Kim worried textbook issue may hurt Seoul-Tokyo ties

0 Comments | Asian Political News, May 21, 2001

SEOUL, May 16 Kyodo

South Korean President Kim Dae Jung expressed worries Wednesday that South Korea-Japan relations may be hurt by Japan's adoption of some history textbooks that critics say justify its colonization of the Korean Peninsula and gloss over wartime atrocities committed by Japanese troops, a presidential spokesman said.

''I am worried about the issue hurting friendship between (South) Korea and Japan that has been built on so far if the issue is not resolved properly,'' Kim was quoted as telling a group of South Korean and Japanese Buddhist leaders.

After spending a month reviewing the eight textbooks approved for use in Japanese classrooms from next April, South Korea on May 8 demanded that Japan make 35 revisions.

Critics have taken particular issue with one of the eight textbooks, compiled by nationalist academics of the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform.

They argue that the textbook, which is to be published by Fuso Publishing Co., contains descriptions of ancient Korean history that are not in accordance with commonly accepted historical facts.

Of the 35 changes South Korea is seeking, 25 pertain to that one textbook, while the remaining 10 concern the seven others.

In a show of anger over the issue, South Korea recalled its envoy to Japan in April, but returned him to Tokyo 10 days later.