Abe will hurt Japan's children most, warn civic groups
By Kim Rahn
Civic groups have criticized Japan for trying to turn the clock back to the colonial period by making territorial claims over Dokdo in a foreign policy report and its history textbooks.
They claim such moves will only worsen the already-troubled ties between the two countries and give the younger generation a wrong understanding of history.
The Japanese government's 2015 Diplomatic Bluebook, released Tuesday, said Dokdo is Japanese territory according to historical fact and international law.
The report came a day after Tokyo ensured all 18 of its middle-school textbooks contain claims that Korea is illegally occupying Dokdo.
The Asia Peace and History Education Network called for the government to act sternly against Japan's provocation.
"This shows that Japan maintains a colonial view that looks down on Korea," the group said in a statement.
It added that Japan is repeating distorted historical claims that Dokdo is its territory; the Japanese army did not force Korean women into wartime sexual slavery; and Japan ruled southern parts of the Korean Peninsula in ancient times.
"Japan's distortion of history has become more rightist and conspicuous. The textbooks reflect the Japanese government's claims," the group said.
Another civic group, dubbed the National Movement to Save Dokdo, said that such distortion of history is an unacceptable and anachronistic act.
"Japan knows well the historical fact that Dokdo belongs to Korea. But it is allowing distorted history in its textbooks in an attempt to plunder the islets again," it said in a media briefing in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Monday.
"The next generations that use textbooks filled with falsehoods will have a negative influence on Korea-Japan relations and world peace, and such harmful effects will fall on the Japanese government eventually."
Korean citizens also expressed concern over the move by Japan.
"Growing up learning that Dokdo is Japan's territory and Korea is illegally occupying the islets, Japanese children may think in the future they will have to take them back from Korea, through a war or whatever," Baek Dae-kyung, a teacher in Seoul, said.
Some have criticized the government's lukewarm reaction, saying summoning the Japanese ambassador here and "protesting" against the moves is not enough.
"Protest? Is that all? We need stronger action, although the diplomatic relationship with Japan may become worse. This is not Japan's first time. If we do not take measures against this act looking down on Korea's sovereignty, it is to give up sovereignty. We need tougher measures. I'll watch how the Korean government reacts," a blogger named Romario, wrote.
North Gyeongsang Provincial Government, which governs Dokdo, also criticized Japan in a statement.
"The report and the textbooks show that the Shinzo Abe administration plots a revival of militarism by distorting history and turning more to the right, causing disputes with neighboring countries," the provincial government said.
"We call on Japan to sincerely reflect on its past and apologize, so it can contribute to world peace."
Regarding Japan's move, the Ministry of Education said it will have Korean textbooks contain more information about Dokdo and Japan's sexual slavery during World War II when the books undergo revisions.
The ministry will also distribute teaching materials about these issues soon.
By Kim Rahn
Civic groups have criticized Japan for trying to turn the clock back to the colonial period by making territorial claims over Dokdo in a foreign policy report and its history textbooks.
They claim such moves will only worsen the already-troubled ties between the two countries and give the younger generation a wrong understanding of history.
The Japanese government's 2015 Diplomatic Bluebook, released Tuesday, said Dokdo is Japanese territory according to historical fact and international law.
The report came a day after Tokyo ensured all 18 of its middle-school textbooks contain claims that Korea is illegally occupying Dokdo.
The Asia Peace and History Education Network called for the government to act sternly against Japan's provocation.
"This shows that Japan maintains a colonial view that looks down on Korea," the group said in a statement.
It added that Japan is repeating distorted historical claims that Dokdo is its territory; the Japanese army did not force Korean women into wartime sexual slavery; and Japan ruled southern parts of the Korean Peninsula in ancient times.
"Japan's distortion of history has become more rightist and conspicuous. The textbooks reflect the Japanese government's claims," the group said.
Another civic group, dubbed the National Movement to Save Dokdo, said that such distortion of history is an unacceptable and anachronistic act.
"Japan knows well the historical fact that Dokdo belongs to Korea. But it is allowing distorted history in its textbooks in an attempt to plunder the islets again," it said in a media briefing in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Monday.
"The next generations that use textbooks filled with falsehoods will have a negative influence on Korea-Japan relations and world peace, and such harmful effects will fall on the Japanese government eventually."
Korean citizens also expressed concern over the move by Japan.
"Growing up learning that Dokdo is Japan's territory and Korea is illegally occupying the islets, Japanese children may think in the future they will have to take them back from Korea, through a war or whatever," Baek Dae-kyung, a teacher in Seoul, said.
Some have criticized the government's lukewarm reaction, saying summoning the Japanese ambassador here and "protesting" against the moves is not enough.
"Protest? Is that all? We need stronger action, although the diplomatic relationship with Japan may become worse. This is not Japan's first time. If we do not take measures against this act looking down on Korea's sovereignty, it is to give up sovereignty. We need tougher measures. I'll watch how the Korean government reacts," a blogger named Romario, wrote.
North Gyeongsang Provincial Government, which governs Dokdo, also criticized Japan in a statement.
"The report and the textbooks show that the Shinzo Abe administration plots a revival of militarism by distorting history and turning more to the right, causing disputes with neighboring countries," the provincial government said.
"We call on Japan to sincerely reflect on its past and apologize, so it can contribute to world peace."
Regarding Japan's move, the Ministry of Education said it will have Korean textbooks contain more information about Dokdo and Japan's sexual slavery during World War II when the books undergo revisions.
The ministry will also distribute teaching materials about these issues soon.
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