Ministry criticizes opponents of Kyohak book
The Ministry of Education said yesterday that the schools that dropped their initial plans to use a history textbook by Kyohak Publishing Company did so because of outside pressure, pointing fingers at civic and education groups that have waged protests in recent weeks.The statement served to further fuel the ongoing controversy surrounding the right-wing book.
“Following a special investigation into 20 schools, we have concluded that they reversed their initial decisions [to use the Kyohak textbook] because of relentless criticism from civic groups to stave off potential confusion and discord in the classroom,” Vice Education Minister Na Seung-il said during a press briefing yesterday at the Sejong Government Complex.
Na called these actions by outside groups “pressure that gravely hampers the independence of concerned schools.”
The ministry’s announcement yesterday came after it conducted a special two-day investigation into the schools that reversed their initial decision to use the Kyohak textbook after days of intensifying public backlash both on the Internet and in the classroom.
The Kyohak history textbook came under fire for having a conservative bias. Critics said it soft-pedaled its criticism of Japanese colonial rule and the 18-year dictatorship of Park Chung Hee. They also claimed that it overemphasized his economic achievements.
Additionally, the book was heavily criticized for its description of the May 18 Gwangju Massacre. Critics argued that the book implied that civilian casualties in the city were the result of an uprising by the civilian militia, not forces deployed by the military government.
Of the approximately 800 high schools nationwide, some 20 schools initially announced plans to use the Kyohak textbook, which sparked protests from liberals, civic groups and students. But under increasing pressure, a number of schools dropped their plans to use the book.
It now appears that Cheongsong Girls’ High School in North Gyeongsang is the only school still going ahead with the Kyohak textbook.
Some have criticized liberal-leaning civic groups and activists for politicizing education and breaching the autonomy of schools.
Amid the squabbling, the ruling Saenuri Party said that the government should take responsibility for writing and publishing the textbook, claiming doing so would prevent such disputes and ensure a balanced perspective of history.
“If the current textbook approval system results in the kinds of social problems we have seen in recent days, then maybe we should have a serious discussion about reinstating government-designated textbooks like we did in the past,” Choi Kyung-hwan, the floor leader of the Saenuri Party, said yesterday.
Na said the government is not considering government-designated textbooks.
BY KANG JIN-KYU [jkkang2@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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