33 Errors About Dokdo Found in Korean Textbooks

The government and activist groups are engaged in various projects to correct information about Dokdo amid continued attempts by Japan to claim sovereignty over the islets. But textbooks used in schools here in Korea also contain erroneous information about Dokdo.

Grand National Party lawmaker Kim Seon-dong in a National Assembly audit on education on Thursday cited materials submitted by the Northeast Asian History Foundation which show a total of 33 factual errors regarding the geography of Dokdo in elementary, middle and high school textbooks.

Some contain geographic references that are no longer used, while others have maps that completely leave out Dokdo Islets. "The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, which is in charge of vetting textbooks for errors, needs to be aided by other experts such as the Northeast Asian History Foundation," Kim said. The lawmaker added it was embarrassing to teach future generations incorrect information about the islets.