Hello, global ambassadors of Korea. I sincerely welcome you all. I am Park Gi-tae from VANK, an organization dedicated to promoting Korea to the world. Today's lecture topic is We Are Korea. 

From now on, you have the opportunity to represent Korea in the world as ambassadors of the Republic of Korea. This event has been organized by VANK and my office in the Dongbu district as the first session. I truly appreciate your participation, as the future of Korea will shine brightly with your efforts, and I thank you for joining us in this great dream.

So, why are we training global ambassadors for Korea through VANK and the Dongbu district? Currently, there is a global Korean Wave phenomenon. The number of foreigners who love Korean pop culture, such as BTS and BLACKPINK, has surpassed 200 million. Just last year, it was 170 million, which means an increase of about 30 million in just one year.

The number of people who like Korea has increased significantly. Many people around the world now appreciate Korea. In this splendid era of the Korean Wave, we cannot ignore the fact that there is a very important issue. The problem is that in textbooks and websites of other countries, our history is not being properly introduced. In the past, when there was no Korean Wave, foreigners didn't know much about Korea, and there was a lack of teaching materials, so they didn't pay much attention to Korea in their textbooks. However, now that people have come to like Korea, they can find information about it in their textbooks through Korean dramas and other content. Yet, Korea is still not being properly introduced in those textbooks. Let’s take a look at a letter I received from overseas compatriots and students. They sent me information about what they are trying to teach their foreign friends during class, focusing on academic history.

What is there to learn? Korea's history was once under Chinese rule and then became dominated by Japan. So, I searched for information about this history, and I was truly shocked. It was written that Korea was a colony of China and later became a colony of Japan. This is the content of the book. Hello, I am the mother of a fifth grader living in the United States. Starting in mid-August, Korea has been selected for a multicultural class, and reading books about Korea is assigned as homework. There is a book that American mothers recommend, which states that Korea was under Chinese rule for a long time and that the East Sea is referred to as the Sea of Japan. I received a letter asking how to change this misinformation that is spreading. American students are interested in Korean culture due to the Korean Wave, and they want to learn about it.

The content discusses how Korean textbooks are flawed. During my 12 years of attending primary and secondary school in Virginia, I learned about Korea for only 20 minutes, and that was solely about the Korean War, in which the United States participated. In French school classes, I heard two stories about Korea: the first is about Japan's colonial rule, and the second is about the Korean War. European textbooks often portray Korea as a nation that has sacrificed its people. They reflect a critical perspective on our country. Many friends are interested in learning about Korea due to the Korean Wave, but in textbooks, Korea is often introduced as a country in crisis. While there is a desire to know more about Korea because of the Korean Wave, our history is not properly represented. I am a student studying abroad in Australia, and during a midterm exam in world geography, I was asked about the body of water between Korea and Japan. The answer is...

Japan was the same, right? I wrote the same thing, but they marked it wrong. When I protested to the teacher, they said, The textbook is wrong; you must be right. In this Korean competition, on the global textbook website, it states that our country was a vassal state and colony of China for a long time, and that in 1910, Japan took over. This way, Korea is being labeled with a colonial history of China and Japan, and our history is not being properly recognized. So, I believe we need to become ambassadors of the Republic of Korea, correcting the misconceptions that people around the world have about Korea and proudly sharing our history. However, this is not the first time we have faced such issues. A hundred years ago, we were engaged in the same activities as global ambassadors for Korea.

There are great predecessors. It's amazing, right? Now, with the Korean Wave and our country being the 12th largest economy in the world, we have become a truly brilliant nation. However, even 100 years ago, in the truly devastating situation of losing our country, there were those who voiced the correct truth. I consider these individuals our great predecessors. 

The first person I want to introduce, who was active 100 years ago, is someone you should get to know step by step. The first is the righteous army and the independence movement. This person is the first great predecessor who fought for our country. Why is this person great? In 1905, through the Eulsa Treaty, all of our diplomatic rights were taken away. There was no Korean diplomacy. Our voices were promoted globally under Japanese diplomats. However, Japanese imperialism sought to incorporate Korea as a colony, which meant...

The fake narrative was spread that Korea had been a colony of China for a long time, and therefore, Japanese imperialism governing Korea was portrayed as a noble act of assistance. This was a propaganda method of imperialism, suggesting that Korea had always been a subject of Chinese colonization. Such falsehoods were propagated to prevent backlash against Japan's invasion. It's absurd, really. The problem was that we were in a situation where we couldn't voice our opinions. 

