Jilin Province Official in China Says Histories of Goguryeo and Balhae Must Be Explained Openly

Concerns Rise Over Potential Revival of Diplomatic Disputes Between South Korea and China

The Communist Party Secretary of Jilin Province in China has asserted that the histories of Goguryeo and Balhae in the Jilin region must be explained openly and clearly. This has raised concerns that historical disputes between China and South Korea could be reignited.

According to local media such as the Jilin Daily on the 27th (local time), Huang Chang, the Party Secretary of Jilin Province, made these remarks on the 19th while inspecting preparations for the "Modern and Contemporary History Exhibition of Jilin Province." Jilin Province borders North Korea, China, and Russia, and includes the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture.

After hearing explanations about the ancient history of the Jilin region, he emphasized, "We must clearly and confidently explain the histories of Buyeo, Goguryeo, and Balhae," adding, "We need to present them in the most intuitive way so that visitors can understand them at a glance."

Previously, in the early to mid-2000s, China sparked controversy by attempting to incorporate Korean ancient history, such as Goguryeo and Balhae, into its own history through the Northeast Project. Recently, China has also been trying to incorporate the histories of ethnic minorities within China into Chinese history under the "Chinese National Community" theory.

On this day, Secretary Huang also mentioned China's anti-colonial resistance activities and the war against Japan during the modern and contemporary periods. Regarding the event, he instructed, "We must consider issues from the visitors' perspective and clearly reveal the historical context through methods such as comparison," and added, "Charts, artifacts, and materials must be strictly verified."

This year, to mark the 80th anniversary of the "War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War" (World War II), China is preparing large-scale commemorative events, including a Victory Day parade in the capital Beijing on September 3.

The Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Secretary Huang's remarks could revive diplomatic disputes between South Korea and China.

On the 12th, tourists were moving at the west slope of Baekdusan in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province, China. 2025.6.15 [Joint Coverage] Yonhap News