-related descriptions have changed for the worse.

Recently, the Japanese government is strengthening 'territory education,' revising the Textbook Approval Standards and the Course of Study for Secondary School this January. These revised rules required the textbooks to describe 'the Japanese government's opinion' or write 'Dokdo is an inherent part of Japanese territory.' The textbook publishers have no option but to comply with the government's policies or instructions, if they want to have their textbooks approved. Once textbook approval results are announced, it is next to impossible to modify the contents. Therefore, it is important that action should be taken during the stage of submission for approval or the writing of textbooks, prior to the announcement of textbook approval results.

Dokdo is a symbol of the independence of Korea. The way the Japanese textbooks describe and teach about it is a provocation of Korea's territorial sovereignty. Textbooks play an important role in shaping the values and historical perception of future generations as they grow up. When a textbook controversy occurred in the 1980s, the Japanese government added the Neighboring Countries Clause to the Textbook Approval Standards. But as the Japanese government has kept renouncing its promise for the international community, the rift in Korea-Japan relations has been deepening. The problem of the Dokdo descriptions in the Japanese textbooks originated from the Japanese government's wrong perception of history. More than anything, the Japanese government's self-reflection is needed.

In addition, Korea and Japan need to seek various channels of historical dialogue between the two countries, such as the Korea-Japan Joint Research Commission. And the NAHF should study and discuss the issues between Korea and Japan and try to ensure that the results will be incorporated into the textbooks.