Value context and insight. lkm@koreatimes.co.kr
Students oppose state-authored history textbook
A group of high school students protest a government plan to publish a state-authored history textbook, in Insa-dong, central Seoul, Sunday. / Yonhap
By Lee Kyung-min
Rallies continue against state-authored history textbook
By Lee Kyung-min
Students’ groups have joined the protest against the government’s push to author a history textbook, which they called “an attempt to standardize students’ mindsets.”
Following protests by liberal civic groups and history professors for several months, a group of university students held a rally in front of the ruling Saenuri Party office in Yeouido and at Gwanghwamun Square, Saturday, demanding the government stop the move.
“Such a textbook will allow the government to interfere with the interpretation and teaching of history,” they said. “This infringes on the independence and political neutrality of education guaranteed by the Constitution, and also on the freedom of speech and publication.”
They said that the government was pushing ahead with its plan after many schools refused to adopt a right-leaning history textbook published by Kyohak Publishing in 2013 after strong criticism of content glorifying Japanese colonial rule and the dictatorial regime of Park Chung-hee, the father of President Park Geun-hye.
Several other youth groups also held a candlelit vigil against the government move in front of the Government Complex in Seoul, Saturday, while a group of middle and high school students also held a similar protest in Insa-dong.
History majors at colleges and graduate schools nationwide will also organize a press conference there Monday to call for independence in history textbook writing. The Ministry of Education is expected to make an official announcement about the textbook, today or Tuesday.
Constitutional ruling
In 1992, the Constitutional Court ruled that a state-authored textbook was constitutional, but added this should be done in limited cases. The decision was about a Korean language book for middle school. “A state-written Korean language textbook can keep consistency and uniformity in grammar, spelling and standard expressions,” the court said in its ruling.
However, it said state-authoring should be limited and not available for all subjects because it may prevent students from developing pluralistic viewpoints.
“If a textbook reflects a particular viewpoint of a limited number of high-profile public officials, the content will be narrow,” it said.
The court said having only one textbook essentially indicates there is only one right answer, blocking creative thought and forcing obedient views.
It also mentioned history textbooks, which were not subject to the ruling. “There can be more than one theory on textbook content. Especially in the case of history, if it is difficult to decide which theory is the right one and various viewpoints are persuasive, it is desirable to introduce various theories.”