Weform

Change begins with
our voice

Your story matters.
Your words can move the world.
This is where change takes root.

Start a Petition

Real Voices, Real Change

[WEcho]VANK Leads Update to Include Nelson Mandela’s Birth Name in Naver Profile

Open Petitions
for Change
I'mmediate

The Need to Foster Africa’s AI

AI has become one of the most prominent fields of global attention. Today, it is applied not only in everyday life but also across diverse professional sectors, driving countries worldwide to invest heavily in its development. As AI emerges as a key driver of the future international order, competition among nations is intensifying. Yet the development of AI requires skilled human resources, vast datasets, and reliable infrastructure, areas where significant disparities have already emerged. Consequently, nations that hold global power are consolidating their dominance in AI as well. The United States and China, for example, are currently locked in fierce competition for AI leadership. But what does it mean to be excluded from this race? AI is, at its core, a product of learning. However, the learning process rarely reflects a truly balanced view of the world. Which information is accepted as truth, and which perspectives are emphasized, depends on the data and the designers who train the system. Even with objective data, outcomes differ depending on who builds and trains the AI. This is why many countries are actively developing AI models that reflect their own perspectives. The 2025 AI Index Report illustrates this imbalance. The vast majority of leading AI models have been developed in the United States and China, while Africa lags significantly behind in both pace and scale. Although Africa and Latin America have made progress in computer science (CS) education, many African countries still lack stable access to basic infrastructure such as electricity. As of 2023, only 34% of primary schools in Sub-Saharan Africa had electricity, showing the severity of this barrier. Without these foundations, computer literacy and AI education remain limited. The gap extends to research and development as well. From 2013 to 2023, Africa recorded strikingly low numbers of AI-related publications, patents, and legislative initiatives. Between 2003 and 2024, Africa produced virtually no major AI models. Even in the Korea Software Policy & Research Institute’s global report on large-scale AI models, African countries were absent, underscoring the widening development gap. This issue is not just technical. It is fundamentally about representation. Without AI models developed from African perspectives, global AI will continue to reflect primarily U.S. and Chinese viewpoints. This risks erasing Africa’s unique and diverse perspectives from the global AI ecosystem. Africa’s 54 countries represent rich cultural and social diversity, and if this is excluded, Africa’s influence in international discourse will inevitably diminish. Signs of exclusion are already evident. In global surveys on AI services conducted between 2022 and 2024, only South Africa was included, compared to nine Asian countries, twelve European countries, three North American countries, five South American countries, and two Oceanian countries. This illustrates how Africa is being sidelined as an opinion leader in shaping the future of AI. If this trend continues, Africa risks becoming further marginalized in the global AI landscape. For these reasons, the development of major AI models in Africa is not optional but essential. To achieve a more balanced global perspective, representation across continents must be ensured. Expanding participation from currently marginalized regions such as Africa and Latin America will strengthen solidarity and cooperation within the Global South. At the same time, AI-leading nations can help build a fairer and more sustainable global AI ecosystem through collaboration. AI models developed by Africa would be more than technological milestones. They would serve as a foundation for balance, fairness, and diversity in the international community. If support for Africa’s AI industry is delayed, the future global AI order will become increasingly shaped by the perspectives of only a few powerful nations. For genuine balanced development, we call for active support and global solidarity in fostering Africa’s AI industry and advancing the development of major AI models.

A Smaller Africa on Google Maps?