In 1907, foreign correspondent McKinzie observed Korea and reported that Japan was spreading this false narrative worldwide, claiming that Koreans were not resisting and were actually welcoming the Japanese invasion. As a result, teenagers and young people were fighting against this Japanese imperialism, proving with their bodies that the Japanese narrative was false. At that time, McKinzie made a statement: You are the Japanese Empire.

Do you think we can win? At that time, the righteous army said, This is what gives us strength. We will die anyway. But that's fine. It is far better to die as a free person than to live as a slave to Japan. The righteous army of Joseon were people who had already accepted death in a war where victory seemed impossible. Watching these soldiers, I wondered if I was wrong in my thoughts. However, I saw the radiant glint in their eyes and their confident smiles, and at that moment, I realized that my previous feelings might have been mistaken. At least they were showing their fellow countrymen something. Everyone, pay attention to these three phrases: the radiant glint in their eyes, their confident smiles, and their patriotism. A hundred years ago, our predecessors taught us this. They did not fear death. Yes, they would die, but...

That's right. Of course, it will be difficult for us to fight, but it is better to die as a free person than to live as a slave in Japan. This is what was said. Their message was recognized by a foreign correspondent as the great righteous army of Korea from 100 years ago. The sparkling eyes, the confident smile, and the deep contemplation—aren't these the three attitudes that our global ambassadors for Korea should have? Sparkling eyes, a confident smile, and patriotism. Through your activities, people around the world will come to know the truth about our history, just as McKinsey learned about our reality through the activities of the righteous army years ago. If we properly inform the world about our history through our activities today, we too can spread the message of the righteous army with those sparkling eyes. Through such activities, although our country became a colony of Japan, is that the end? No, it is not. Through the activities of the righteous army, truly...

Interestingly, this McKinsey journalist later became a reporter who informed the world about Korea's independence movement. So, the Korean government awarded him the Order of Merit. Although we couldn't convey our voice to everyone around the world, foreign correspondents did their best to represent our country on the global stage. In that sense, I believe that these righteous soldiers are our great predecessors and the first protagonists of the global Korean ambassador program. Please remember the activities of these righteous soldiers. 

The second is the Hague Peace Conference. In 1907, Emperor Gojong sent three young men—Lee Wan-yong, Lee Jae-gyeong, and Lee Geun-taek—to the international conference held in The Hague to expose Japan's invasion. However, as soon as they arrived at the conference, they were unable to enter the international conference hall due to Japan's influence. Nevertheless, they did not give up.

Outside the international conference hall, I went to the streets to find foreigners and spoke to reporters about how this invasion is irrational and how it harms world peace. The issue between Korea and Japan is not just a bilateral problem; it is a significant issue affecting global peace. What is truly remarkable is that the content they shared with foreign individuals and their speeches at the international conference were featured prominently on the front page of the news. Although they could not speak at the peace conference, their activities led to coverage in foreign media. Now, take a look at their faces. Don't you see the sparkling eyes, confident smiles, and patriotism similar to those from a hundred years ago? I felt a connection to those who worked hard to make our voices heard back then.

How amazing is their activity? They are in a situation where they might risk their lives, yet they are fully committed to their truth. Because of this, I saw the Haloo stars today. In 2022, BTS appeared on the cover of Time magazine as Haloo stars. Isn't it incredible that our young people in their twenties made it to the cover of such a famous American magazine? When I look at BTS, I am reminded of a hundred years ago when our history was featured on the front page of newspapers. Now, in the 21st century, we are in an era where we can achieve any dream. However, I realize that there are situations where our dreams are being taken away. We cannot just wait to achieve our dreams; we must first reclaim our country before pursuing our dreams.

Looking at their activities, I thought that if they had come out now, they might have represented Korea as a political figure in diplomacy, even more so than BTS, as a standard model for Time magazine. I had that thought. In that sense, I tried to include a special envoy from The Hague instead of BTS in Time magazine. I also thought about our BTS as a special envoy from The Hague a hundred years ago. Although the historical context is different, our special envoy from The Hague is part of our history. Isn't it cool that Time magazine features a special envoy from The Hague? If they had come out now, they would likely have appeared as a representative diplomat, politician, or entrepreneur for Korea. Now, who is this? Rolling Stone is a very famous music magazine in the United States, and our BLACKPINK has made the cover. At that time, I thought about how BLACKPINK was on the cover.

