do Koreans learns about world war two/the Holocaust in school? recently Chaeyoung from the band Twice wore a shirt with a swastika on it and I think it's somewhat understandable since it is also a symbol in buddhism but some people online were claiming that Koreans typically don't learn about ww2 or the Holocaust in schools. is this true? would an average Korean not know the meaning of the swastika outside of Buddhism?

Question

Im_learning_English · Answer

I'm sure the Holocaust and WW2 are learned in all countries in the world. Koreans also learn about them in detail. Not only Europeans but also many Asians including Koreans were the victims of WW2 due to Japan's militaristic past. Since Japan is very different from Germany in terms of looking at their dark history, Korea is still in serious disputes with Japan over so many historic issues.

I didn't know about the incident. Not all Koreans are interested in idol bands. I'm certain that no Koreans support genocide, war crimes, dictatorship, crimes against humanity and any kind of way to glorify war criminals.
I have no idea about what kind of person she is, but I'd say she was stupid, ignorant and thoughtless when she wore the shirt and posted the photo. Twice is a global band. She should have been careful not to be unnecessarily misunderstood. She needs to know that her everything is being watched by the people from all around the world whether she wants or not. I want to believe that she didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings by wearing such a shirt. I'm sorry that she wasn't thoughtful.

By the way, I'd like to ask you a question related to this kind of issue. Do most Europeans know what Japanese Rising Sun Flag stands for? 
It's the same as Hakenkreuz to Asians. But unfortunately, Koreans have witnessed so many Westerners who're careless about the Japanese Rising Sun flag while they so much care about the Nazi flag. Some celebs like Sean Lennon (and his gf as well) often show their serious ignorance by using the image of the rising sun flag in public pretty often. Many seriously ignorant people even think that the pattern is just a fashion symbol.
I wonder why there are still brainless people like them all around the world whether they're Korean or not.

winterlover · Answer

We learn about them, and everyone knows how Nazi swastika looks.
I don't think the pattern on her shirt is a Nazi swastika. As far as I know, no shirts with a Nazi symbol are made and sold inside of Korea. But, as a member of a global pop band, it's obviously her fault. She was unthinking and made a terrible mistake. 
As mentioned above, Korea was one of the most seriously damaged countries during World War II. Koreans were almost like Asian Jews back in the war period. Many Koreans were killed by the Japanese just like Jews were killed by Nazi. There is no reason for Koreans to support Nazi. After I saw your question, I googled some news related to the issue and read Koreans' comments. Almost all comments were negative about her carelessness.

I also hope that Westerners will learn about the meaning of the Japanese rising sun flag and stop stupidly using it as a fashion symbol. They need to learn about Asian history as we learn European history. The rising sun flag is the same as Nazi flag! It's very disappointing that Westerners don't know about the rising sun flag at all while they frown upon anything that looks similar to Nazi symbol. It's ridiculous.

YIC8236 · Answer

We do learn obviously. But not as detailed as in Europe or in America. (I say this that the average knows basic and general of world history but not as very specific as Europe history taught in Europe. the understanding level of Europe history is as same as the understanding level for Europeans to realize what happened in Pacific War/Cold War in Asia)

Average Korean know what swastika is, what happened in WW1 and WW2/ how it took place. However, those who prepare for K-pop Idols or whatever mostly attend at specific high schools, whose academic curriculum is more focused on arts, music, dance and does not teach core academic subjects (Korean,English, Math, Science, History) as much as general high school does. So there are sometimes even issues in S.K that those celebrities do not know historic or cultural stuffs.

And, If I ask citizens of your nation all know Calculus, it would be No. right? Same here. Like many other countries, Some Korean do study, others don't. So, Some don't know what it is, the others know better than common Europeans.

YIC8236 · Answer

@Raikim I do not misunderstand you. I am not upset nor think that you look down on Korean.

These three are what I just want to say.
1. WWII and Holocaust are taught in Korean secondary school but not as deep as this topic in European/American history class.
2. something taught in school does not mean that everyone knows it.
3. Those who prepare for Idols do not study what 'general korean secondary school teach' because they focus on dancing singing, etc.

So when you combine 2 and 3, you can understand that "There are 'some' K-pop Idols who are ignorant because what they learned is different from what others learned and because they do not care what they learned in school."

