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Pres. Park warns against lack of sound historical point of view

Pres. Park warns against lack of sound historical point of view

Posted November. 06, 2015 13:08,   

한국어

President Park Geun-hye said Thursday, “Even if unification is realized, our mentality will suffer serious confusion and disorientation (without sound historical point of view). Without it, we may be subjected to ideological subjugation.”

“In preparing for unification, it is imperative that we have a strong sense of pride and a sound historical view,” President Park spoke at the 6th meeting of the unification preparation committee presided over at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, saying, “By doing so, we can take the first step towards a unified Korea.”

It was her first comment on the history textbook issue since the government announced its conclusive notice on state-published history textbooks, which is interpreted as an expression of her strong determination to push for the controversial agenda. It appears her remarks are aimed at emphasizing that the agenda at hand is both a preparation for unification and a measure for the future generation who will lead the post-unification era.

“We must create more opportunities to get closer, understand, and share our feelings with each other as the same nation through exchanges and events at a private level. Support is needed at the authorities’ level so that our people-to-people exchange can further expand into various areas such as history, culture, sports, forestry, and blight prevention,” President Park explained. It is in the same vein that the Korean government is considering providing an indirect financial support for the Rajin-Hassan logistics project, a tripartite partnership between the two Koreas and Russia, by tapping into the South-North Cooperation Fund. President Park proposed to establish an Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Consultation Office, stressing the need to expand the cooperation in the fields beneficial to both Koreas, such as disaster and safety, health and medical service, and underground resources.



mhpark@donga.com