While watching the appearance, I was reminded of the righteous army from 100 years ago. Their brilliant eyes and confident smiles came to mind. If they were born now, they would probably be as well-known in their fields as Blackpink. Looking at the current situation, it was a moment of facing death after the plains. If the righteous army did not act, it would be impossible to reclaim oneself before achieving personal dreams. So, I presented the image of the righteous army in this Rolling Stone piece. Although the times and circumstances are different, our righteous army is also shining and making its mark globally. I created a video comparing the righteous army and today's stars to raise awareness. We should all engage in activities that promote Korea to the world. Now, let's take a look at this video featuring BTS from 2018, following up on their success in 2021.

The third Times cover model, the ultimate powerhouse BLACKPINK, is one of the most popular artist groups produced by Korea. On July 5, 197, the Dutch Peace Bulletin reported on the activities of Special Envoy Hey, stating that there can be no peace in Northeast Asia as long as Korea's independence and the freedom of the Korean people are not achieved. The Korean people are mentally united in their common goal of independence and freedom, and for this purpose, they are willing to risk their lives against the cruel, inhumane, and selfish invasion of the Japanese. 

On September 24, 1907, the British Daily Chronicle published an interview with the Korean independence fighters, stating that the Korean soldiers fighting against the Japanese imperial army were already facing certain death in a war with no hope of victory. They realized at that moment, upon seeing the smiles of the people, that their previous thoughts, which had only considered their own situation, were misguided. At the very least, they were fighting for their fellow countrymen.

애국심이 무엇인지 보여주고 싶습니다. 시대와 상황은 다르지만, BTS와 블랙핑크처럼, 헤이그 특사도 우리 역사 속의 한류 스타입니다. 전 세계에 알리고 싶은 당신의 역사 속 한류 스타는 누구입니까? 저는 우리 한류 스타로서, 글로벌 대한민국의 후보 대사로 본받을 분으로 이렇게 병과 해사를 돌렸습니다. 또 다른 분이 있습니다. 바로 호모 할버트 박사와 김교신 선생님입니다. 이분 또한 우리가 본받아야 할 위대한 인물로, 대한민국 그리고 글로벌 대한민국의 모범이 되고 있습니다. 왜 그럴까요? 여러분, 이분은 정말 위대한 분입니다. 외국인이세요, 미국인입니다. 그런데 100년 전에 한국의 영어 교사로 봉사하러 오셨습니다. 봉사로 오셨다가 어떤 일이 발생했는지, 당시 일본이 전 세계에 우리나라 역사를...

It was the history of China, the colonial history of China. Korea has no culture; all of Korea's culture is derived from Chinese culture. And Korea is a barbaric country. Korea has not developed its own culture. This is how the false narrative has been spread. However, this person, while working as an English teacher in Korea, felt the need to study Korean in order to teach English better. So, this person studied Korean and, at the same time, learned about Korean history. While studying Korean history, they discovered the false information spread by Japan around the world. Therefore, they actively worked to promote Korea's brilliant history. However, in foreign countries, some Koreans today, just like 100 years ago, have been engaged in promoting Korea's brilliant historical culture and activities related to Korean history and culture.

In 20 cases, I presented 304 papers and articles, studying the entire situation. I first came to Korea in 1882 and worked as a teacher. At that time, I published an article titled Korean Language in The New York Times, promoting Hangul and Korea's uniqueness. Although I was a foreigner, I authored a Korean textbook called Three Principles, which was designed to teach Koreans about world history and geography, encouraging them to study global history more deeply. I also assisted with the Independent Newspaper, created an English edition, and was the first to promote Arirang in Western music circles. About 100 years ago, I introduced Korea's brilliant history and culture in an American monthly magazine, discussing topics like Hong Min-jeong, Geobukseon, and movable type, which are still challenging to achieve today, in such overseas publications.

This is a tragic situation. This person even translated the Hunminjeongeum and posted it, claiming that the Korean language is superior to English. Do you know what this person is? They are a scholar who pointed out that when derogatory content about Korea appears in overseas textbooks or books due to some lobbying from Japan, it is often accepted without question. They questioned why scholars who have never visited Korea only refer to materials related to Japan, which misrepresent Korea. They actively worked to change this perception and supported independence activists in their overseas activities. They fought for Korea their entire life and left a wish to return to Korean soil in their later years. In other words, they dedicated their entire life, starting from their twenties, to promoting Korea to the world.

To correct the false narratives and promote Korea, I lived my life to support the Korean independence movement. Even until the moment of my death, I expressed my desire to be buried in Korea. Therefore, I created a video highlighting their activities. Shall we take a look? 

Son Heung-min, a player in the English Premier League, serves as a promotional ambassador for Korea, showcasing its charm to the world. The girl group Brave Girls has been appointed as ambassadors to introduce Korea to 150 million Hallyu fans worldwide. Actor Lee Min-ho has also been designated as an ambassador to promote the Korean language and culture globally. 

