Dispute Erupts Over Right-Wing Textbook
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
A conservative high school history textbook is igniting a fresh round of ideological conflicts as it acknowledges Japanese colonial rule's (1910-1945) contribution to the modernization of Korea.
The New Rights' Textforum's textbook focusing on ``modernization'' and pragmatism rather than ideology or ``ethics'' has put a twist on historical events. Historians and civic groups are denouncing the new textbook, calling it a ``distortion'' of history.
The most controversial parts are its evaluation of Japanese colonial rule and several military juntas. It says, ``it was the period where Koreans had the time and chance to get the ability to establish a modern state.''
The head of the Textfroum Prof. Lee Young-hoon, who used to cite Japan's contribution, was one of the 12 politically conservative professors who authored the book. He said he wanted to bring new aspects of history to light.
The economics expert said, ``these days, textbooks are written by leftists. But we wanted to paint a bigger picture of history,'' adding that colonials rule should not be judged in black and white.
Former President Park Chung-hee was also brought to the fore again.
Park walked a thin line between dictator ― taking hundreds of people's lives and destroying the country's democratic process ― versus a great leader who paved the road for Korea to become a strong economy.
Though admitting his advance into politics with the use of the military in 1961 was an illegal coup, the book says Park's regime gave Korea the chance to strengthen its national defense, and development in the chemicals industry. However, it does not mention Park's dark side― suppressing protests, which led to hundreds of people's deaths.
The textbook also sheds light on the founding members of the Republic of Korea― Syngman Rhee and his compatriots. While many current textbooks or class material say they leaned toward Japan and worked for the colonial government but were not properly punished, the book says they were just professionals who happened to be close to Japan.
On the other hand, the textbook undervalues several parts of what many people acknowledge as ``good.'' Kim Gu (1876-1949), an independence fighter and one of the most respected figures in Korean history, is written as someone who did ``nothing for the Republic of Korea.'' ``In his negotiations with the North in 1948, he gained nothing and he did not contribute to the new nation,'' it says.
Also, the book denounces the April 3. Jeju Uprising in 1947 as a mere ``riot.'' While a special committee was established to investigate the event and former President Roh Moo-hyun has openly apologized for the authorities having unjustly suppressed the people of Jeju calling for independence and democracy, the book says it was an uprising of leftists.
Park Han-yong of the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities said: ``The new right believes that economic growth can justify anything. They are trying to portray Japanese colonialism as an attempt to help Koreans with modernization. It is clear the authors were not trained in looking at events in perspective.''