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Dear
state.gov
( person in charge)
I
appreciate you for your website valuable, and
best contents
I am a student and
a member of VANK living in South Korea. VANK
is a non-governmental organization and also
a voluntary organization. VANK consists
of elementary, middle and high school students
who provide correct information about
Korea to international textbook publishing companies
and publishers.
I just want to let you
know about your website which has a serious
potential problem which may cause serious
diplomatic crisis. We, Korean, were quite surprised
to find your website omit "Goguryeo Kingdom"
describeing Korea's history
Please refer
the following in your website ( http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800.htm#history
)
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Your
website omitted "Goguryeo Kingdom"
describing Korea's history
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You
may think omitting "Goguryeo Kingdom"
is of little importance in your website. However,
Throughout 5,000 history of Korea Goguryeo Kingdom(37
B.C. - A.D. 668) is meaningful, and Significant
to all Korean. A leading power during the Three
Kingdoms period,
Goguryeo occupied
the present territory of North Korea and also
held sway over the vast Manchurian region
for some 700 years until the late 7th century
AD.
By the 4th century, Goguryeo
had been firmly established as a powerful kingdom
and frequently clashed with China, while
successfully containing its southern rivals
So omitting Goguryeo Kingdom from Korea's
history in a well known website as yours raise
a serious wound for Korean, our parents, grandparents
and ancestors. since many people read
your publishing, as well as we regard you as
one of the world's best.
Above
all things, restoreing Goguryeo Kingdom
in your website is not simply a question
of adding one of Kingdoms of Korea history
It
is rather a part of national effort by the Korean
student to defend the Chinese scheme to alter
the history of Goguryeo (BC 37-AD 668)
into that of a Chinese regional kingdom.
The
Chinese government launched the project in February
2002, the Northeast Asian Project, to
study the history of the area northeast of ancient
China under the auspices of its social and scientific
academy with a budget of 3 trillion won,
US$2 billion, igniting fears that it was trying
to strengthen its political influence
in Northeast Asia.
Through the project,
China is seeking to incorporate the ancient
Korean kingdom into a Chinese historical timeline,
even claiming that the people of Goguryeo
originated from the Chinese "han"
tribe. Consequently, China is trying to rob
700 years of Korean history, which could seriously
damage Korea's roots and heritage.
The
seriousness of the situation lies in the fact
that the Chinese government is taking
the initiative in distorting history, making
its political intentions clear. It seems
obvious that the Chinese scheme under the name
of the "Northeast Asia Project" is
aimed at providing historical backup to
Beijing's political concerns over the potential
instability among the Korean-Chinese following
Korean unification.
The increasing
number of North Korean defectors crossing the
porous border into China in recent years is
already causing problems to Chinese security
and diplomatic authorities. If you studied
world history you would see how serious problems
could arise when a government take the initiative
in distorting history, making its political
intentions.
For your reference, you
can see scientific background below website:
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※ → Korea history
http://www.prkorea.com/english/goguryeo4.htm
※
→ What lies behind the 'Northeast Asia Project?
http://www.prkorea.com/english/goguryeo2.html
※
→Goguryeo's relationship with China
http://www.prkorea.com/english/goguryeo3.htm
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As a member of VANK, I ask you to add
"Goguryeo Kingdom" to describe Korea
history in your website.
We know
that you endeavor in many ways to understand
other histories and countries meeting
the 21st century (globalization, information-oriented
are going on in 21st century). Especially,
I think that the contents published by your
company contribute greatly to many students
understanding of other countries cultures.
so if you plan to add new contents about
Korea history in your website, please contact
to 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 (10,000 elementary, middle
and high school voluntary student members).
And we can 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 by our voluntary effort,
taking this opportunity and then sharing dreams
and friendship with the rest of the world.
We
would be grateful for your explanation.
Sincerely
yours.
* Contact to VANK
605 ho Immanuel Building 372-49, 3-dong
Sindang Jung-gu Seoul, S.KOREA
TEL. 82-2-2237-7407 FAX.
82-2-2237-7409
email: textbook@prkorea.org
http://www.prkorea.org
"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] -
VANK stands for - ‘Voluntary Agency
Network of Korea’, a civilian international exchange association in Korea. We
work for the promotion of Korea's image all over the world by Internet. VANK was
established in 1999 by volunteers, and now has over 12,000 members. Using email
or internet we serve as cyber travel guides to overseas Koreans and foreigners
so that they can understand Korean culture and language better, and at the same
time we hope we build international friendships. VANK is a great chance for
those who are interested in Korean language, arts, cultural education, history,
geography, social studies, sciences to learn about our country, and we also
welcome with open arms anyone just wanting to make Korean friends!
(1)
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
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