This captured image, provided by the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea, shows an example of a prejudiced portrayal of Africa in a South Korean elementary textbook. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 1 (Korea Bizwire) – A civic group has accused elementary school textbooks in South Korea of depicting Africa with prejudice and oversimplifying portrayals of the continent as just a recipient of aid.
The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) released its review of five sixth grade social studies textbooks on content concerning Africa on Wednesday, which it said generally failed to depict the diverse ways of life on the continent.
VANK criticized the textbooks for their oversimplification of Africa despite the continent being home to 54 U.N. member states and more than 3,000 ethnic groups.
Park Ji-eun, a researcher at VANK, said that South Korean school textbooks begin carrying material on Africa and other parts of the world in sixth grade, calling for changes so that students are not exposed to prejudiced content.
VANK also pointed out that the textbooks do not carry sufficient material on exchanges between South Korea and countries in Africa, including those with close ties.
The group proposed adding content on Ethiopia and South Africa — countries that sent troops to support South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War.
As part of efforts to change the misinformed public perception on Africa, VANK plans to review more textbooks, including social studies and history ones for middle and high school students, and launch an awareness campaign.
It also plans to take such efforts beyond South Korea and launch a global campaign, named #Unlearn Africa Relearn Africa, to expose incorrect information about the continent.
Koo Seung-hyun, another VANK researcher, said the group will make efforts to change distorted perceptions about Africa in generative artificial intelligence, along with similar efforts for those on South Korea.
Yonhap News Agency, which recently signed a memorandum of understanding with VANK, plans to work together with the group on efforts to change misinformed perceptions on Africa.
Last November, Yonhap News Agency launched the Ubuntu Initiative, the first-ever Africa-focused team created by a South Korean news outlet. It jointly hosted the Global Forum on Solutions for Forced Displacement in Africa with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees last Thursday.
(Yonhap)