In the 15th to 17th centuries, people set sail across the seas during the Age of Exploration. However, in the 21st century, we navigate the world through the Internet. When you think of a “map,” which online platform comes to your mind first? For many, it will be Google Maps, the service with the highest global market share. Through Google Maps, we can travel the world within just a few seconds and explore the world in detail. Beyond everyday use, various research institutions, international organizations, and government agencies also rely on Google Maps to publish academic presentations and reports. However, have you ever thought about a little possibility that Google Maps provides the customer a distorted map? The world maps are most commonly based on the “Mercator projection,” created in 1569 by the Dutch cartographer Gerardus Mercator. To represent the spherical Earth in two dimensions, he projected it onto a cylinder, which preserved shapes and angles relatively accurately. At first glance, it may appear perfect, though in reality, the Mercator projection distorts the size of continents. Landmasses in the northern hemisphere, farther from the equator, appear much larger while those near the equator in the southern hemisphere appear much smaller. For instance, Greenland looks similar in size to Africa on the Mercator map, when in fact Africa is about 14 times larger. Some may wonder, “Why should anyone care about the world map?” But this is not just a geographic error. It has deep implications with national identity. Despite being the second largest continent and home to more than a billion people, Africa still struggles to shed images such as “marginal,” “Third World,” or “impoverished.” Its vast culture and resources are diminished in influence and recognition, just as they are visually minimized on the map. As of 2025, Google Maps has around 2 billion monthly active users (MAU) and dominates 89.7% of the global map app market. If Google Maps continues to use the distorted Mercator projection, it will only reinforce and perpetuate a worldview that minimizes the stature of certain regions and nations. Just as Google once showcased technological progress through the introduction of 3D maps, now is the time to adopt the “Equal Earth Projection”, a fairer and more accurate representation for a more equitable world and global society. As a multinational corporation, and as a platform operating on a truly global stage, Google bears a responsibility to provide accurate information and to prevent the reproduction of distortions. We urge Google to take the lead. Stop deceiving the 2 billion users of Google Maps. Let's correct the map. 15-17세기 대항해시대 당시 사람들이 배를 타고 세계를 항해했다면, 21세기 우리는 인터넷을 통해 세계를 항해합니다. ‘지도’하면 가장 먼저 생각나는 온라인 플랫폼이 어디인가요? 전 세계적으로 높은 비율의 시장 점유율을 가지고 있는 구글맵 서비스를 떠올리는 분이 많을 것입니다. 구글맵 서비스를 통해 우리는 한국에서 단 몇 초 만에 미국을 방문할 수 있고, 세계를 속속들이 항해할 수 있습니다. 일상적인 용도 외에도, 다양한 연구 기관, 국제기구, 정부 기관들이 구글맵을 이용하여 학술 발표, 보고서 등을 출간하고 있습니다. 이렇게 우리의 일상과 업무를 지배하고 있는 ‘구글맵’이 사용자들에게 왜곡된 지도를 보여주고 있다고 하면 쉽게 믿을 수 있나요? 현재 우리가 전 세계에서 가장 일반적으로 사용하는 세계 지도는 ‘1569년 네덜란드의 게르하르두스 메르카토르’가 제작한 도법에 기반합니다. 구의 형체인 지도를 2D에서 구현하기 위해 원통에 지구를 투영하여 지도를 그려낸 것으로, 지도 속 대륙의 모양이나 각도가 상대적으로 정확하므로 항해용 지도로 많이 사용되어 왔습니다. 언뜻 보면 완벽해 보이지만 사실 메르카토르 도법 지도는 광점과의 거리 때문에 적도에서 먼 북반구일수록 대륙의 크기가 크고, 적도와 가까운 남반구 대륙은 작게 그려집니다. 즉, 북아메리카와 그린란드 같은 극지방 근처 지역을 확장된 데 반면, 아프리카와 남아메리카는 실제보다 축소되어있다는 것입니다. 실제로 극지방에 위치한 그린란드의 면적은 아프리카의 14분의 1 수준에 불과하지만, 메르카토르 지도에서는 두 대륙이 동일한 크기로 그려져 있습니다. 지도의 오류와 국가 크기의 왜곡이 무엇이 중요하냐고 생각하는 사람도 많을 수 있습니다. 하지만, 이것은 지도 위의 지리학적 오류를 넘어 국가성에도 영향을 미치는 중대한 사항입니다. 실제 대륙의 크기로 따지면 전 세계에서 두 번째로 큰 대륙인 아프리카가 10억 명이 넘는 인구를 가지고 있음에도 불구하고 국제사회에서는 ‘주변국’, ‘제3세계’, ‘빈곤국’과 같은 이미지를 떨쳐내지 못하고 있습니다. 방대한 문화와 자원을 가지고 있는 아프리카의 영향력과 국가성이 지도에서와 같이 축소되어 있는 것입니다. 2025년 기준 전 세계 약 20억 명의 월간 활성 사용자(MAU)를 보유하고 있고, 지도 앱 시장의 89.7%를 점유하고 있는 구글맵에서 메르카토르 도법의 왜곡된 지도를 계속해서 사용한다면, 이는 특정 지역과 국가의 위상을 축소하는 인식이 고착화하고 재생산하는 계기가 될 수 있습니다. 구글맵에서 3D 지도를 도입하며 기술의 발전을 보여준 것처럼, 이제는 평등한 국제사회와 평등한 지도를 위해 ‘이퀄 어스 도법’의 왜곡되지 않은 지도를 도입해야 할 때입니다. 다국적 기업으로서, 전 세계를 배경으로 활약하는 ‘구글’로서, 세계에 보다 올바른 정보를 전달하고 왜곡된 정보의 재생산을 방지하는데 가장 먼저 나서주기를 촉구합니다. 구글맵을 이용하는 20억명을 더이상 속이지 말고, 거짓말을 지워주세요.

