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Sage Publications

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Dear Sage Publications (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, Korea’s 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 Sea’ as 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/eastsea.html 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 (12,000 elementary, middle and high school voluntary student members). And we can provide you with this information willingly by post or internet without any cost. VANK’s 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. * Contact to VANK Rm.201, C&G Bldg. 425-17, Sindang 2-dong, Jung-gu,Seoul,100-834, Republic of Korea TEL. 82-2-2237-7407 FAX. 82-2-2237-7409 email: eastsea@prkorea.org http://www.prkorea.org "Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." - [Matthew] - VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea) VANK stands for - ‘Voluntary Agency Network of Korea’, a civilian international exchange association in Korea. We work for the promotion of Korea's image all over the world by Internet. VANK was established in 1999 by volunteers, and now has over 12,000 members. Using email or internet we serve as cyber travel guides to overseas Koreans and foreigners so that they can understand Korean culture and language better, and at the same time we hope we build meaningful friendships between countries. VANK is a great chance for those who are interested in Korean language, arts, cultural education, history, geography, social studies, sciences to learn about our country, and we also welcome with open arms anyone just wanting to make Korean friends! http://www.prkorea.org (1) reference 1) Their claim that the East Sea has some historical precedent worked, as some major book and map publishers, educational web sites and other reference materials now include the East Sea name along with the Sea of Japan. - worldatlas.com - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/eastsea.htm 2) We provide Korean pictures to the Photoatlas.com, you can see the pictures at this site : http://photoatlas.com/pics/pictures_of_korea.html 3) VANK (prkorea.org) website is recommended as Cool site by - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Seoul Metropolitan Government - Office of the President - Republic of Korea