Korea’s Strong Response to Japan’s History Textbook Controversy: Key Insights

Translation result

The South Korean government lodged a strong protest after Japan approved a high school textbook that it says distorts historical facts and called for an immediate correction.

On March 24, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement under the spokesperson’s name, accusing the Japanese government of distorting past events through a Japan‑centric interpretation of history.

The ministry strongly objected to Tokyo’s repeated approval of a textbook containing unfounded claims about Dokdo — territory that South Korea maintains is clearly its own under historical, geographic and international law — and made clear it will not accept any unjustified Japanese assertions regarding the islets.

The ministry also expressed deep regret that the textbook includes distorted accounts that downplay the coercion experienced by former comfort women and victims of forced labor, and urged the Japanese government to approach history education in the spirit of apology and reflection it has previously professed.

Stressing that a forward‑looking Korea–Japan relationship requires future generations to have an accurate understanding of history, the ministry called on Japan to confront its past candidly and to adopt a more responsible approach to history education.