The government of the Republic of Korea expresses deep regret over the Japanese government’s authorization on March 25 of high school textbooks that distort historical facts according to Japan’s self-centered view of history. The ROK government calls for a correction.

Particularly, the ROK government strongly protests against the fact that the Japanese government once again authorized textbooks containing preposterous claims over Dokdo, which is clearly an integral part of the ROK territory historically, geographically and under international law. The ROK government makes it clear that any such claims by Japan over Dokdo are entirely unacceptable.

The ROK government also expresses strong regret over the Japanese government’s authorization of textbooks containing a number of historical descriptions of issues regarding forced labor victims during Japanese colonial rule as well as “comfort women” victims of the Imperial Japanese Army, distorted in a way that dilutes their coercive nature. The ROK government urges the Japanese government to practice the spirit of apology and remorse that it has expressed regarding its past history.

As the future-oriented relationship between the two countries should be built on a correct understanding of history, the ROK government hopes that the Japanese government will take a more responsible attitude in educating its young generations.