How have we protected the Republic of Korea?
Professor Seo Kyung-deok of Korea Alimi and experts from various fields gathered together!
Korean History You Need to Know: Unforgettable Stories

As K-culture captivates the world and South Korea establishes itself as a global powerhouse, are our history and culture truly being properly protected to match their status? Unfortunately, the more the world's attention focuses on South Korea, the more insidious and persistent the distortion and plunder of our precious cultural heritage becomes.
The reality is that things we have taken for granted, from the Dokdo issue to kimchi, hanbok, and even the name of the East Sea, are constantly being challenged.
We can no longer ignore these problems.
It is time to know our history correctly and resolutely protect it.


“Korean History We Must Protect” responds to these contemporary demands.
This book, created by Professor Seo Kyung-deok, a Korean public relations expert, and ten leading experts in their respective fields, is a masterpiece that deeply yet clearly addresses key issues surrounding the history and culture of the Republic of Korea.
Rather than simply listing past facts, it illuminates the ongoing controversies in a three-dimensional way based on historical facts.
Furthermore, after deeply considering questions that every citizen of the Republic of Korea has probably thought about at least once, such as “What is the historical truth?” and “How should we respond to historical distortion?”, it presents practical answers and the direction we should take.
With "Korean History We Must Protect," you will not only fully understand our culture and history, but also grasp the essence of the controversy over historical distortion and gain insight into what we need to know and how to respond.

Do we truly understand this precious Dokdo? We've been taught since childhood that it's our natural territory, but few truly understand why this small island in the East Sea holds such significance, why it's our land, and what it truly looks like.
Ignorance and indifference to our territory and history can easily lead to unexpected difficulties in protecting our precious land.
In order to stand up to those who constantly covet Dokdo and shout, “Dokdo is our land!”, we must have a correct understanding of Dokdo.
--- From "Dokdo - The Living History of the Korean Peninsula That No One Can Shake"

A nation's history shines brighter when its members have pride in themselves.
This is why many countries around the world strive to record, preserve, and pass on thousands of years of history to future generations.
History is not simply a record of the past.
Especially for a nation that has weathered difficult times, history is the bond that binds its members together and a source of courage for the future.
For our people, who had lost their sovereignty during the Japanese colonial period, the March 1st Movement and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea were symbols of their fervent desire to restore national pride and regain their lost sovereignty.
Now, let's follow in the footsteps of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and reflect on its historical significance and the message it conveys to us today.
--- From "Provisional Government - Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, Proclaiming a Democratic Republic to the World"

The war that Japan started over 80 years ago left deep, indelible scars and pain on countless people across the Asia-Pacific region, including our own people who were once colonized.
It is not a history of victory, but a history of damage filled with only injustice and sorrow.
We may want to ignore it, but we must remember that painful history.
Because that tragic past is the painful foundation that created our present.
The peace and prosperity we enjoy today are a result of the long suffering and desperate sacrifices of our ancestors who passed away without a trace.
Remembering their unwavering perseverance and unspeakable sorrow, we must turn back time for a moment, quietly look into their arduous lives, and deeply empathize with them.
Remembering the pain of the past is the most powerful force that can help us further strengthen the precious peace we enjoy today.
--- From "Forced Mobilization - History You Need to Know: Korean People Dragged into Japan's War of Aggression"

Indifference and ignorance regarding the issue of Japanese military 'comfort women' are serious obstacles that trample on the honor of the wounded grandmothers and obscure the truth of history.
In order for us not to forget this pain and to move toward a proper solution, we need to look back at the process by which the issue of the Japanese military's "comfort women" became known to the world and emerged as a human rights issue for oppressed women.
We must also deeply study the background of the creation of the "comfort women" system, the horrific reality the victims endured, and how the international community perceives this issue.
--- From "Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' - Standing Before History, an Unhealed Wound"

Unfortunately, during the modern era, when we lost our sovereignty, the name "Sea of ​​Japan" began to be used in the international community.
This is more than just a simple matter of place name notation; it is a serious problem that erases the unique names our people have used throughout their long history and obscures historical truth.
Now, we must reclaim the name "East Sea" and strive to make its historical significance and legitimacy known to the international community.
This is an important task that goes beyond simply reclaiming our name; it is a task that corrects distorted history and establishes our people's identity.
Now, we want to understand the deep background and significance of the naming issue surrounding the East Sea, and consider together why we must preserve the unique name of this blue sea.
--- From "East Sea - The Sea Where History and Life Flow"

The Northeast Project is a Chinese historical research project that began in February 2002 and concluded in January 2007.
Although it may have faded from many people's memories after more than 20 years, the ongoing "originality debate" surrounding kimchi, paocai, hanbok, and hanfu shows that Korea and China are still in a sensitive conflict over the "national ownership" of history and tradition.
The Northeast Project can be said to be the event that signaled the beginning of the historical conflict between the two countries.
--- From "Northeast Project - Aiming for Korean Pride"

We have already experienced several attempts by countries like China and Japan to claim kimchi as their own culture.
To effectively respond to this situation, the inheritance and dissemination of kimchi culture must be carried out more systematically and clearly.
Only then can we respond with clear evidence to Japan and China, who claim to be the origin of kimchi, and provide accurate information to foreigners interested in kimchi.
--- From "Kimchi - Korea, the home of kimchi, stands proudly in the world"

Hanbok is not just a simple piece of clothing.
It is a living cultural heritage that contains the philosophy, history, and life of the Korean people.
But what does hanbok mean to us today? When we think back on our memories of wearing hanbok, it's often limited to holidays like Seollal (Lunar New Year) or Chuseok (Chuseok), or special occasions like weddings.
Hanbok, which was an everyday garment until just over 100 years ago, is now considered a garment worn only on special occasions.
Our knowledge of Hanbok often remains limited to the basic components such as the jeogori, skirt, pants, and dopo.
The expressions related to hanbok, which permeate every part of our language, clearly show that hanbok is more than just clothing; it embodies the life and spirit of our people and holds profound cultural value.
Therefore, we must properly understand our unique clothing, the hanbok, cherish its value, and strive to pass it on to future generations.
--- From "Hanbok - A Cultural Icon That Captivated the World, Beyond Just Clothing"

Hangul and the Korean language are more than just tools; they are a living, breathing cultural heritage imbued with centuries of history and the spirit of the Korean people.
The fact that people around the world are fascinated by Korean culture and naturally take an interest in the Korean language and its alphabet is a phenomenon that proves their inherent value and power.
Now is the time for us to clearly recognize the great potential and value of our language and writing, and to embrace a burning pride in them.
--- From "Hangeul and the Korean Language - Our Language Heading to the World, Becoming the Heart of K-Culture"

As Baekbeom Kim Gu emphasized the 'power of culture' in his words, the 'beautiful country' is precisely what the Korean Wave is aiming for.
We dream of a nation that is happy with its charm and, furthermore, has a positive influence on the world, a nation that has the power to present a beautiful vision to a world where discrimination and conflict are constant due to differences.
This is why we must pay attention to the history of the Korean Wave, which has created a new trend by fusing heterogeneous elements even under difficult circumstances.
Although it is a cultural trend that originated in a small East Asian country, it may offer a clue to overcoming the current global crisis and moving toward a better future.

--- From "Hallyu - Korean Popular Culture Captivates the World"