Although the times and circumstances are different, there are figures in our history, like Son Heung-min, Brave Girls, and Lee Min-ho, who have served as ambassadors for Korea around the world. In 1886, a person came to Korea from the United States and worked as a teacher at the government-run school, Yookyung Park. In 1889, they were in New York City.

The presentation on the Korean language highlights the excellence of Hangul and the Korean language, promoting it to the world for the first time in Korean history. In 1891, the first Hangul textbook, Three People’s Writing, was authored. In 1896, for the first time in Korean history, assistance was provided for the publication of the first Hangul newspaper, Independence Newspaper, and I was responsible for editing the English version. In 1896, I also promoted Arirang to the world by transcribing it into Western musical notation for the first time in Korean history. In June 1899, the monthly magazine Haas introduced Korea's brilliant historical and cultural heritage, including the turtle ship, metal movable type, suspension bridge, and the five great treasures of Korea. In 1903, for the first time in Korean history, the preface of Hunminjeongeum was translated into English for overseas promotion. The Korean language is superior to English as a language for public speaking. In 195 years of Korean history, I authored a comprehensive history book titled Korean History: The History Core, which informed the world about the history and culture of the Korean people. I have published 20 volumes of books and 304 papers on Korean history, culture, and arts.

As I present this article, I aim to promote Korea globally, particularly focusing on the struggle for the independence of Joseon and correcting the distorted history of Korea that has been misrepresented in the international community due to Japanese imperialism. In 1882, historian Griffiths published a book titled The Hidden Country, which targeted the distorted perceptions of Korean history. Griffiths never visited Joseon; instead, he wrote about it while staying in Japan. In 1885, Percival Lowell wrote an English book titled Korea: The Land of the Morning Calm, claiming that Korea is not the land of the morning calm. He demanded that it be designated as The Beautiful Land of Radiant Morn. In 1902, a magazine published in the United States, New England, featured an article by Griffiths that belittled Korea as a dwarf empire and portrayed Koreans as a primitive and intellectually inferior race. He insisted that Joseon is not a country of its own. Griffiths pleaded for a report on Joseon.

선관을 쓰라. 1905년 대한제국의 밀사로 미국을 방문해 사이 무효임을 소송하고, 네덜란드 만화로 조선 침략을 전 세계에 고발하는 국제 여론을 형성하여 한국의 국권 회복을 위해 38년간 투쟁했다. 나는 죽는 날까지 한국의 독립을 위해 싸울 것이다. 1949년, 이 사람의 마지막 유언은 나는 웨스트민스터 사원보다 한국 땅에 묻히길 원하노라였다. 한국인보다 더 한국을 위해 헌신한 이 사람의 이름은 호머 헐버트다. 그는 우리 역사 속 한국 홍보대사이다. 여러분, 의병과 하사에 이어서 호바 박사도 제가 왜 바로 100년 전에 지금 우리가 하고 있는 것처럼 글로벌 대한민국 대사인지 아시겠죠? 그는 평생을 한국의 올바른 역사를 알리고 잘못된 내용을 고치며, 한국이 위기에 처했을 때 그 누구보다도 한국을 위해 헌신했다.

This person lived to help during a crisis. Isn't this a true representation of our great predecessors? There is another individual who worked as a teacher to change the fake news spread by Japan around the world. It's not just about fighting for independence with weapons. This person, as a geography teacher, also addressed the misinformation that was being spread both globally and domestically. The Japanese Empire emphasized the geopolitical position of Korea, claiming it as a colony. This is because Korea is situated between Japan and China. Geographically, it is in a position that has historically subjected it to the dominance of surrounding great powers. Therefore, Korea was originally a colony of China, which led to it becoming a colony of Japan. The reason for this is that Korea is a peninsula, and it is destined to be a colony of Japan due to its geographical location.

조선희는 주체적으로 나라 경이 없다, 이런 식으로 말도 안 되는 지정학적 위치를 통해서 일본의 식민지배를 합리화했죠. 그때 지리 교사 김 교신은 바로 당시 10대 청소년들에게 이런 관점을 주었습니다. 본인이 지리 교사이니 지리의 강점을 강조했겠죠. 자, 한국이 반도서 다른 나라의 식민지 운명이라고 한다면, 서양의 반도였던 그리스와 로마는 또 서양의 반도에 있지만, 로마 문명과 그리스 문명을 창조했습니다. 그래서 서양의 문명을 창조했던 그리스와 로마처럼 우리 한국도 아시아의 문명을 창조할 것이라고 이렇게 말했습니다. 여러분, 어떻습니까? 그래서 이런 말을 했습니다. 세계를 뒤집어 보라고. 한반도는 5대양 6대주로 나 항구라고, 한반도는 동북아시아 변방이 아니라 동북아시아 중심이자 심장이라고. 물론 나 혼자면 더욱 불안하지만, 세계를 추천하기는.