For instance, there was a K-pop Idol who did not know when Korea won independence from Japan (Which is absolutely very common sense for Koreans) lmfao.

Bunny_234 · Answer

We learn about WW2 in detail. It's one of the most tragic historic events in the history of mankind which was closely related to Korean history as well. It's impossible for Koreans to not know about Nazi and its symbol. I don't understand why she did that. Maybe she didn't think about it much.
I think Korea's history education is fairly good compared to many other countries. We learn Korean/Asian history and Western history as well. A lot of Koreans are interested in learning history, so there are many TV programs that teach history in Korea. Also, several history documentaries produced by famous international media are often broadcasted on TV.
As we all know, there are countless super popular movies about Nazi and WWII. Even if she wasn't interested in studying at all back in her school days, it's impossible for her to have not known about the image at all. 
I don't want to support her careless behavior, or ignorance. She's an adult, and adults have to be responsible for their behaviors. Also, she's an influencer. Ignorance is a fault. Hope she has learned a lesson through the experience.

Deleted user · Answer

@Im_learning_English That's a shame, but for example here in Poland we don't learn about Asia history at all. Only some staff that is present more like a fun facts. Before I started learning more about Asian cultures I didn't know that this flag existed and I thought about it only like a cool pattern to have on T-shirt or something.

Im_learning_English · Answer

@gabryssa1426 Ikr. Koreans learn how and when WW1&2 started and so many other things about other countries. But how about Westerners? Their history education about outside of the West is terrible.
It's hard for me to understand why they don't know the symbol/meaning of the Japanese rising sun flag. This kind of knowledge can be learned through so many other ways as well such as watching movies and historic tv shows. The flag has been appeared in so many worldwide famous Holleywood movies about WW2 and Japanese imperialism.

Deleted user · Answer

@Im_learning_English I agree with you, I'm just saying how it looks here. It's unfair and should be changed

dsutnjn · Answer

You mean this photo?
It's said that the person printed on the T-shirt is Sid Vicious of Sex Pistol who often used the Nazi swastika as a means of criticizing the society, which was very controversial back then.
I just read that it wasn't her first time to have made those horrible mistakes. Whether it's about Nazi or Japanese sun rising flag, both of them are incredibly ignorant and thick-headed. It's a common sense that both images mean horrors of war and carnage.

kuraimegami · Answer

@winterlover I've seen a whole k-pop dance school based in Seoul dressing their students in clothes of a brand, whose logo is pretty much the Reichsadler. So I'm afraid to tell you, clothes with nazi symbols seem to be available in Korea

winterlover · Answer

@kuraimegami NAZI symbols are not used for fashion in Korea. Everyone is disgusted at Nazi Germany and Japanese imperialism! 
If you have ever seen anyone use NAZI or Japanese sun rising images/symbols for fashion, tell them directly NOT to use them because they both stand for inhumanity. Those ignorant people need to be educated!
If you think Koreans use NAZI symbols in their daily life, come visit Korea and observe what kind of images and patterns are used for their everyday clothes. Go to many clothing stores as well.

Fyi, the Reichsadler itself is the heraldic eagle, derived from the Roman eagle standard, used by the Holy Roman Emperors. BUT NAZI ruined the original image by using it adding the Nazi swastika! They also ruined a swastika which is the image of buddhism and good fortune!

ahjae40s · Answer

@kuraimegami   I have a question. Was the image you saw just an eagle, or a Reichsadler with the Nazi swastika right under eagle's legs? I'm asking if what you saw is the one used by Nazi soldiers back in the WW2 period. You need to be clear about this first before you say that Nazi symbols are used by Koreans.
In my whole life, (other than a couple of stupid people like CY mentioned here. We call them "No Brain" and we're ashamed of them.) I have never seen any Korean who uses Nazi symbols for fashion. If there are the people who do that, they'll be cursed by the majority of Koreans as well as thousands of Europeans living in Korea. Jews are also living in Korea.
The attached photo is the Nazi Reichsadler that needs to be banned. I'm sure you know the difference between the two since you're German.
Eagle images are used for many ways in so many countries. It was the symbol/emblem of several empires in the past. It's even a national bird in quite a few countries including America(American bald eagle).

