By Bahk Eun-ji
Conservative civic groups said Friday that they will sell the Kyohak Korean history textbook, which critics say fails to properly criticize the brutal rule of imperialist Japan and praises former authoritarian leaders, on the 95th Korean Independence Movement Day that falls on March 1.
Two pro-Kyohak publishing civic groups ― Saving Textbook Campaign Headquarters and Unify Korea Forum ― will hold a rally to "establish the right history" in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno, downtown Seoul, Saturday.
The two groups will recite the declaration for "independence from pro-North Korean historians" and sell the history books published by Kyohak Publishing during the rally.
Conservative online pundit Byun Hee-jae, former ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Cho Jeon-hyuk and political analyst Hwang Jang-soo said they will participate in the rally to read the controversial declaration.
Criticisms have surfaced that the Kyohak's textbook, which won state approval last year, promotes right-wing views by glorifying the authoritarian regimes of former leaders Syng-man Rhee and Park Chung-hee, the late father of incumbent President Park Geun-hye.
Critics also claim that the textbook supports Japan's historical perspectives, such as saying that Korean "comfort women," a euphemism for sex slaves, "followed" Japanese soldiers during the World War Ⅱ, without including that they were coerced or forced into exploitation by the imperial Japanese military.
Several high schools which had chosen the textbook ended up taking back the decision, as it stirred up fury from liberal civic groups as well as students and parents.
Liberal historians and progressive civic groups lashed out at the conservative groups as soon as they announced plans to hold the rally, claiming the "overly biased" textbook contains so much problematic content.
"March 1st is Korean Independence Movement Day, the very day when Koreans declared their freedom from Japanese colonizers. So it is totally absurd for the conservative civic groups to sell the pro-Japan textbook on the day," said Professor Han Hong-gu at Sungkonghoe University.
"It is obvious that the textbook is conservative-biased and uncompetitive, so no high schools nationwide chose it."
Conservative civic groups said Friday that they will sell the Kyohak Korean history textbook, which critics say fails to properly criticize the brutal rule of imperialist Japan and praises former authoritarian leaders, on the 95th Korean Independence Movement Day that falls on March 1.
Two pro-Kyohak publishing civic groups ― Saving Textbook Campaign Headquarters and Unify Korea Forum ― will hold a rally to "establish the right history" in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno, downtown Seoul, Saturday.
The two groups will recite the declaration for "independence from pro-North Korean historians" and sell the history books published by Kyohak Publishing during the rally.
Conservative online pundit Byun Hee-jae, former ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Cho Jeon-hyuk and political analyst Hwang Jang-soo said they will participate in the rally to read the controversial declaration.
Criticisms have surfaced that the Kyohak's textbook, which won state approval last year, promotes right-wing views by glorifying the authoritarian regimes of former leaders Syng-man Rhee and Park Chung-hee, the late father of incumbent President Park Geun-hye.
Critics also claim that the textbook supports Japan's historical perspectives, such as saying that Korean "comfort women," a euphemism for sex slaves, "followed" Japanese soldiers during the World War Ⅱ, without including that they were coerced or forced into exploitation by the imperial Japanese military.
Several high schools which had chosen the textbook ended up taking back the decision, as it stirred up fury from liberal civic groups as well as students and parents.
Liberal historians and progressive civic groups lashed out at the conservative groups as soon as they announced plans to hold the rally, claiming the "overly biased" textbook contains so much problematic content.
"March 1st is Korean Independence Movement Day, the very day when Koreans declared their freedom from Japanese colonizers. So it is totally absurd for the conservative civic groups to sell the pro-Japan textbook on the day," said Professor Han Hong-gu at Sungkonghoe University.
"It is obvious that the textbook is conservative-biased and uncompetitive, so no high schools nationwide chose it."
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