Why is Africa still called the “Dark Continent” in today’s dictionaries?

Africa is home to the greatest diversity of languages, ethnicities, and cultures in the world. And yet, for many, Africa still conjures up only words like famine and disease. Where do these one-sided images come from? As part of its “Recognize Africa Accurately” project, the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) recently reviewed how major global dictionaries and encyclopedias describe Africa. The investigation covered 20 widely used sources, including Britannica, Collins, Oxford, Merriam-Webster, and Wikipedia. The results were alarming. Many of these sources described Africa only in terms of poverty, hunger, corruption, and military dictatorship. For example, Britannica states that “most African governments are ruled by the military or a single-party system,” while Wikipedia defines Africa as “the continent most vulnerable to climate change”—generalizing an entire region as a singular, helpless victim. Of course, Africa does face real social challenges. But to define an entire continent—made up of 54 unique countries with diverse political systems, cultures, and levels of development—through a single, negative lens is not only factually misleading, but dangerously reinforces long-standing prejudices. What’s worse is the language itself. Terms like “Dark Continent,” “Black Africa,” “Pygmy,” “Bushman,” and “Hottentot” are still found in modern dictionaries without any warning or contextual explanation. Many of these terms were used during the colonial era to depict Africans as inferior or uncivilized, and are now widely recognized as offensive or outdated. Yet today, users are still being exposed to them as if they were neutral or acceptable. This is deeply problematic, because dictionaries and encyclopedias serve as standards of knowledge and shape how young people view the world. Across the globe, students are still being taught to see Africa as a continent of crisis. We cannot ignore the fact that a single word, a single sentence, can plant the seeds of bias and discrimination. VANK has previously succeeded in correcting errors in major dictionaries, such as the mislabeling of “East Sea” as “Sea of Japan” or misrepresentations of Korea’s history and culture. This campaign for Africa is a continuation of that effort. We are preparing formal requests to publishers demanding that they revise outdated descriptions and add warning labels to discriminatory terms. But this movement is not just about correcting dictionary entries. It’s about taking action, as global citizens, to protect the values of diversity and coexistence. Africa is not a subject of pity or charity—it is a cultural force and a partner in global cooperation. This small petition could become the first step in changing how our world is understood. We need your support. We are not just pointing out a problem—we are calling for a fairer, more accurate standard of global knowledge. It’s time for dictionaries to reflect the true diversity and voices of our world. Your attention can be the beginning of a new perspective.

Why is Korea’s Dolsot Bibimbap China's Intangible Cultural Heritage?

