By Bahk Eun-ji
Several high schools, which chose the controversial Korean history textbook of Kyohak Publishing, have announced the withdrawal of their decision, as parents and students are dead set against it.
Kyohak's book has created a stir across the nation in the lead up to the beginning of the 2014 academic year. Critics claim that it has an ideologically biased presentation of the history of the Korean peninsula.
Of the 800 high schools nationwide, nine schools picked the controversial textbook _ Changmun Girls' High in Seoul; Dongwon in Suwon; Posan in Daegu; Hyundae in Ulsan; Changnyeong, Hapcheon Girls'and Jirisan in South Gyeongsang Province; and Sangsan in South Jeolla Province.
Seven of the schools cited above have announced their decision to drop the controversial textbook and the remaining two said they are still considering whether or not to reconsider their decision.
The decision by the seven school's to retreat was influenced by the relentless public outcry against the textbooks in question. History teacher Gong Ki-tak of Dongwoo posted on his Facebook on Thursday after the school decided to adopt the Kyohak textbook, that they were forced to pick it. He also said the school principal kept pestering teachers to choose the textbook.
Following his post, students of the school also put hand-written posters on the schools wall to protest the decision too, eventually leading to the school's cancellation of its plan on Friday.
Graduates of Dongwon also participated in the protest action.
The students used the posters to tell the school's authorities that they want to gain a balanced perspective of history by studying objective textbooks that contain correct historical facts.
After civic group members visited Posan Friday to protest against the school's decision, the school also decided to retreat.
"We apologize for making many people uncomfortable and will discuss to choose another history textbook at a school management committee," said Posan principal Kim Ho-kyung.
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