It's hard to believe that this was said 100 years ago, but it was. Now, there are 200 million Hallyu fans, and South Korea is one of the world's top ten economies. Many people are now interested in Korea. Korea is truly expanding as the center of world culture. This vision was desired by a certain individual 100 years ago. As a geography teacher, he declared that the Korean Peninsula is the world's best geopolitical axis. He believed that the youth of Korea, based on their dreams and being born on the Korean Peninsula, would contribute to the advancement of world civilization. This individual had a student who became the marathon gold medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Song Ki-jung. You may recognize him from your textbooks. This medalist, Song Ki-jung, was indeed a student of Kim Kyo-shin. Let's take a look at the teachings he passed on. During the Japanese colonial period, Japanese imperialism viewed Korea as a part of China and Japan.

The geopolitical position of Korea, which is located between the continent and Japan, has been used to justify colonial rule through the formation of domestic and international public opinion. Japan governs Korea to protect it from external invasions due to Korea's geographical shortcomings. Because of its peninsular position, becoming a colony of Japan seems to be Korea's historical destiny. Korea cannot manage its own affairs independently due to its geographical location. The vision presented is that of becoming the protagonist in creating a new civilization in Asia, leveraging geopolitical advantages. Look at the world map; the Korean Peninsula is a gateway to the five oceans and six continents. The Korean Peninsula is not the periphery of Northeast Asia but its center and heart. Retreating and hiding only increases anxiety, yet it is the best position to advance into the world. In 1934, Kim Gyo-shin published an article titled The Geography of Korea in the Bible of Korea, stating that Italy, which gave birth to the Roman Empire as the heart of the Mediterranean, is similar to Korea as a peninsula.

It is a nation that, when it comes to Korea, is not only convenient for dominating the surroundings but also finds itself in a situation where it cannot leisurely take a nap even in evil times, just like the Korean Peninsula. Around the 4th century BC, Greece, which left a brilliant and unique culture in world history, is also a peninsula. Through Roman civilization and Greek civilization, Italy and Greece are significant parts of world history, just like our country, which is also located on a peninsula. There is no safe place for cowards, and there is no secure land for the brave. The Korean Peninsula has no geographical flaws. The qualities of the Koreans living in our country are important, so all Koreans must harbor great dreams. Geography teacher Kim Kyo-shin presented a new perspective and dream regarding our country's geographical position to Korean youth. What is your perspective on the geographical position of our country in the 21st century? The Republic of Korea is not the end of the Eurasian continent but the beginning of the Pacific Ocean, leading Asia along with Japan and China.

It is a central country. While making this video, I believe that inheriting the dream of Teacher Kim Kyo-hee is also part of our role as global ambassadors for Korea. Even today, the systems created by the West still depict Korea as a small entity at the eastern edge of Asia. When searching for Korea on many overseas websites, it is still represented as it was a hundred years ago, with Korea being shown as a small area. The Yellow Sea and the South Sea are also depicted very small, and the maritime territory of Korea is not properly represented. Furthermore, Dokdo is labeled as Takeshima, and the East Sea is referred to as the Sea of Japan, while our history and culture are not properly introduced. Therefore, I am working to inherit Teacher Kim Kyo-hee's dream from a hundred years ago by prominently showcasing the maritime territory of the Korean Peninsula and creating maps to distribute worldwide. As shown earlier, the distribution overseas still depicts the Yellow Sea and the South Sea as small.

Our self-made map is spread out magnificently. A few years ago, we suggested that if Korea could turn itself around, it could break free from Japan and China and become the center of the world. Today, we are flipping the world around, breaking free from China and Japan, and positioning the Pacific as the center. We are creating a global map and distributing it worldwide. This is also a way for us to manage Korea as global ambassadors of Korea. Now, I would like to recommend this individual to you. Although he was not officially appointed as an ambassador by the government, he took it upon himself to act as an ambassador for Korea. When our Korean community faced difficulties, he even reached out to the U.S. Secretary of State.

