SEOUL AND TOKYO — Several politicians in South Korea and Japan have begun exploring the possibility of a joint history textbook between their nations and China. But given the lingering differences over issues ranging from past wars to current territorial claims, the proposal faces numerous hurdles.
Members of South Korea's ruling Grand National Party met informally in Seoul this month with counterparts from the majority Democratic Party of Japan. One of the main topics was whether a joint history textbook could now be developed with government cooperation.
Kang Yong-seok, a GNP lawmaker, was among the South Korean politicians who approached the Japanese.
"We [told DPJ] members that it would be very meaningful to write a common textbook," Kang said, citing a history textbook created through German-French cooperation.
"We didn't think the idea was impossible, but the countries have been unable to agree on historical matters," said DPJ member Masashi Mito. "We agreed to revisit and delve into the differences of historical perspectives and look into how realistic such a project can be."
Unrelated to the talks between the politicians, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club this month that a trilateral textbook could help mend fences on historical matters.
"It would be ideal for the [three] nations to have a common textbook, although actually taking that route may be far off," Okada said.
His comments received a favorable response in Seoul.
"We highly appreciate Foreign Minister Okada's suggestion, considering that it is important for younger generations in Korea, China and Japan to have a correct understanding of history," South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said at a news briefing.
In the past, neighboring countries have criticized Japan for its efforts to whitewash its colonial occupations. But the DPJ, which recently rose to power in Japan, has a different outlook.
For example, it has opposed the former ruling party's official visits to the Yasukuni shrine, where many of the nation's veterans are buried, including convicted war criminals. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's pledge to not pay homage at the shrine has been welcomed by other Asian nations.
"It is a leap that Japan started talking about this issue publicly," said Yang Mi-gang, who worked on a privately published Korea-Japan-China history book available in each of the countries.