Michun, a Chinese bibimbap franchise located in a shopping district in Wuhan, China, launched an advertisement featuring the words "Korean-Chinese Hot Pot Bibimbap Cooking Technology is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Jilin Province," along with a picture of Dolsot-bibimbap. In addition, in fact, in December 2021, the government of Jilin Province in northeastern China included Dolsot-bibimbap recipes in its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the region. Then, did Dolsot-bibimbap really originate from the cooking skills of the Korean-Chinese? According to the Korean Dictionary of Culture published by the Korean Cultural Center Association of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Dolsot-bibimbap defines it as "hot stone pot bibimbap, which is served by cooking rice in a pot, placing various herbs, chopped beef, and red pepper paste on it, and then heating it up." also explains, "The current familiar form of Dolsot-bibimbap is known to have been first developed by Nam Goong-seong, president of Jeonju Hoegwan." This is not the only Korean culture that China is distorting. At the recommendation of Yanji City in Jilin Province, China, the government also listed rice cake recipes as intangible cultural heritages in Jilin Province along with Dolsot-bibimbap. Since the 2000s, at least 17 cases have been identified as Korean traditional cultural contents that state that they are "the tradition of the Korean people." In 2021, Baekjongjeol, a village-level event to console the hard work of farming and pray for a good harvest on July 15 of the lunar calendar, and Yutnori were registered. In 2014, kimchi recipes were selected as national-level heritage, with five cases including Arirang, Pansori, and Ssireum in 2011, seven cases including Korean traditional weddings in 2008, and two cases including Neolttwigi in 2006, respectively, being officially designated as national-level intangible heritage. The Chinese government's designation as a state-level intangible cultural asset also increases the possibility of being registered as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage. In fact, China transformed Korean Nongakmu into Korean-Chinese Nongakmu in 2008 and designated it as a state-level intangible cultural asset, and then registered it as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. Nongakmu