Bunny_234 · Answer

@kuraimegami   I agree with ahjae40. The image of just an eagle that looks a bit similar to the Roman Reichsadler is obviously different from 'the Nazi Reichsadler with the Nazi swastika'. You need to tell the difference between the two and clarify it before you say that Koreans use Nazi symbols. No Koreans will use Nazi symbols such as the Nazi Hackenkreuz and the Nazi Reichsadler for their fashion unless they hold something like an anti-Nazi performance. If they used the same one attached in ahjae40's response, please let me know. I want to let the school know that they made a terrible mistake.

kuraimegami · Answer

@ahjae40 Yes, I know what the Reichsadler looks like. The only difference is, that they removed the Hackenkreuz. Since keeping that would have been too obvious. But they kept the circle and everything else. I'm aware that only an eagle would not pose an issue. The issue is that the pose, style etc is the same, not just similar.
I honestly don't expect everyone to know what the Reichsadler looks like or what it is at all. So I gave them the benifit of the doubt. That doesn't change the meaning of the symbol though.

ahjae40s · Answer

@kuraimegami I have another question about the photo of a bottle I saw online.
I don't know German but there is a word 도이칠란드(Deutschland) on the bottle, and it doesn't seem to be produced during WW2. As you see, the eagle emblem doesn't have the Nazi swastika. I'm curious why this is used for a German beverage if you think an eagle emblem without the Nazi swastika is also a Nazi symbol.

kuraimegami · Answer

@ahjae40 Because it looks different. As I said an eagle itself is not an issue

ahjae40s · Answer

@kuraimegami  That's what I and other Korean users have also said. 
If you, a German, think the eagle emblem on the German wine bottle isn't a problem because an eagle itself isn't an issue, why did you point out the Korean students by saying "Nazi symbols"? 
Were the Korean dacing school students wearing 'the Nazi Reichsadler with the Nazi Hackenkreuz'? If what you said about the Korean students makes sense, it means, Nazi symbols are available in all countries in the world including Germany.

The problem of Korea's education is that we're required to learn/study about too many things and the levels of all subject taught were too high and advanced. When I was in high school, I Iearned nearly 20 subjects including world history. "Lack of education" is never a problem to a country like Korea although some stupid people like CY occassionaly come out and do stupid things. Most Koreans think of a person like her a great shame.

Many parts of Korean history are painful, a bit similar to Poland. As a small divided country surrounded by greed countries which are still distorting Korean history at a government level, history education is really important in Korea. Many Koreans try to learn more about their country as well as other countries in detail. Many average Koreans like me know about other countries well enough.

WorkhardPlayharder · Answer

@kuraimegami  Haven't you said that it's a fault of the Korean police when a foreigner posted a question about a German stalker who has been stalking a Korean girl, a member of a famous K-pop girl band? Koreans well explained to you that it's legally and realistically impossible for the Korean police to catch a German citizen living outside of Korea without the coorperation of the German police, but you spoke non sense. The question seems to be deleted but I still remember your unreasonable response. 
We haven't been able to catch a notorious Japanese extreme rightist for almost 10 years now although he did such a terrible thing(which is a serious crime in Korea) to statues of the victims of sex slaves for Japanese soldiers. Do you know why? It's because the Japanese government never cooperates with Korea.

Since many other people already gave good answers to this Swedish person's question, I'm not gonna write long. 
We learn WW2, Nazi and so many other things about other countries. I don't remember that I particularly learned the ins and outs of Nazi Reichsadler and Nazi Hackenkreuz but we naturally know that we must not use them.
I just can't agree with your absurd view of pointing out the Korean students since you also said that an eagle image itself isn't a problem. 
I have never seen/heard that there are crazy Korean fashion brands that use Nazi symbols - Nazi Reichsadler and Nazi Hackenkreuz -. Everything must be based on the exact truth when criticizing other country and other people.

@Im_learning_English I agree with you, I'm just saying how it looks here. It's unfair and should be changed

@winterlover I've seen a whole k-pop dance school based in Seoul dressing their students in clothes of a brand, whose logo is pretty much the Reichsadler. So I'm afraid to tell you, clothes with nazi symbols seem to be available in Korea

@ahjae40 Because it looks different. As I said an eagle itself is not an issue

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