Ministry of Education Urges Correction of Historical Distortion in Japanese High School Textbooks: "We Will Respond Actively"

Unjust Claims over Dokdo
Distortion of Japanese Colonial Era Included

The Ministry of Education immediately urged correction regarding the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s approval of high school textbooks that deny South Korea’s territorial sovereignty over Dokdo and diminish and distort the history of Japanese imperialism.

Photo of Dokdo. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 25th, the Ministry of Education stated through a spokesperson, "We have continuously demanded correction of the historical distortions in Japanese textbooks. However, the newly approved Japanese high school social studies textbooks include unjust claims about Dokdo, which is clearly our inherent territory from historical, geographical, and international law perspectives, as well as distorted content related to forced labor during the Japanese colonial period and Japanese 'comfort women,'" expressing protest.

They added, "This year marks the meaningful 60th anniversary of the first step taken by Korea and Japan to overcome the pains of history and establish a friendly neighborly relationship. It is an important time to leap toward a future-oriented bilateral relationship," and demanded, "We hope the Japanese government will correct the textbook content so that its students develop a proper historical understanding of the past."

The Ministry of Education emphasized, "We will actively respond to rectify the infringement of territorial sovereignty over Dokdo and the historical distortions in Japanese textbooks," and stated, "We expect the Japanese government, as a key country for peace and shared prosperity in Northeast Asia, to show a humble attitude toward history and responsible actions regarding the education of future generations."

On the same day, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology held a general meeting of the textbook screening committee to finalize the results of the textbook review for high schools to be used from 2026.

Most of the new approved high school social studies textbooks include the Japanese government’s claim of sovereignty over Dokdo, similar to the textbooks approved four years ago and currently in use. In political and economic textbooks, the phrase "taken to Japan from the Korean Peninsula" was changed through the screening process to "mobilized."