“The state-authored textbooks are an outright violation of democracy. The reinstatement of the textbooks is, by definition, null and void. We will seek every legal and administrative measure possible to block the government from issuing state-authored textbooks,” said Moon.

The remark came a day after Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn’s announcement that the government would officially publish a single government-issued history textbook for middle and high school students from 2017. The address followed a 20-day period to promote the policy and collect the public opinion. 

Hwang had said in a press conference that government should fix “biased” views in current textbooks that were in favor of North Korea.

Dismissing the government’s move as an “insult” and “lie” to the people, Moon highlighted that the state textbooks would distort Korea’s modern history.

Moon also reiterated that the government had failed to canvass public opinion during the 20-day mandatory consultation period on the policy. The government moved up the official announcement of the policy to Nov. 3, two days earlier than it had originally scheduled.

Following Moon’s press conference, the ruling Saenuri Party issued a public statement in rebuttal. The Saenuri Party labeled Moon’s remark as an attempt to reinforce his party leadership and attract more voters in the lead-up to the 2016 general election.

“We can’t believe that the main opposition leader made such a manipulative remark. ... It is nothing but a gimmick to prop up his faltering leadership by getting his party members preoccupied with the textbook issue,” the Saenuri Party spokesman Rep. Lee Jang-woo said in a statement.

Saenuri whip Rep. Won Yu-chul echoed Lee’s sentiments, and called Moon’s remark political propaganda that threatens to divide the nation, demanding the NPAD return to the National Assembly and focus on legislative work. The NPAD has boycotted the parliamentary session until Wednesday.

Meanwhile, former NPAD co-chairman Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo offered Wednesday his own take on the political stalemate over the textbook controversy. Ahn urged the NPAD to withdraw from its boycott of the Assembly, though he shared the party’s frustration with the government’s policy.

“I understand (the boycott) is one of the ways to deliver our message, but we cannot do it forever. If the NPAD took the lead (in the confrontation), then the issue would turn into a matter of scuffles between the rival parties. I don’t think it is a good strategy to resolve the issue,” said Ahh in a press conference. 

By Yeo Jun-suk(jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)