The Education Ministry said Wednesday it would announce next week its decision on the possible reinstatement of state-published history textbooks for secondary education, a move that is expected to put an end to the yearlong speculation but start a fresh round of standoffs between rival groups.

The ministry has mulled whether or not to bestow itself with exclusive rights to publish history textbooks, which has caused rifts in the National Assembly and in education circles. Korea currently allows local publishers to author the textbooks for secondary education, which are certified by the government for public use.

A ministry official said the announcement will be made after the parliamentary audit on government organizations wraps up this week, but claimed the ministry is still undecided on the matter.

But sources say the government and ruling Saenuri Party are set on bringing back state textbooks ― first implemented in 1974 and then revoked in 2002.

Cheong Wa Dae supported such speculation by saying earlier Wednesday: “There is no change in position that the history textbook with a balanced view should be developed,” reminding the press of President Park Geun-hye’s past comments.

Park said last year that textbooks in use contained factual errors and ideological bias, and that they should be fixed.

The opposition claims that reinstating the system will result in the textbooks being influenced by whoever is in power. Professors from universities across the country ― most recently Hanyang University and Kyung Hee University ― have released statements opposing the state history textbooks.

Those who oppose the state textbooks raise concerns that the government may whitewash flaws of controversial figures including Park’s father, former President Park Chung-hee, who is criticized for his dictatorial rule that spanned over two decades.

But the proponents of the state history textbooks claim that many of the authors for privately published textbooks are biased in favor of the leftists. Although the ministry has not commented while rival parties exchanged blows, it said in a briefing last week that the textbooks should not be used to express one’s ideological views.

“Many citizens are expressing concerns that textbooks, which should unify the people and foster a balanced view of history, are being used as tools for ideological disputes,” a ministry official said, adding that the appeal was “incomprehensible.” The message came as the ministry criticized the authors of high school textbooks for appealing a court order to revise sections of books that were deemed biased and incorrect.

The ministry even said that some parts looked like a “North Korean textbook” ― attacking the rival party ― reiterating its claims that the current textbooks are filled with lopsided views and errors. The unusually strong words were widely perceived as a signal of the government’s determination to change the publication system.

The ministry’s fierce criticism of the privately published history textbooks was echoed by the Saenuri Party in the National Assembly on Thursday, which labeled them as “antistate” and “leftist.”

“It appears that (the textbooks) are biased with leftist viewpoints. ... Even if North Korea is a dictatorial, failed state, the textbooks depict it like it is a normally operated country,” said Saenuri leader Rep. Kim Moo-sung at his party’s Supreme Council meeting.

But Rep. Moon Jae-in, leader of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, said that reviving state history textbooks would “turn back the clock to the era of dictatorship.”

“Both the government and Saenuri Party should drop their attempts to tame and control the historical views of the people. Hiding and glorifying will not alter the facts,” he said at an NPAD Supreme Council meeting.


By Yoon Min-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)