Schools

Korean Group Petitions Name of 'Sea of Japan' in School Textbooks

"To us Korean-Americans, the correct name is East Sea," group tells local school boards.

A Korean group is asking school officials in Fort Lee, Leonia and Palisades Park to use textbooks that refer to the "Sea of Japan" as "The East Sea," according to a report on northjersey.com.

The Korean-American Association of New Jersey has presented 1,500 signatures in favor of the name change to school officials in the three towns, according to the report.

The body of water has been referred to as "The Sea of Japan" since the 20th century (when Japan took over Korea), but had been known as "The East Sea" in prior centuries, the group said.

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"We knew it as East Sea, and we want our children to learn the correct term," the website quoted Sonny Kim, the group's vice president. "To us Korean-Americans, the correct name is East Sea."

The news website reported that Bergen County school officials said they'd look into the name change but have made no commitments.

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