Q16. Many believe that the education in Korean schools is “anti-Japanese”, what are your feelings?

 In Korean schools, students learn about imperial Japan’s colonization of Korea, the Korean people’s struggles and the Korean independence movement. The schools do not intend to instigate “anti-Japanese” sentiment, however they want their students to learn lessons from history. Korean school education places great importance in teaching the next generation in recognizing those who fought for Korean independence.

 

 It is true that Korean schools hold a critical view on Japanese imperialism. However, calling the education “anti-Japanese” is unjust. To put it differently- if we were to call German education, which criticizes the Nazi party “anti-German” then that would mean that the German government itself is “anti-German.” However this concept is unheard of in German discourses because German public consensus believes that for their own sake they must learn about their past so mistakes won’t be repeated. Compared with students in German schools, Japanese school students are rarely taught about Japan’s history of colonialism and how it got into the war.

 On the other hand, students at Korean schools learn objectively about Japan’s colonial rule of Korea. Thus, the Japanese labeling of the Korean schools as “anti-Japanese” demonstrates a lack of remorse regarding Japan’s “history of injustices.”

 Under the premise that most graduates of the Korean schools will continue to live in Japan, the Korean schools provide an education focused on fostering an ethnic identity.

 Besides offering an academic education students are taught to live in harmony with Japanese citizens as equal counterparts. In fact, Korean Schools have actively encouraged friendly ties with local Japanese schools. (See Q.12)

 If Korean schools actually taught their students to have ill feelings towards Japanese people would the Korean parents want to send their children to such schools?

 The Korean school students are discriminated against just because they are Korean and the government makes continued efforts to sabotage a right to ethnic education. Therefore, it is understandable that students who feel threatened might hold ill feelings towards people who direct hate speech on them. Hence, in a sense the conduct of those who discriminate should be considered “anti-Japanese.”