Voluntary Agency Network of Korea

VANK (반크), an acronym for Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (사이버 외교사절단 반크), is an Internet-based South Korean organization consisting of 100,000 South Korean members and 30,000 international members.

Voluntary Agency Network of Korea
Hangul
사이버 외교사절단 반크
Revised RomanizationSaibeo oegyosajeoldan bankeu
McCune–ReischauerSaibŏ oegyosajŏltan pank'ŭ

Activities

Examples of campaigns they have conducted include spreading the story of the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo, and about Jikji, the world's oldest extant book printed using movable metal type.[1]

VANK publishes reading materials, postcards, maps, and videos. VANK's self-built online database and published books with information about Korea are acknowledged by overseas universities as recommended learning resources about Korea.[2][3][4][5] As a way to exchange cultures and connect with foreigners, VANK also conducts surveys about foreigners' opinion of Korea, such as a notable survey about what aspects of Korea interest foreigners the most.[6][7][8]

VANK disputes certain terms and information regarding Korea's geographic names or about Korean history.[9][10] The head of the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea said the organization has corrected hundreds of mistaken statements by foreign governments about South Korea.[11] VANK also raises awareness for Japanese war crimes.[12]

Donation

VANK is a non-governmental and private organisation. According to VANK, they do not receive money from any organisation or corporation, and are run by donations.[13][14] In fact, it receives funds from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of South Korea.[15]; however, the amount has been decreased in recent years, from 80 million won in 2006 to 30 million won in 2008.[16][17]

Criticism

VANK has been accused of promoting Korea at the expense of Japan. Critics claim that VANK has attempted to bully and discount Japan and Japanese culture, manipulate history during and after World War II and have other countries believe in distorted perspectives related to Japanese-Korean history that have a bias favoring Korea.[18][19][20]

An About.com spokesman, relating his company's decision to use the name "East Sea" to refer to the body of water otherwise known as the Sea of Japan, stated that they chose to use the name "not necessarily because it agreed with the South Korean geography activists but because the e-mail bombardment was annoying." Likewise, the National Geographic Society and other websites have changed their maps as a result of a similar e-mail onslaught. In the About.com case, it received more than 20 e-mails per day for more than a year before it finally changed the name.[21][22]

In Asia Times Online, it was reported that the South Korean government is offering rewards to the students who participate in the activities of VANK, most of which are centered on the issues of the Sea of Japan.[22]

VANK is also selective about its targets. While they are aggressively campaigning against Japan, they appear to have little interest in the historical and geographical issues with China. It has never challenged the name "Yellow Sea", the body of water between China and Korea, which is normally referred to as "Sohae" meaning "West Sea" by the Korean.[22][23]

gollark: Of course, it's possible I just made up the achievement thing's existence to make people do stupid stuff.
gollark: I don't think they actually care. Sad!
gollark: I am sure it will be found in time.
gollark: I added yet another exciting achievement.
gollark: Interesting. Added to your apiological profile.

See also

References
  1. "반크(VANK), 직지세계화에 나선다", The Chosun Ilbo, 2006-09-25, retrieved 2006-09-25
  2. East Asia Languages and Cultures University of Notre Dame
  3. Multicultural Resources Angelo State University
  4. Korean studies for Global Understanding George Mason University
  5. Center for Korean Studies UCLA
  6. Korean cooking classes available for expats October 26, 2010 Korea Herald
  7. Korea’s Cyber Vigilantes foreignpolicy
  8. About VANK VANK
  9. "CIA gets its Korea facts wrong", The Inquirer, 2006-12-13, retrieved 2007-10-06
  10. Northeast Asia's intra-mural mural wars By David Scofield Dec 23, 2003, Asiatimes
  11. Organization corrects South Korea errors UPI, 15-DEC-06
  12. "VANK to highlight war crimes committed by Japan's Unit 731".
  13. Interview of VANK(in Korean) dcnews, 2008-12-01
  14. History Distortion, Do not Move! hanyangian.com
  15. "Official Support for 'Cyber Diplomats' to Continue", The Chosun Ilbo, 2008-10-22, retrieved 2008-10-28
  16. "반크 정부 지원예산 삭감에 네티즌 반발 거세", Asia Today, 2008-10-21, retrieved 2008-10-21
  17. "VANK支援問題：李大統領、予算配分を直接指示", The Chosun Ilbo, 2008-10-25, archived from the original on 2008-10-26, retrieved 2008-10-25
  18. 왕길환 (2013-05-03). "반크, '아시아서 일본 왕따시키기' 전략 펼친다". 연합뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  19. "반크,'일본 디스카운트' 운동". m.munhwa.com (in Korean). 2005-03-25. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  20. "The identity of VANK". Hanadaプラス│月刊誌・月刊『Hanada』ウェブ版. 2020-03-07. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  21. Sea of Japan vs. East Sea, About.com: Geography, February 24, 2002
  22. Scofield, David (2003-12-23), "Northeast Asia's intra-mural mural wars", Asia Times, archived from the original on 2012-07-18, retrieved 2007-10-06
  23. "The Name Sea of Japan (Japan Sea) : JHOD". www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
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