<2013.05.02>
On April 10, the Straits Times, one of Singapore’s most influential newspapers, published an article that incorrectly described Baekje, an ancient Korean kingdom, as a tributary state of Japan.
According to late 2008 circulation data, the Straits Times had a daily print run of approximately 374,000 copies, making it one of the most widely read newspapers in Singapore.
This serious historical inaccuracy aligns with the discredited theory of “Imna Japanese Headquarters”, which was promoted by Japanese scholars during the colonial period to distort Korean history and assert dominance over the Korean Peninsula.
To describe Baekje as a subordinate to Japan is not only factually incorrect but also perpetuates colonial-era historical distortion.
The issue was brought to light on April 13 by Mr. Kim Kyung-mook, a Korean student studying in Singapore, who reported it to VANK.
Here is part of his message:
Hello,
I’m Kim Kyung-mook, a Korean student studying in Singapore.
I found a historically inaccurate statement in a highly respected Asian English-language newspaper, The Straits Times, which describes Baekje as a tributary of Japan:“…the war between Tang China and the Paekche, a tributary of Japan, on the Korean peninsula in 663.”
I’ve already sent a correction request, but I thought it might help if VANK members also submitted similar requests.
Although I know you’re the privacy officer, this was the only email address I could find on the website. I would appreciate it if you could forward this to the appropriate department.(Note: The article’s author, Tommy Koh, is a respected elder diplomat and scholar in Singapore, which makes this issue even more concerning.)
— Kim Kyung-mook
After receiving Mr. Kim’s report, VANK’s research staff registered the error in its International Error Monitoring Database, sent an official correction letter to the newspaper, and also shared the case with VANK members to encourage collective correction efforts.
The specific error was the sentence:
“…the war between Tang China and the Paekche, a tributary of Japan, on the Korean peninsula in 663.”
Labeling Baekje as a “tributary of Japan” is a serious historical distortion and has no basis in academic consensus. VANK is continuing to call for an official correction from The Straits Times to ensure the historical truth is accurately reflected.
In the official letter sent by VANK, historical facts were presented to refute the Imna Japanese Headquarters theory, aiming to persuade the newspaper to correct the error.
The letter explained that this theory was fabricated by Japanese scholars during the colonial period to justify Japan’s occupation of Korea.
Furthermore, it was noted that the Kojiki, the foundational source of the Nihon Shoki—where the theory appears—does not contain any mention of such a claim, undermining its credibility.
The letter also emphasized that during the 4th to 6th centuries, Japan was not a unified nation-state capable of establishing colonial outposts abroad.
Japan at the time lacked the shipbuilding technology necessary to transport large armies across the sea.
In contrast, Baekje people migrated to Japan in the 4th century and played a significant role in the development of Japanese culture, governance, and technology.
As a result of these efforts, The Straits Times issued a correction on April 24, acknowledging the error in the original article.
The newspaper cited a letter from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Singapore, clarifying that Baekje was not a Japanese colony.
You can view the correction published by The Straits Times here:
🔗 Setting the record straight on Japan ‘tributary’
