With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Korea plans history texts that critique Japan, China claims

SEOUL -- South Korea plans to introduce history textbooks that include chapters rebutting historical claims by its neighboring countries, officials said Tuesday.

The Education Ministry officials said they will adopt textbooks that refute such historical assertions as Japan's denial of wartime sex slavery and China's claim over South Korea's ancient kingdoms.

Japan has been slammed for refusing to apologize for its exploitation of about 200,000 "comfort women" in army brothels during World War II after taking them from neighboring nations including South Korea and the Philippines. It has also maintained that Dokdo, a set of islets in South Korea's East Sea, belongs to Tokyo.

China has been increasingly involved in a historical row with South Korea over its five-year project aimed at laying claim to Korea's ancient kingdom of Koguryo and its successor. The Koguryo kingdom controlled the upper part of the Korean Peninsula and most of northeastern China from 37 B.C. to A.D. 668.
Read entire article at Yonhap News (Seoul, South Korea)