I am the chairman of VANK located in South Korea. VANK is a non-governmental organization and also a voluntary organization. VANK consists of 100,000 elementary, middle and high school students who provide correct information about Korea to international publishing organizations and people interested in Korea and in it's culture.
Korea has 5,000 years of history, a well-matched cultural heritage and has accomplished rapid economic growth, but these facts that have not been introduced well in textbooks and publications around the world. Korea’s developed image was especially introduced to the world through broadcasting, hosting of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, and during the 2002 FIFA Korea/Japan World Cup successfully. However, Korean information introduced in international printed materials is still insufficient or incorrect.
First of all, most Korean information in international printed materials such as textbooks, magazines and newspapers have been delivered to the world through Japan or China not directly from Korea. Good examples are describing the ‘East Sea’ as the ‘Sea of Japan’, the world's 13th economic board of trade calling Korea a farming country that is underdeveloped, along with 5,000 years of Korean history being descibed as only 2,000 years and claims of Korea being a vassal state of China and Japan. These inaccuracies regarding Korea in international printed materials were found within the contents of Japanese textbooks and mass media without any verification; and which were delivered to the world by Japanese scholars after the Japanese colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945.
We know that you endeavor in many ways to understand other cultures and countries meeting an information-oriented 21st century with globalization. Particularly, I think that international printed materials on Korea published by your company contribute greatly to many people's understanding of Korean culture and history.
If you plan to review inaccurate contents about Korea or if you plan to add new contents about Korea in your materials, please contact VANK. We have detailed educational and comprehensive data regarding Korean history and culture, as well as digital pictures, which are all collected by VANK members (100,000 elementary, middle and high school voluntary student members). We can also provide you with this information willingly by post or internet without any cost.
VANK’s desires are that students all over the world can experience correct Korean history and culture through our voluntary effort, taking this opportunity and then sharing dreams and friendship with the rest of the world.
Sincerely yours.
Park Gi Tae
Contact: email: school@prkorea.org
http://www.prkorea.com
2nd floor, 56, Inchon-ro 2, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-084, Republic of Korea
TEL. 82-2-921-3591
"Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." - [Matthew] -
* Reference
1) Their claim that the East Sea has some historical precedent worked, as some major book and map publishers, educational web sites and other reference materials now include the East Sea name along with the Sea of Japan. - worldatlas.com - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/eastsea.htm