Building on its previous efforts to address distorted perceptions of Korean history in global textbooks, encyclopedias, and maps, VANK is now taking on the challenge of changing global biases against Asians.
In light of ongoing racial discrimination and hate crimes against Asian communities across the United States, VANK has launched a new online educational platform titled “History of Discrimination and Hate Against Asians” to raise awareness and drive change.
The issue of racial discrimination and hate crimes against Asians remains a persistent problem in the United States. On Christmas Eve 2022, a man directed racial slurs at two Korean Americans in a California restaurant, an incident that shocked the public. Additionally, in 2022, Los Angeles saw a record number of 692 hate crimes, marking the highest annual figure to date. A report from the statistical analysis platform Crosstown revealed that hate crimes in the LA area have increased for nine consecutive years.
In response to this troubling trend, the White House announced in January 2023 that the U.S. government would strengthen its efforts to address hate crimes against Asians. The White House noted that, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes targeting Asians increased significantly, rising by 73% in 2020 compared to 2019. The U.S. government has also emphasized that the Department of Justice and the Department of Education are working to improve educational initiatives in schools to prevent such crimes. They have also created a website with information on how to report and respond to hate crimes, available in 24 languages, including Korean.
However, anti-Asian racism is not limited to the United States. Discrimination against Asians has also been prevalent in Europe, Canada, and Australia, with the pandemic being used as a justification for openly racist behavior. Incidents of random violence on the streets, as well as cases of unfair dismissals and forced school transfers, have been reported. VANK believes that South Korea must take a more active role in addressing these global issues, as Koreans could also become targets of these hate crimes.
One key question is why hate crimes against Asians have surged worldwide. A major factor is the unjust portrayal of Asians as the source of the pandemic and the spreaders of the virus.
In response to this alarming rise in anti-Asian hate, VANK has launched a global campaign to actively address this issue. To this end, VANK has established an online educational platform designed to educate the public about the history of discrimination and hate against Asians.
The exhibition on the platform highlights that the rise in hate crimes against Asians is not a temporary phenomenon caused by the pandemic, but rather a deep-rooted issue with historical roots. VANK plans to promote this online learning platform to teachers involved in multicultural and global citizenship education at elementary, middle, and high schools across the country. Additionally, an English version of the site will be made available to a global audience.
Through this initiative, VANK aims to create public awareness about the roots of anti-Asian hate and discrimination, and foster discussions about how to address these issues effectively. The campaign will also seek to unite Asian communities worldwide to combat this hate and build a stronger, more informed global movement for change.