Dear all of textbooks publishers
Dear
(Textbook publishing company person in charge)
I am a student and a member of
VANK living in South Korea.
VANK is a non-governmental organization and also a voluntary
organization. VANK consists of
elementary, middle and high
school students who provide correct
information about Korea to
international textbook publishing
companies and publishers. Korea
has 5,000 years history,
well-matched cultural heritage and
has accomplished high-speed economic
growth, but these facts have
not been introduced well yet in
textbooks and publications all over
the world. Especially, Koreas
developed image was introduced
to the world through mass communications,
hosting the 1988 Seoul
Olympic Games, 2002 FIFA
Korea/Japan World Cup very successfully
but Korean information
introduced in international textbooks
is still insufficient or incorrect.
First of all most Korean information
in international textbooks has
been delivered to the world
through Japan or China not directly
from Korea. Good examples are
describing the East Seaas the
Sea of Japan, world 13th economic
board of trade Korea as a
farming country that is underdeveloped,
5,000 years of Korean history
as 2,000 years history and
describing Korea as the tributary
country of Japan and China. These
inaccuracies regarding Korea in
international textbooks were
reflected from the contents in
Japanese textbooks without any
verification, which were delivered
to the world by Japanese scholars
after Japanese colonial rule of
Korea from 1910 to 1945.
The Historical precedent for the East Sea
http://www.prkorea.com/english/e_truth/e_truth3_2.htm
We know that you endeavor in
many ways to understand other
cultures and countries meeting the
21st century (globalization, information-
oriented are going on in
21st century). Especially, I think
that society and geography textbooks
published by your company
contribute greatly to many students
understanding of other countries
cultures. If you plan to review
inaccurate contents about Korea or
if you plan to add new contents
about Korea in your textbook,
please contact to VANK. We have
detailed educational and comprehensive
data regarding Korean history
and culture, as well as digital
pictures, which are all collected by
VANK members (15,000 elementary,
middle and high school voluntary
student members). And we
can provide you with this information
willingly by post or internet
without any cost. VANKs desires
are that students all over the world
can experience correct Korean history
and culture by our voluntary
effort, taking this opportunity and
then sharing dreams and meaningful
friendship with the rest of the
world.
Sincerely yours.
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