is performed to pray for harmony in the village community and the well-being of the villagers in Korean society, and it is a representative folk art performed throughout Korea, and it is a comprehensive art that marches, dances, and plays with percussion instruments such as Kkwaenggwari, gong, Janggu, and Sogo. How would the Chinese government react if the representative Chinese food, Malatang, were listed as a Korean heritage? Distorting Korean culture into Chinese culture can cause serious problems in Korea-China relations and peace in East Asia. Therefore, it is necessary to actively respond to the Korean National Heritage Administration, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Let the world know about China's cultural distortions and keep the peace in East Asia! - Sources https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/469/0000823549?sid=104 중국 우한 시의 한 상점가에 위치한 중국 비빔밥 프랜차이즈 ‘미춘’은 돌솥비빔밥 사진과 함께 “조선족 돌솥비빔밥 조리 기술은 지린성 성급 무형 문화유산이다.”라는 문구를 내세운 광고를 개시했습니다. 그뿐만 아니라 실제로 지난 2021년 12월에는 중국 북동부의 지린성 정부가 돌솥비빔밥 조리법을 지역 무형문화유산 목록에 포함했습니다. 그렇다면 돌솥비빔밥은 정말 조선족의 조리 기술에서 유래한 것일까요? 문화체육관광부 한국문화원연합회에서 발행한 '한식문화사전'에 따르면, 돌솥비빔밥은 "돌솥에 밥을 짓고, 그 위에 여러 가지 나물과 잘게 다져 볶은 소고기, 고추장 등을 얹은 다음, 따뜻하게 덥혀서 제공하는 비빔밥"으로, "돌솥은 백제 때부터 귀족층과 부유층들이 애용한 용기"라고 정의했습니다. 현재 우리에게 친숙한 형태의 돌솥비빔밥은 “전주 중앙회관의 남궁성 사장이 처음 개발한 것으로 알려져 있다”는 내용을 함께 설명하고 있습니다. 중국이 왜곡하고 있는 한국 문화는 이뿐만이 아닙니다. 중국 지린성 내 옌지시의 추천으로 정부는 돌솥비빔밥과 함께 가래떡 등 쌀로 만든 떡 조리법도 지린성 무형문화유산으로 함께 등재했으며, 2000년대 이후 최소 17건이 "조선족의 전통"임을 명시한 한국 전통문화 콘텐츠로 파악됐습니다. 2021년엔 한국선 '백중(百中) 불리는 세시풍속이자 매년 음력 7월 15일 농사의 수고를 위로하고 풍년을 비는 마을 단위 행사인 백종절(百種節), 그리고 윷놀이가 등재됐습니다. 2014년엔 김치 조리법이 국가급 유산으로 뽑혔으며, 2011년엔 아리랑, 판소리, 씨름 등 5건이, 2008년엔 우리 전통 혼례 등 7건, 2006년엔 널뛰기 등 2건이 각각 국가급 무형유산으로 공식 지정됐습니다. 중국 정부가 국가급 무형문화재로 지정하는 것은 유네스코 세계무형문화유산 등재 가능성을 높이는 행위이기도 합니다. 실제로 중국은 2008년 우리 농악무(農樂舞)를 '조선족 농악무'로 바꿔 국가급 무형문화재로 지정한 뒤 2009년 유네스코 세계무형문화유산에 등재한 바 있습니다. 그리고 농악은 마을 공동체의 화합과 한국 사회의 마을 주민들의 안녕을 기원하는 의미로 공연되며, 우리나라 전역에서 공연되는 대표적인 민속 예술로 꽹과리, 징, 장구, 소고 등의 타악기를 들고 행진하고 춤을 추고 연주하는 종합 예술입니다. 만약 한국에서 중국 사천성의 대표 음식인 마라탕을 한국의 유산으로 등재한다면 중국 정부는 어떻게 반응할까요? 한국의 문화를 중국의 문화로 왜곡하는 일은 한중관계와 동아시아에 심각한 문제를 일으키게 됩니다. 이에 한국의 국가유산청, 문화체육관광부, 외교부의 적극적인 대응이 필요합니다. 또한 국민들과 함께 중국의 문화 왜곡을 전 세계에 알려 동아시아 평화를 지키도록 국민 캠페인을 추진할 필요가 있습니다. 중국의 문화 왜곡을 전 세계에 알려 동아시아 평화를 지켜주세요! - 참고자료 https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/469/0000823549?sid=104

