ID :
28255
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 09:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/28255
The shortlink copeid
Singapore promises to replace picture of Korean beggars: official
By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- The Singaporean government promised to replace a picture of Korean beggars printed in its primary school textbooks, an education ministry official here said on Monday.
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 received an answer from the Education Ministry of Singapore that it will
substitute the picture with another one in the new textbook planned for print in
November next year," said South Korea's embassy in Singapore in a statement
posted on "Hankookchon," an Internet bulletin board for Koreans residing in the
country.
The image is accompanied by an explanation about the types of housing and the
causes of homelessness, saying, "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. The description next
to the photo says, "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.
South Korea's education ministry came under criticism after the photograph and
the text were first reported by a Korean in Singapore on the Web site late last
month. The ministry had pledged to have them withdrawn as soon as possible.
"We heard it from the Korean Embassy in Singapore," a ministry official, speaking
on condition of anonymity, told Yonhap, confirming that Seoul was promised the
withdrawal. "Singapore said that it will use a different photo in a textbook that
will be printed next year."
The official said that Singapore will not use a Korean picture again as the
textbook explains the types of housing in the world in general terms.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- The Singaporean government promised to replace a picture of Korean beggars printed in its primary school textbooks, an education ministry official here said on Monday.
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 received an answer from the Education Ministry of Singapore that it will
substitute the picture with another one in the new textbook planned for print in
November next year," said South Korea's embassy in Singapore in a statement
posted on "Hankookchon," an Internet bulletin board for Koreans residing in the
country.
The image is accompanied by an explanation about the types of housing and the
causes of homelessness, saying, "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. The description next
to the photo says, "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.
South Korea's education ministry came under criticism after the photograph and
the text were first reported by a Korean in Singapore on the Web site late last
month. The ministry had pledged to have them withdrawn as soon as possible.
"We heard it from the Korean Embassy in Singapore," a ministry official, speaking
on condition of anonymity, told Yonhap, confirming that Seoul was promised the
withdrawal. "Singapore said that it will use a different photo in a textbook that
will be printed next year."
The official said that Singapore will not use a Korean picture again as the
textbook explains the types of housing in the world in general terms.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
