S. Korea denounces Japan for distorted history textbook

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in para 8; ADDS with visit by S. Korean diplomat in
paras 9-11)
SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea lambasted Japan Thursday for approving
another history textbook that whitewashes its wartime legacy, saying it may hurt
the two nations' efforts to develop a "future-oriented" relationship.
Japan's education ministry gave the nod to the textbook, published by a
right-wing group, for use in junior high schools from next year until 2011. It is
not yet clear how many schools will use the new version.
The textbook justifies Japan's colonization of Korea from 1910-45 and glosses
over its invasion of other nations during World War II, according to South Korean
officials.
It also says ancient Korea was ruled by Japan through a regional government on
the peninsula, a theory disputed by historians in both South Korea and Japan.
"The government strongly protests the Japanese government's approval of the
history textbook based on its false historical perceptions, which justify and
beautify past wrongdoings," Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said in a
statement. "The government calls for the book to be fundamentally corrected."
He expressed concerns that Japan's teenagers will have a distorted perception of
history because of the textbook.
"The government emphasizes once again that the distortion of history through
textbooks should not be repeated, as an accurate perception of shared history
forms the basis for a future-oriented partnership between South Korea and Japan,"
he said.
Moon added that his ministry will call Reiichiro Takahashi, senior minister at
the Japanese embassy here, to deliver a protest message, while an official from
the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo visited the foreign ministry and expressed deep
regret over the latest development.
The embassy said diplomatic minister Lee Hyuk met with Akitaka Saiki, head of the
Asia-Pacific bureau, to deliver Seoul's firm views on the textbook issue.
"Lee made clear that Seoul was deeply concerned that the textbook issue would
distort historical perceptions among the younger generation, which can have ill
effects on future bilateral relations," the embassy said.
It added that the diplomat urged Tokyo to take positive and fundamental measures
to correct distortions.
The neighboring countries are frequently at odds with each other over their
shared history, as many Koreans believe Japan has yet to make a full apology for
its past atrocities.
In 2001, Japan approved a textbook released by right-wing publisher Fusohsa that
glorified Japan's imperialist past, drawing strong criticism from South Korea and
other Asian nations.
The Japanese government renewed its endorsement of the textbook in 2005. It is
used by 4,840 students at 81 junior high schools in Japan, accounting for only
0.4 percent of the total number of students at that grade level.
The newly approved textbook does not refer to Dokdo, a set of South
Korea-administered islets in the East Sea, to which Japan also lays claim.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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