VANK said on Sept. 11, 2026, that it is launching a campaign, #CorrectTheMap, urging non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international cooperation organizations working in areas such as health, education, children’s welfare and community development in Africa to use the Equal Earth projection world map, which the U.N. General Assembly has recommended for use.
The Equal Earth projection, whose use was recommended by the U.N. General Assembly this month, is a map projection designed to address the limitations of the Mercator projection, which makes high-latitude regions appear larger than they actually are. Unlike the Mercator projection, it more accurately reflects the actual relative sizes of continents and countries, including Africa, which appears much smaller on Mercator maps.
VANK called on NGOs and other organizations to review the world maps they use on their websites, in reports, educational materials and promotional content, and to join efforts to use equal-area projections, including the Equal Earth projection.
The organization also urged them to examine the map projections used in newly created or redesigned websites and materials, starting with the world maps they use, and to consider how those maps represent the relative sizes of different continents.
Hwang In-seon, a VANK youth researcher who planned the campaign, said she had noticed that organizations working to highlight Africa’s changes and potential also use world maps that make Africa appear relatively smaller than it actually is.
“If a map is being used to introduce activities for Africa, we also need to think about how large Africa is represented on that map,” Hwang said.
Hwang added, “As the U.N. General Assembly has also encouraged the use of equal-area projections, I hope NGOs and international cooperation organizations will actively join the effort to use Equal Earth maps.”
Park Gi-tae, head of VANK, said, “If the use of maps that present Africa’s actual size in a more balanced way becomes more widespread, it could also bring about positive changes in how the international community views Africa.”
“If organizations working in Africa take part in this change first, that in itself would send an important message that Africa is respected and viewed as an equal member of the global community,” he added.
VANK plans to launch an online petition and digital campaign encouraging NGOs and international cooperation organizations in Korea and abroad to use Equal Earth maps. It also plans to raise public awareness of the distortion of relative land area caused by the Mercator projection and the need for equal-area map projections.