The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 24 issued a strong protest against Japan's renewed territorial claim to Dokdo Island contained in newly released high school textbooks, demanding an immediate correction. (Dokdo Management Office)

By Kang Gahui

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 24 filed a strong protest against high school textbooks in Japan containing territorial claims to Korea's easternmost island of Dokdo, demanding an immediate correction.

The ministry through a spokesperson's statement said, "We strongly protest the Japanese government's approval of high school textbooks that distort historical facts based on a Japan-centric view of history."

"We strongly protest the Japanese government's repeated approval of textbooks containing groundless claims to Dokdo, which is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically and under international law," it said. "We state our clear rejection of any unjust claims by Japan to Dokdo."

The ministry also expressed deep regret over the textbooks containing distorted historical descriptions by downplaying the coercive nature of the Japanese military's mobilization of women for sexual slavery and forced laborers.

"To build future-oriented ties between Korea and Japan, correct understanding of history by future generations must serve as the foundation," it added. "We hope for the Japanese government to squarely face history and show a more responsible attitude toward history education."

Later that afternoon, the ministry summoned Hirotaka Matsuo, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge a protest.

kgh89@korea.kr