As the ambassador of South Korea, he played a role in saving the Korean community. He worked to promote Korean history and culture. Do you know what his greatest achievement is? It was when our country was taken over, and he helped many of our compatriots settle in the United States. In total, he assisted 770 patriots, including independence activists and students, in moving to the U.S. His activities are remarkable because, although he was neither a diplomat nor an ambassador, he actively defended Korea. When Korean laborers were treated unfairly in the U.S. as Japanese laborers, Japanese diplomats claimed that since Korea was under Japanese colonial rule, it was natural for them to protect Koreans. He strongly opposed this notion, asserting that Korea was absolutely not a part of Japan.

He did not receive protection from Japan, and thus he actively represented Korea's position to the U.S. Secretary of State. Through this, Korean Americans were protected from the governing authority of Japan. He worked to protect students studying abroad and promoted Korean history and culture. This individual established Korean language schools and actively promoted Korean culture. He also gathered independence activists to support the provisional government. Although he was an ordinary person, he actively helped fellow Koreans when they were in difficult situations in the U.S. When Koreans suffered damages due to Japan, he worked diligently, even without being a diplomat, to advocate for our Korean compatriots in the U.S.

이런 동포들로 하여금 이분이 믿고 의지하게 되었죠. 자, 이렇게 여러분들은 바로 100년 전에 아무것도 타이트 없이 외교관으로서 대한민국 대사로서 한국의 역할을 세계에 홍보했던 그런 위대한 선배님을 보았습니다. 자, 이런 활동이 100년이 지난 지금, 우리 어떻게 계승이 될까요? 자, 일단 우리가 왜 한국을 홍보해야 할까요? 자, 세계인들이 한국이 어떤 나라인지에 대해 잘 모르고 있습니다. 일단 당연히 BTS, 아, 세계는 대부분 한국을 떠올릴 때 케이팝, 우리나라 음식, 현대문화, 삼성, LG 제품 브랜드, 한국 아이, 드라마, 영화 등을 생각합니다. 한국을 좋아하는 외국의 한류 팬은 2억 명인데, 이분들이 대부분 소비하는 것이 미용, 드라마, 패션입니다. 자, 이렇게 한국을 좋아하는 2억 명이 되는 사람들이 우리나라 역사를 소개받고 있는 내용을 모르고 있습니다.

In this situation, how is our country's history being represented? Let's take a look at the content about Korea in a French museum from 2021. Here, you can see three major inaccuracies. First, the name of Korea is missing; it says Korea instead. Second, the East Sea is labeled as the Sea of Japan. And third, there are no borders for Korea. This is not information from a French museum a hundred years ago; it is currently displayed at the National Museum of Natural History in France in 2021. Now, when such inaccuracies exist, I want to ask you all: why is Korea represented this way? Where can we find such information? Right here in textbooks. This is content from a famous American textbook. Let's look at the first line: China controlled Korea. Most of Korean history is controlled by China.

It is important to understand that during the time of the Chinese dynasty, Korea was once again under Chinese rule. Before Japan colonized Korea in 1910, we could not use the term colony to describe Korea, as it was under the influence of other nations. During the time of the Chinese dynasty, Korea was considered a vassal state. This means that from the beginning, Korea was treated as a colony. In 1910, Japan annexed Korea, and over a hundred years ago, Japan spread fake news to justify its colonial rule over Korea to the world. This narrative has not changed even in 2024. There are exam questions asking how Chinese rule influenced Korean culture, reflecting this ongoing discussion.

이영민, 할류 팬들에게 이제 빠르게 전파될 수 있는 거죠. 그리고 옥스포드 교과서입니다, 여러분. 유명한 교과서에 고구려와 백제, 신라 시기 때 한국이 이렇게 중국으로 표현되었습니다. 일본이 한국 역사를 왜곡하는 것뿐만 아니라, 중국이 고구려, 발해, 고려를 중국 역사라고 주장하고 있습니다. 우리 한복도 마찬가지입니다. 이런 상황에서 옥스포드 같은 큰 출처에서 이렇게 한국의 영토를 고구려 시대 때 중국 영토로 표기하고 있습니다. 3세기 때 고구려 시기죠. 이때 한강과 북쪽 지역 전부 다 중국 영토로 표기한 교과서입니다. 이런 내용을 본 외국인들이 훗날 공무원으로서 캐나다 정부에 소개된 한국 역사에 대해 어떻게 생각할까요? 한국의 역사는 끊임없이 외세의 지배를 받아온 역사였습니다. 오랫동안 중국의 지배를 받았고, 190년 전쟁 이후로 일본의 지배를 받았습니다. 이렇게 우리나라 역사를 이해해야 합니다.

