2007년도 검정 합격 일본 역사교과서의 한일관계 기술과 문제점

Abstract

An analysis of Japanese history textbooks provides an opportunity to check the historical perspectives held by Koreans. It may also constitute a process by which the bilateral relations between Korea and Japan or the relations between the Northeast Asian countries can be encouraged to move in more beneficial directions. A textbook for high school students ought to make statements based on generally accepted facts or theories. Raising objections concerning contents in a textbook sometimes means that the views of Korean scholars differ from what has generally been accepted among Japanese scholars. This matter requires engagement in joint studies of the history involving the two countries and historical dialogue. Statements about the history of the relations between Korea and Japan in the high school history textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in 2007 show that improvements have been made since 2001, when controversy over the inclusion of distorted facts in Japanese textbooks swept China, Korea, and Japan, along with efforts to expand the grounds for mutual understanding. However, there remains a gap in the historical perspectives held by the people in the two countries. This may be attributable to the fact that Japan has in recent years tended to turn back towards the historical perspectives that were prevalent during the Meiji period, unburdening themselves of their responsibility for the invasion of neighboring countries on to the shoulders of their victims. Both Korea and Japan should make continued efforts to improve the statements in their history textbooks by engaging in historical dialogue through various channels to overcome these historical conflicts.