(Editorial) On distortions in Korean history books written by the ‘new right’

A section of the Korean history textbook for high school students from the Korea Institute of Learning Evaluation about Syngman Rhee. The text refers to “seven figures who changed the course of Korean history after liberation” and lists Rhee first, at the top left. (Yonhap)

There is a debate about historical distortions in connection with an authorized Korean history book written by authors with “new right” leanings. The book in question will be studied by high school students starting in March next year.

The reason for the controversy is that there is ample evidence that the Japanese military is trying to downplay the issue of women being victims of sexual slavery, while defending South Korea’s former dictatorships.

There are also media reports that one of the authors of the textbook in question is currently a youth advisor to Education Minister Lee Ju-ho. This is not the time for the ministry to remain silent.

Recently, the Ministry of Education published in its bulletin the results of an evaluation of approved textbooks for primary schools, secondary schools and colleges based on the new education curriculum.

The book is a Korean history textbook published by the Korea Institute of Learning Evaluation (KILE). This is the first time the publisher has gone through an authorization process for a history textbook, but the content of its “Korean History 2,” which presents figures and events from modern and contemporary Korean history, differs significantly from other texts.

Rather than specifically referring to the sexual exploitation of the ‘comfort women’, the textbook states that ‘young women were taken to places like China and Southeast Asia and subjected to horrific lives’. Compared to other textbooks, it offers a limited explanation of the problem, using the most abstract terms possible.

It also gives much attention to former South Korean President Syngman Rhee, but describes his rule as a “long-term possession of power” rather than referring to it as a dictatorship. The significance of the government influence scandal during the Park Geun-hye administration is downplayed, citing “accusations of civilian involvement in state affairs.”

The historical insights of the writers are so distorted that they are completely unsuitable for writing school books.

At previous seminars and other gatherings, these writers have expressed their problems with old school textbooks, which they accused of being “eager to show all the painful memories of civilians injured or killed as a result of policies during the Liberal Party and military governments” or of “publishing self-pitying narratives written in schematic binary terms, with Japan as a ‘strong, bad country’ and Korea as a ‘weak, virtuous country.’”

In the case of the KILE textbook “Korean History 1,” there have been accusations of plagiarism from previous state textbooks. Questions have been raised in the past about the company’s ability to write with a staff of only six people. The end result has indeed caused a controversy over sloppy writing.

The Ministry of Education reportedly does not plan to release information about whether the government asked publishers to make changes during the authorization process, or whether parts of the text match such requests.

The ministry has explained that the minister’s youth adviser was only involved in the first draft of the textbook last year before moving to the Ministry of Education. However, recent revelations have revealed that he only left the writing team on August 21 this year.

The Ministry of Education must respond to the concerns and questions raised during this authorization process by providing answers that are acceptable to the South Korean public.

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