Until Japan's domination, the content marked as China's new democracy was introduced on overseas government websites. As I mentioned earlier, there are inaccuracies in overseas textbooks, which incorrectly label the sea between Korea and Japan as Japan Sea in exam questions asking for the name of the sea between Korea and Japan. So, why is the East Sea referred to as Japan Sea? The name of the sea was first established at an international conference on naming seas in 1910, during which Korea was under Japanese rule, so our representatives could not attend. Instead, Japanese representatives went in their place and replaced the name with the Japanese name at the first international organization that established sea names. This issue was included during the period of Japanese colonial rule, and even after the liberation, due to a lack of timely promotion, it was changed to the Japanese name.

As a result, just like the 11th exam question in foreign textbooks that refers to the Sea of Japan, I find it really strange that the content stating Korea was a colony of China appears in exam questions from other countries. Why do such nonsensical exam questions come up in foreign textbooks? Why are there exam questions that refer to the East Sea as the Sea of Japan and depict Korea as a colony of China? What is the intention behind including these questions? 

Now, here is the important reason: why is our history misrepresented in the world? I want to compare this situation to an elephant. The history of Korea in foreign textbooks is belittled as a history of failure and slavery. I want to liken this reason to a circus elephant. An elephant has the strength to carry ten adult men, but it has been made to feel powerless.

When the trainer first encountered the elephant, it was weak and unable to break free from the restraints. The trainer tied the elephant's foot to a stake, and the young elephant, no matter how hard it tried, could not break free due to its lack of strength. After several attempts, it eventually gave up and forgot about it. 

The problem is that now the elephant has grown up. It is now an adult male elephant, capable of lifting and throwing the stake, but because of the memories of its past failures, it does not even attempt to try. 

Now, you all understand, right? Just like when Japan colonized Korea, they manipulated our history of failures. Before the Japanese colonial rule, Korea had been a colony of China for a long time, which stripped away Korea's brilliant history. Because Korea was under Chinese colonial rule for an extended period, it lacked cultural development, allowing Japan to suppress Korean culture and civilization.

우리는 나라를 뺏긴 상황에서 일본은 전 세계에 대대적으로 홍보했습니다. 일본의 관료들은 한국이 중국의 심기를 건드렸다고 주장하며, 일본의 침략을 정당화하기 위해 홍보를 했습니다. 또한, 강복 이후에도 일본의 역사와 문화를 적극적으로 홍보했지만, 우리는 강복기 이후 전쟁이 일어났고, 나라가 어려워 가난했기 때문에 전 세계에 우리의 이야기를 홍보할 수 없었습니다. 그래서 일본 외교관들이 일본의 역사와 문화를 홍보하면서 한국 역사를 비하하는 잘못된 정보를 퍼뜨렸고, 결국 이러한 역사 왜곡으로 인해 우리나라의 소중한 역사가 사라지게 되었습니다. 더 큰 문제는 일본이 전 세계에 가짜 정보를 퍼뜨렸지만, 우리는 그 내용에 대해 반박할 수 있는 노력을 거의 하지 못했다는 점입니다. 뒤늦게 알게 되었지만, 이미 교과서에 기록된 역사는 바꾸기 어려운 상황이었습니다.

It's difficult to make changes. The bigger problem is that among the foreign textbooks, one out of two does not introduce our country's history. They emphasize only the culture of invasion and aggression, presenting only the negative aspects. Just like the righteous army from a hundred years ago, we also came together voluntarily. We are not an army; we rose up voluntarily for our country, just like the righteous army and the teachers like Kim Gyo-shin and Lee Dae-wi. Each of us will engage in activities to promote Korea in our own way as global ambassadors of Korea. So, what activities have we undertaken? The young people have come here not only to prevent the distortion of Korean history but also to promote our history in foreign textbooks and during the Hundred Schools of Thought period.

The famous dictionary site Collis has many wishes from around the world. When learning about traditional clothing, it is important that Hanbok is not overlooked. In this situation, there was a claim that Hanbok is a Chinese costume. Therefore, we need to promote Hanbok before China promotes it as a Chinese replica. Now that we have made progress, we actively worked on this, and Hanbok has been recognized as Korea's traditional attire. As you can see, through efforts like those of Oxford, Hanbok has been acknowledged. Additionally, through Bank's efforts, there was a correction on a British website where a Japanese term was mistakenly used. High school students, as well as American exchange students, have corrected parts where Ulleungdo was referred to as Japanese and where Japan was incorrectly mentioned on a famous American educational site. Furthermore, Taeyeon is at Harvard University.