Why is there NO Korean Language Day? 왜 한국어의 날은 없나요?

April 20th, 2023. That was Chinese Language Day, which was designated as such by the United Nations (UN) in regards to the fact that Chinese people pay tribute to Cangjie - a mythical figure in ancient China who is thought to have invented Chinese characters. According to the United Nations, the purpose of its language days is "to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of ... official languages throughout the Organization." The language days are also aimed "to entertain, as well as inform, with the goal of increasing awareness and respect for the history, culture and achievements of each of the ... working languages among the UN community." For April alone, together with Chinese Language Day on April 20th, there was also English Language Day and Spanish Language Day, both on April 23rd. Taking this situation into account, one cannot help but wonder, "Why is there no Korean Language Day?" The reason behind this at the surface level would be that Korean is not one of the official languages that are being used at the United Nations. However, the reality that there is yet no Korean Language Day carries great significance for all of us. Through recent media reports, it has been announced that the number of Hallyu (Korean Wave) fans worldwide has reached 180 million. Furthermore, there is a trend whereby the number of foreigners who want to learn Korean language is steadily increasing. According to a foreign news report, Korean was actually confirmed as the seventh most studied language in the world last year. Considering the rising interest in Korean language by foreigners, which has been driven by the Hallyu craze, it is necessary to have a significant opportunity such as Korean Language Day for people around the world to better recognize the historical and cultural value of the Korean language. [Cited Materials] Chinese Language Day | United Nations Link: https://www.un.org/zh/observances/chinese-language-day/english Official Languages | United Nations Link: https://www.un.org/en/our-work/official-languages 180 million Korean Wave fans worldwide... A 19-fold increase in 10 years Financial News article, written March 10th, 2023 Link: https://www.fnnews.com/news/202303101118234671 Foreigners in Korean learning craze, more than 10,000 people waiting to register Herald Economy article, written Feburary 13th, 2023 Link: http://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20230212000191 [image] International Days and Weeks | United Nations Link: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-days-and-weeks 2023년 4월 20일. 이 날은 유엔(UN)에서 지정한 중국어의 날입니다. 중국 사람들이 중국어 문자를 발명했다고 여겨지는 고대 신화 속 인물인 창힐을 이 날에 기린다는 사실과 관련이 있습니다. 유엔(UN)에 따르면, 언어의 날은 "다양한 언어와 문화적 다양성을 축하하며, 조직 내 모든 공식 언어의 공평한 사용을 촉진"하고자 만들어졌습니다. 또한 "내부 커뮤니티 내 각 언어의 역사, 문화, 성취를 인식하고 존중하는 인식을 높이기 위한" 목적을 가지고 있습니다. 4월 한 달에만 20일 중국어의 날과 함께 23일에 영어의 날과 스페인어의 날이 함께 지정되어 있습니다. 위와 같은 상황을 고려하면, 자연스레 다음과 같은 의문이 생깁니다. "왜 한국어의 날은 없을까?" 표면적인 이유는 한국어가 유엔에서 사용되는 공식 언어 중 하나가 아니기 때문일 것입니다. 그러나 한국어의 날이 아직 존재하지 않는다는 것은 우리에게 시사하는 바가 큽니다. 최근 언론 보도를 통하여 전 세계 한류 팬의 숫자가 1억 7800만명에 도달했다는 소식이 전해졌습니다. 이와 더불어 한국어를 배우고자 하는 외국인의 수도 꾸준히 증가하는 추세인데다, 한 외신 보도에 의하면 한국어가 2022년에 세계에서 일곱번째로 많이 학습된 언어로 확인되었다고 합니다. 한류 열풍에 힘입어 한국어에 대한 외국인들의 관심 역시 커지고 있다는 점을 감안한다면, 한국어의 날과 같이 전 세계 사람들 모두가 한국어의 역사•문화적 가치를 인식할 수 있는 뜻깊은 기회가 필요합니다. [인용 자료] 중국어의 날 | 유엔 (UN) 링크: https://www.un.org/zh/observances/chinese-language-day/english 공식 언어 | 유엔 (UN) 링크: https://www.un.org/en/our-work/official-languages 전 세계 한류 팬 1억7800만명...10년새 19배 증가 파이낸셜뉴스 2023년 3월 10일자 기사 링크: https://www.fnnews.com/news/202303101118234671 외국인 한글 배우기 열풍, 수강 대기 1만명 넘어 헤럴드경제 2023년 2월 13일자 기사 링크: http://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20230212000191 [이미지] 국제 주간과 날 | 유엔 (UN) 링크: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-days-and-weeks

The United Nations is not following the principle that it has made on its own.

