Gyeongsan, South Korea – A high school in South Korea is facing mounting criticism over its decision to adopt a controversial history textbook published by the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI). The textbook has been accused of promoting a distorted view of the nation's history, particularly regarding its colonial past and authoritarian regimes.
A coalition of 20 civic groups, including the Gyeongbuk Education Solidarity and the Gyeongbuk branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, has formed a task force to demand the withdrawal of the textbook. The group, known as the "Committee Against the Adoption of the Pro-Japanese and Authoritarian History Textbook at Munmyeong High School," held a press conference in front of the school on Monday to voice their concerns.
The critics argue that the KEDI textbook, which was one of nine approved by the Ministry of Education, contains numerous factual errors and biases, and that it glosses over Japan's colonial rule and the authoritarian regimes that followed the Korean War. They further allege that the textbook's authors, which include current and former government officials, have political motivations and that the book's approval was influenced by the conservative government of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
"The Munmyeong High School principal is trying to divert attention from the issue by claiming that a leftist history textbook will be used as a supplementary material," said a spokesperson for the task force. "However, the adoption of a pro-Japanese and authoritarian history textbook is not a matter of left versus right, but a matter of right versus wrong, and of human rights versus anti-human rights."
The task force is calling for the Ministry of Education to revoke the approval of the KEDI textbook and for Munmyeong High School to immediately withdraw it. They believe that the textbook's approval will be reversed if President Yoon is impeached.
In response to the growing controversy, Munmyeong High School initially planned to hold an event for parents to review the nine approved history textbooks. However, the school postponed the event after the task force announced its press conference.
In a notice sent to parents, Munmyeong High School principal Jun-hee Im said that the school was postponing the event because "groups with biased political ideologies are trying to interfere with the school's educational activities." Im added that the school would reschedule the event once the atmosphere becomes more conducive to a "neutral and objective discussion."
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