Japanese Textbook Again Claims 'Dokdo is Japanese Territory'... Seokyeongdeok "Crossing the Line Again"

"This Incident Should Be an Opportunity to Reorganize the Dokdo Strategy"

The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has sparked controversy by approving a high school social studies textbook containing the baseless claim that Dokdo is Japanese territory.

An elementary school textbook approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology showing Dokdo as Japanese territory. Provided by Professor Seokyeongdeok

On the 26th, Professor Seo Kyung-deok of Sungshin Women's University criticized, "Following the elementary and middle school textbooks, now even high school textbooks are making baseless claims about Dokdo," adding, "Japan has crossed a line that should not be crossed."

In particular, Professor Seo emphasized, "We must also provide detailed explanations in our elementary, middle, and high school textbooks on how to logically refute Japan's groundless claims and teach this to students."

He further added, "It is also important to complete the Ulleungdo airport as soon as possible to expand opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students to visit Dokdo directly, thereby strengthening effective control."

Professor Seo stressed, "This incident should serve as an opportunity for us to reorganize our Dokdo strategy."

Earlier, the day before, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology held a general meeting of the textbook screening council and finalized the results of the textbook review for high schools to be used from 2026. According to Jiji Press, the approved social studies textbooks include 7 types of comprehensive geography, 11 types of comprehensive history, 12 types of public studies, and 1 type of politics and economics. Public studies (公共) refers to subjects related to social systems, politics, and economics.

According to reports, all geography, history, and public studies textbooks addressed Dokdo, and there were cases where the phrase "Japan's inherent territory" was added after the screening. Moreover, most of the new high school social studies textbooks that passed the screening contain the Japanese government's persistent claims of sovereignty over Dokdo, just like the textbooks currently in use that passed the screening four years ago.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.