The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Family of 5 found dead in 3 separate locations

  • 3

    All-Korean showdowns set up on 1st day of medal race

  • 5

    Opposition party leader ends 24-day hunger strike for treatment

  • 7

    Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses

  • 9

    Sil-A overcomes stage fright, and them some

  • 11

    Historic NASA asteroid mission set for perilous return

  • 13

    Hangzhou Asian Games open after COVID-enforced delay

  • 15

    Top diplomats of Korea, Iran discuss bilateral ties following frozen funds transfer

  • 17

    Korea's top-ranked Go player wants to capitalize on rare chance

  • 19

    EU does not want to decouple from China but must protect itself: EU trade chief

  • 2

    Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official

  • 4

    Understanding Korean Modernization

  • 6

    Bears of Joseon part 1: Fanciful tales and deadly claws

  • 8

    US finalizes national security 'guardrails' for CHIPS funding

  • 10

    PM departs for China for Asian Games, meeting with Xi

  • 12

    Allies vow stern measures against Russia-NK arms deal

  • 14

    Korea looking to hit ground running on 1st day of medal events

  • 16

    League of Legends, other esports join Asian Games in competition for first time

  • 18

    Yoon returns home from New York trip

  • 20

    PHOTOSOpening ceremony of 19th Hangzhou Asian Games

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Mon, September 25, 2023 | 01:10
Foreign Affairs
Revised Japanese textbooks distort wartime forced labor, catching Korea off guard
Posted : 2023-03-28 16:48
Updated : 2023-03-28 17:59
Lee Hyo-jin
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
                                                                                                 President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of their bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japan, March 16. AP-Yonhap
President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of their bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japan, March 16. AP-Yonhap

Seoul lodges strong protest over Tokyo's distortion of history

By Lee Hyo-jin

The Japanese government on Tuesday approved school textbooks whitewashing the forced mobilization of Koreans to labor in factories during World War II. The latest move appears to be a stab in the back for the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, which has been hailing the restoration of bilateral ties with Tokyo.

In response, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged protests over Japan's latest attempt to whitewash its history, which came less than two weeks after a breakthrough summit between Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said it screened history textbooks that will be used to teach third to sixth-grade students.

In some of the textbooks, publishers deleted the expression "forced mobilization" which was previously used to describe Koreans who were mobilized to work in Japanese factories during Japan's 1910-45 occupation of Korea.

"To address a shortage of manpower amid the prolonged war, Joseon (Korean) people and Chinese were forcibly mobilized for mine works," the earlier textbooks read. But in the revised versions, the term "forcibly mobilized" was replaced by "participated," distorting the coercive nature of the mobilization.

The textbooks also included sovereignty claims to Dokdo. Korea has long maintained effective control over the easternmost islets and stationed security personnel there. But Japan has been repeatedly claiming Dokdo as its territory.

Although it is not the first time the Japanese education ministry has approved textbooks glossing over historical facts based on its own perspective, diplomatic observers noted that the announcement came less than two weeks after a milestone summit between Yoon and Kishida.

In the March 16 meeting, the two leaders vowed to improve long strained ties, moving on from historical animosities toward forward-looking bilateral relations.

                                                                                                 President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of their bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japan, March 16. AP-Yonhap
Japanese textbooks describe Dokdo as Japan's territory in this March 30, 2021 photo. Korea Times file

Yang Ki-ho, a professor of Japanese studies at Sungkonghoe University, said Japan's whitewashing of atrocities in textbooks is not a big surprise, considering that the education ministry holds one of the most conservative views among its government bodies.

Opposition leader strongly condemns Japan over textbook row
Opposition leader strongly condemns Japan over textbook row
2023-03-29 14:17  |  Politics

"Nevertheless, it is notable that Japan has shown that its historical perception remains unchanged despite Seoul's big concessions over forced labor issues. Our government's resolution to compensate (forced labor) victims with its own money was a gesture demanding Tokyo to do its part, such as by improving education on its wartime atrocities," he told The Korea Times.

"It certainly is a big disappointment for the Korean public who have been expecting reciprocal steps from Japan."

He added, "The Korean government will, and should, lodge complaints about the issue. But the Yoon administration seems to be losing leverage in diplomacy with Japan after its big concession."

The Korean foreign ministry expressed deep regret over the Japanese government's approval of textbooks.

"We will lodge complaints through diplomatic channels and urge Japan to face history and show more responsible actions on educating the future generation," ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk said during a regular press briefing.

In a written statement, Lim expressed "deep regret" over the textbooks that contain unreasonable historical claims the country has been making for decades. He also stressed that the Korean government does not accept Japan's sovereignty claims to Dokdo, which is clearly part of Korean territory in terms of history, geography and international law.

The Korean Ministry of Education, for its part, demanded Japan to immediately rectify the textbooks that deny the history and sovereignty of Korea and vowed to take a stern response on the matter through cooperation with related organizations and civic groups.

Despite our government's continuous requests for correction for the past decades, the Japanese government has been repeating its unjustifiable claims about our history and sovereignty," said ministry spokesman Kim Chon-hong in a statement.

But the foreign ministry defended the government's diplomatic handling of the issue.

"The textbooks are irrelevant to the incumbent government's diplomacy with Japan. Today's announcement on the approval was a result of the screening process that was launched in April or May last year," a senior ministry official said.

Later in the day, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong summoned Naoki Kumagai, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge an official complaint on the issue. According to the foreign ministry, it initially planned to call in Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi, but summoned Kumagai because the envoy was visiting Japan.

                                                                                                 President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of their bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japan, March 16. AP-Yonhap
Naoki Kumagai, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul enters the foreign ministry building, Tuesday. Yonhap




Emaillhj@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
1Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation
2Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China
3Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars
4Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil. Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.
5Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closerSeoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer
6JTI Korea joins Jongno clean-up JTI Korea joins Jongno clean-up
7S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain highS. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high
8Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatoryPatients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory
9CKD Kochon Foundation awards Ukraine health authorities for treating tuberculosis patients amid raging war CKD Kochon Foundation awards Ukraine health authorities for treating tuberculosis patients amid raging war
10Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy
Top 5 Entertainment News
1TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion
2[INTERVIEW] Yim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston' INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'
3BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
4[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
5Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group