Japanese Government White-wash Korean History
Article: Eugenie Seok, Joyce Kim
Editor: Hannah Kim
Designer: Sarah Cho
Editor: Hannah Kim
Designer: Sarah Cho
Throughout the years, Japan and Korea have had a tough relationship. They have fought for the ownership of Dokdo Island, but there is another issue that has gained more awareness, even today. In 2011, it was discovered that some Japanese textbooks introduced the issue of “임나일본부설”, which translates to “Imna Ilbonbu theory“ in English, as a historical fact. This theory is about the Japanese government being accused of Korean history distortion in their country declaring that their military was dispatched and established a command post called “Ilbonbu” located in a region called “Imna” in ancient Gaya, Korea. The Imna Ilbonbu theory also claims that the Japanese conquered part of Baekje, Shilla, and Gaya. Although this theory had been supported by some Japanese historians, Korea owns evidence to invalidate these Japanese claims. |
The Korean government, of course, has not kept quiet about such an important issue. On April 9, this year, Prime Minister Lee Wan-Koo arranged a surprise conference to warn the Japanese government about its constant attempts of history misrepresentations. “Japan’s distortion of history is an attempt to deny the Korean people’s spirit,” he stated. “Under no circumstances can we allow history to be distorted.”
These two nations’ relationship has been embittered for years, and has worsened after Japan’s claim of Dokdo Island and attempts of changing history. According to first vice minister of foreign affairs of Korea, there will be more efforts to enforce the relationship between Korea and Japan. |
According to Korea Times and Korea Joongang Daily, relics, such as weaponry and pottery, were discovered in Suncheon, which may disprove Japan’s claims. The officials working at the museum declared that these relics were believed to be from the Daegaya Kingdom, while there were no relics even remotely related to the Japanese.
“The fact that we found no Japanese relics is proof that the theory may have flaws,” said Park Cheon-su, an archaeology and anthropology professor at Kyungpook National University. Another claim the Japanese government is being accused of is not including important inscriptions on the “Stele of King Gwanggaeto” (광개토대왕릉비) about the past Korean and Japanese relationship. According to Lee Jin-hee, a Korean historian refuted the theory by suggesting that the inscriptions on the Stele of King Gwanggaeto might have been manipulated by Japan. |