In the textbooks, there were incorrect parts regarding our country's history, such as the notion that Korea was a vassal state of China, which has now been corrected. Additionally, the reference to Japan has been amended, and the inclusion of Dokdo has been added. This correction was made thanks to the active suggestions from young people at important institutions like Harvard University. As you can see, when Dokdo was only mentioned on websites like the BBC, we sent requests for four months, and that content was eventually removed. Through various activities, you can see that incorrect information related to China in textbooks has been corrected, and the references to Japan have also been amended. We received a letter from them, asking us to share this good news with all members of the organization. A well-known overseas publishing company has corrected the erroneous content with the authority of our organization and has requested that we spread this information. The fact that many people around the world do not know about Korea is also...

The problem is that it is an even bigger issue that we Koreans do not convey the correct history of Korea. By sending letters and changing the narrative, we actively need to promote Korean historical literature. Here, you can see that through the activities of the Bank members, the part where the East Sea was referred to as the Sea of Japan has been changed to the East Sea. Through the efforts of Bank members, the designation of the East Sea has been changed in major overseas textbooks, and their claims seem to be more numerous than those of Japan. Therefore, we will reflect this agreement. Ultimately, Koreans are the ones who have won the historical battle between Korea and Japan. Through your activities, we have corrected the content in overseas publishers, and we also support their efforts. As I showed you earlier, Korea has a colonial history with Japan and China. I have sent letters for a full six months.

So, Korea's colonial history with Japan and China has been transformed. Korea is a beautiful country with a long history and brilliant culture. Over the past six months, this has changed in authority. For years, incorrect information has spread worldwide, and we are correcting it while promoting our splendid cultural heritage, such as hanbok. The key point of this launch ceremony was the proud economic development and democracy of Korea, which we will actively promote through activities that will be included in overseas textbooks. You will also be part of the proud ambassadors of the Republic of Korea. The transformation of Korea's history from the colonial narratives of China and Japan to a beautiful and brilliant history is a result of our efforts. Please remember that Korea's history is constantly intertwined with Japan and China.

This has been a history dominated by others. If the content had not been edited, we would not have been able to proudly promote the Republic of Korea. It is a problem that people around the world do not know about Korea, but we ourselves must become ambassadors for the Republic of Korea and actively promote it. This is how things will change. You all will play a significant role as global ambassadors for the Republic of Korea. You have received materials, right? Through the materials you receive directly from the organization, you can promote Korea to the world. Those living abroad may not be able to receive these materials, but they can access all of this information digitally. By spreading the videos from the organization, you can share them globally. Now, in conclusion, you all are now part of a dream that started 100 years ago, and we are pursuing the dream of the Republic of Korea globally.

홍보대사로서 자랑스러운 한국을 알릴 분들입니다. 한 달 후에 여러분 모두가 대한모 대사 임명 받을 수 있기를 기대합니다. 보통 1동 하면 한 30% 미션을 완수하거나, 여러분들은 제 1기로서 여러분 모두가 다 대한민국 홍보대사로서의 임명 자격을 갖기를 바라면서 여러분들의 활동을 완수하기를 기다리겠습니다. 다시 한번 여러분과 함께 꿈을 꾸게 되어 진심으로 감사하고 고맙습니다.

박기태 반크 대표 특강 - 우리가 대한민국! 글로벌 대한민국 홍보대사 발대식

사이버외교사절단 반크(www.prkorea.com)의 공식 유튜브 채널입니다. 

우리는 독립운동가는 아니지만, 21세기 독립운동활동을 합니다!
우리는 외교관은 아니지만, 외교활동을 합니다!
우리는 역사가는 아니지만,  역사를 만드는 활동을 합니다!
우리는 공무원은 아니지만,  우리나라를 위한 활동을 합니다!
우리는 국제기구 직원은 아니지만,  세상을 변화시키고 있습니다!

우리에게는 직위가 중요하지 않습니다.
우리는 걷고 달리며 행동하고 실천합니다!

우리는 반크, 우리는 대한민국입니다.

▷ 우리가 바로 대한민국 역사를 만드는 주인공!

사이버 외교사절단 반크는 꿈이 있습니다.
반크를 통해 한국청소년과 청년들이
세상을 변화시킬수 있는 개인의 가치를 발견하고
자신의 삶을 통해 대한민국의 가치를 높이고
 더 나아가 지구촌이 변화하는 위대한 꿈을 향해 도전하는것입니다.

겨자씨가 나무가 되고 울창한 숲이 되어 새들이 깃들듯이 
한국의 청소년과 청년들은 대한민국을 전세계인이 깃드는 희망의 숲이 되게 할것입니다!

울창한 나무로 자라날 희망의 씨앗! 우리가 바로 대한민국입니다

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