By Chung Hyun-chae
A total of 154 professors and scholars giving lectures and conducting research on Korea at foreign universities issued a joint statement on Saturday to denounce the Park Geun-hye administration’s plan to publish a state-authored history textbook.
The scholars include Bruce Cumings, chair-professor at the University of Chicago; Don Baker, a professor at the University of British Columbia; Remco Breuker, a Leiden University professor; and Yoon Seung-joo, a professor at Carleton College.
“In a democratic state, history textbooks should reflect different voices and be made based on diverse insights of historians,” they said in the statement. “the Korean government’s push to monopolize the rights to author history textbooks is in line with its other policies suppressing free speech and academic freedom.”
They pointed out that balanced historical view cannot be made based on a single interpretation; and also expressed concern that the government’s plan would tarnish the nation’s international reputation as a democratic country.
“We hope the Korean government will stop monopolizing history textbooks and embrace various opinions that depoliticize history education,” they said.