MOFA Spokesperson’s Statement on Japan’s Revision of Courses of Study (March 31, 2017)

1. The Government of the Republic of Korea strongly condemns the final approval on March 31 by the Japanese Government of courses of study for elementary and secondary schools that include preposterous claims over Dokdo, an integral part of the ROK’s territory, despite repeated warnings from the ROK. The ROK Government demands the immediate withdrawal of such claims.

2. The Government of the Republic of Korea warns that if the Japanese Government continues to instill an erroneous historical perspective in its future generations through the revised courses of study after it has made wrongful claims to Dokdo, -- which was the first victim of Japan’s imperialism -- including in its recently approved textbooks, those generations will end up learning false history.

3. The Government of the Republic of Korea clearly reiterates that it will respond resolutely to any provocations over Dokdo, clearly an integral part of the ROK’s territory historically, geographically and under international law.


* unofficial translation