ID :
26306
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 14:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/26306
The shortlink copeid
Gov't to urge Singapore to remove picture of Korean beggar from textbook
By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government plans to ask Singapore to withdraw or replace a picture of Korean beggars printed in a Singapore primary school textbook, an education ministry official here said Friday.
The picture, printed in a social studies textbook for Singapore's public
elementary schools, shows several Korean homeless people sleeping under dirty
blankets at a subway station entrance, with the caption "Homeless people on the
street" next to it.
"We've come up with a number of possible actions," Kwon Jong-won, part of a
textbook development team at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology,
told Yonhap. "We are in close cooperation with the Korean embassy overseas to
look for ways to remove the photo from the book or substitute it."
The image appears on page 31 of the textbook, and is accompanied by an
explanation about the causes of homelessness. "Some people do not have a roof
over their heads. There are many reasons why people are homeless. Some of these
people are too poor to rent or buy houses. In some countries, there is
insufficient housing for everyone."
It is very clear that the photograph was taken in South Korea, with the word
"exit" written in Korean letters, Hangeul, on the left side.
Next to the photo is a line of text that reads, "Even with limited land, our
government is able to provide sufficient housing for the people." That line is
seen by officials here as an insinuation that South Korea fails to do so.
The textbook, titled "Interacting With Our World," is taught in local primary
schools for third grade students and is published by Singapore's Ministry of
Education.
On an Internet bulletin board for Koreans residing in Singapore called
"Hankookchon," people complained the picture and its explanations are
embarrassing.
"I can't understand why they printed a photograph of Korean people with Hangeul
on it while talking about the homeless," wrote a mother who first pointed out the
textbook passage on the Web site on Tuesday.
The South Korean education ministry has been making efforts to promote Korean
studies globally, establishing the Center for Information on Korean Culture, in
charge of reviewing foreign textbooks that often carry misinformation on South
Korea.
The ministry has come under renewed criticism since a report released early this
month that said there are still some errors and misunderstandings about Korea's
history and society contained in textbooks in 25 countries, not including
Singapore.
According to the report, a British high school textbook describes Korea as a
recipient of foreign food aid and does not distinguish between North and South
Korea, while an Italian textbook says Korea is ruled by a military leader.
"We have to correct this. We will contact the Singapore government through the
Korean Embassy," said Park Jung-jae, a ministry spokesman.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government plans to ask Singapore to withdraw or replace a picture of Korean beggars printed in a Singapore primary school textbook, an education ministry official here said Friday.
The picture, printed in a social studies textbook for Singapore's public
elementary schools, shows several Korean homeless people sleeping under dirty
blankets at a subway station entrance, with the caption "Homeless people on the
street" next to it.
"We've come up with a number of possible actions," Kwon Jong-won, part of a
textbook development team at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology,
told Yonhap. "We are in close cooperation with the Korean embassy overseas to
look for ways to remove the photo from the book or substitute it."
The image appears on page 31 of the textbook, and is accompanied by an
explanation about the causes of homelessness. "Some people do not have a roof
over their heads. There are many reasons why people are homeless. Some of these
people are too poor to rent or buy houses. In some countries, there is
insufficient housing for everyone."
It is very clear that the photograph was taken in South Korea, with the word
"exit" written in Korean letters, Hangeul, on the left side.
Next to the photo is a line of text that reads, "Even with limited land, our
government is able to provide sufficient housing for the people." That line is
seen by officials here as an insinuation that South Korea fails to do so.
The textbook, titled "Interacting With Our World," is taught in local primary
schools for third grade students and is published by Singapore's Ministry of
Education.
On an Internet bulletin board for Koreans residing in Singapore called
"Hankookchon," people complained the picture and its explanations are
embarrassing.
"I can't understand why they printed a photograph of Korean people with Hangeul
on it while talking about the homeless," wrote a mother who first pointed out the
textbook passage on the Web site on Tuesday.
The South Korean education ministry has been making efforts to promote Korean
studies globally, establishing the Center for Information on Korean Culture, in
charge of reviewing foreign textbooks that often carry misinformation on South
Korea.
The ministry has come under renewed criticism since a report released early this
month that said there are still some errors and misunderstandings about Korea's
history and society contained in textbooks in 25 countries, not including
Singapore.
According to the report, a British high school textbook describes Korea as a
recipient of foreign food aid and does not distinguish between North and South
Korea, while an Italian textbook says Korea is ruled by a military leader.
"We have to correct this. We will contact the Singapore government through the
Korean Embassy," said Park Jung-jae, a ministry spokesman.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
