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State-sponsored textbooks issued to 870,000 first and second grade elementary school students in Korea this year have mistakenly used photos featuring Japanese people on their covers. The mishap was confirmed after much speculation about the nationality of the subjects in the photos. They were said to have different features to Koreans, namely more defined double-creased eyelids and less-defined cheekbones.

The people who produced the textbooks admitted to the reality of the situation, saying, “The process of verifying photos chosen to suit the theme (of the textbooks) was not sufficient”.

The three integrated textbooks (out of a collection of eight) at the centre of the debacle are: Family 1Family 2 and Summer 1. The series, being used for the first time this year, offers instruction in correct living, clever living and enjoyable living.

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▲ The Summer 1 textbook photo

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▲ The Family 1 textbook photo

No further statements have been made regarding the issue, suggesting that there will be no changes to the textbooks at this stage.

Source: Itai News