▶ Bridgeasia 사이트 '청원 참여방법' 한국어 소개 https://blog.naver.com/vank1999/222571709835 The United Nations is not following the principle that it has made on its own. By breaking the international principle that the UN had made by itself, the UN is marking 'Sea of Japan' exclusively on its home page rather than 'East Sea.' At this moment, the UN web site providing geospatial information of the world is only marking 'Sea of Japan', while excluding 'East Sea' on its home page. https://www.un.org/geospatial/mapsgeo/webservices This is a violation of the international principle issued by the UN itself. In 1977, the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names(UNCSGN) announced the principle and adopted the resolution that bordering or neighboring countries that persist in using only the name each prefers to agree on a common name and, if they fail to do so, to use both names concurrently. Therefore, the UN using this map which is only marking 'Sea of Japan' is violating its own principle. Above all, while well known world-wide publishers and cartographic companies are marking both 'East Sea' and 'Sea of Japan' on its maps, the UN violating its own principle is not an exemplary behavior. Today, National Geographic, Dorling Kindersley and Lonely Planet, the most well-known cartographic company, textbook publisher, and travel guidebook publisher, respectively, is marking both 'East Sea' and 'Sea of Japan' on its published materials. In 2000, only 3% of world maps at that time marked the 'East Sea' but for 2021, more than 40% of world maps include the notation 'East Sea.' Also, in 2014, the State of Virginia in the United States have passed the 'East Sea Bill', and in 2019, the State of New York updated a portion of curriculum involving the 'East Sea,' so that all textbooks published since mark the 'East Sea' http://whyeastsea.prkorea.com/virginia-passed-the-east-sea-bill/ http://whyeastsea.prkorea.com/eastsea-in-newyork/ The United Nations should follow its own principle and notate both 'East Sea' and 'Sea of Japan' on its homepage. We request the United Nations to correct its notation 'Sea of Japan' to 'East Sea/Sea of Japan'. 국제연합(UN)이 스스로가 정한 원칙을 지키지 않고 있습니다. UN은 자신들이 발표한 국제 원칙을 어기면서 자신이 운영하는 사이트에서 동해를 일본해로 단독 표기하고 있습니다. 현재 UN은 세계 위치 정보를 제공하는 사이트에서 동해를 일본해(Sea of Japan)로 단독 표기하고 있습니다. https://www.un.org/geospatial/mapsgeo/webservices 이는 UN 스스로 발표했던 국제 원칙을 위반하는 것입니다. 1977년 유엔지명표준화회의(UNCSGN)는 2개국 이상이 공유하는 지형물의 단일 명칭 합의가 어려울 경우 각각 사용하는 명칭을 병기한다는 원칙을 발표했으며 결의안 또한 채택했습니다. 따라서 UN에서 일본해 단독 표기 지도를 사용하는 것은 UN이 정한 원칙을 UN이 어기는 것입니다. 무엇보다 세계적인 교과서 출판사와 지도 회사들은 기존 일본해 단독 표기를 동해/일본해 병기로 수정하여 표기하고 있는 상황에서 UN이 스스로가 정한 원칙을 지키지 않는 것은 국제기구로서 모범이 되지 못하는 행위입니다. 현재 세계적인 지도 제작 출판사 내셔널 지오그래픽(National Geographic), 교과서 출판사 돌링 킨더슬리(DK), 관광안내서 출판사 론리 플래닛(Lonely Planet)에서는 일본해 단독 표기가 아닌 동해/일본해 병기를 하고 있으며, 2000년 당시 전 세계 지도의 3%만 동해를 표기했지만, 2021년 현재 40% 이상으로 확산되었습니다. 또한 2014년 미국 버지니아 주가 동해/일본해 공동 표기 법안을 선포하였고, 2019년 미국 뉴욕 주 교육청은 동해/일본해 병기를 확정해서 이후 출판되는 모든 교과서에 동해를 표기하게 된 바 있습니다. <관련 자료> http://whyeastsea.prkorea.com/virginia-passed-the-east-sea-bill/?fbclid=IwAR1WwTdW6qJJofj4U1P-ByZ4l6Fl2ejAaBTmpPofNEWbkOpoYIAMdHCtHxE http://whyeastsea.prkorea.com/eastsea-in-newyork/?fbclid=IwAR2yG-n47E4Z0b5u0D15txXm8WG-dPC0v4_VfCGL0Z_UP8eMzfNAWfcTR4Q UN 또한 스스로 만든 원칙을 준수하며 동해(East Sea)와 일본해(Sea of Japan)를 사이트에서 병기해야 합니다. 우리는 UN이 일본해 단독 표기를 수정하고 바로 잡을 것을 요구합니다!

Change the Future,

with Weform

1,379
1,379people taking action
on Weform
392,689
392,689people raising
their voices for global justice
14,496
14,496people joining
the movement for change