Dispute over history textbook deepens

By Na Jeong-ju

The head of an advisory panel for Education Minister Lee Ju-ho on revising guidelines for history textbooks resigned from the post amid a controversy over descriptions of ideological issues, officials said Thursday.

The resignation came in protest of the ministry’s recent decision to adopt what liberals called a conservative stance on portraying important events in the country’s modern history.

For instance, the government erased descriptions of the May 18 Democratic Movement, a popular uprising against the dictatorship of former President Chun Doo-hwan in 1980, in the revised version despite opposition from liberal historians.

The revised version was made public on Tuesday.

The panel’s head, Prof. Lee Ik-joo of University of Seoul, stepped down Tuesday, saying the ministry failed to reflect its opinions in drawing up new textbook guidelines.

“There is no reason for me to remain in this position. I asked the ministry to address different views among panel members, but it didn’t. It’s deeply regrettable,” Lee said in a statement.

The panel originally had 21 members, but 10 of them have resigned, alleging that the conservative government of President Lee Myung-bak is attempting to distort the modern history.

The revised version will be a key reference for textbook publishers. They plan to release revised versions of history textbooks for middle school students early next year. Only government-approved versions will be available at schools.

Earlier, the ministry decided to describe the country’s state system as “liberal democracy” instead of just “democracy,” reflecting suggestions from conservatives.

Advocates of the use of liberal democracy say the term differentiates South Korea from North Korea as the meaning of democracy has become vague.

On the other hand, opponents claim the use of liberal democracy could irritate North Korea and jeopardize inter-Korean relations.

They said the term is associated with capitalism, competition and, more specifically, the country’s former authoritarian leaders who championed chaebol-oriented, growth-first economic policies.