Gwangju Education Superintendent Candidate Lee Jeong-seon "Strongly Condemns Japanese Historical Distortion"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Lee Jeongseon, a preliminary candidate for the Superintendent of Education of Gwangju Metropolitan City, strongly condemned the approval of the Japanese high school social studies textbook.

Candidate Lee stated, “On the 29th, the Japanese government approved a high school social studies textbook containing historically false claims that Dokdo is Japanese territory and that South Korea is illegally occupying it,” adding, “This is an act of invasion of internationally recognized territory and a behavior that fails to escape imperialistic historical perspectives.”

He also emphasized, “Japan has continuously incited conflict through historical distortion and is provoking our territory, which can be considered national sovereignty,” and “Dokdo has already been confirmed as South Korean territory not only through historical records but also under international law.”

He continued, “If future-oriented generations, who should establish Korea-Japan relations constructively, are indoctrinated with historically false facts, conflicts between the two countries will intensify, making it difficult to build cooperative relations,” and added, “Along with various educational opportunities about Dokdo, I will take the lead in strengthening education on history, territory, and Dokdo to prevent Japan’s historical distortions regarding the Japanese military ‘comfort women,’ forced conscription of Joseon people, and economic exploitation, and actively respond together with the citizens of Gwangju.”