President Park Geun Hye Pushes For Implementation of Government-Issued History Textbooks; South Korea Is Divided On The Issue

South Korea announced Tuesday that it will proceed with its plans to make it mandatory for schools to use only government-issued history textbooks. This call to correct history textbooks has been met with fierce criticism, with some accusing the government of curtailing freedom of expression.

According to the Ministry of Edution, secondary school students will only use state-approved history textbooks, which will be authored by a panel of teachers and experts appointed by the government, The Sun Daily writes Oct. 13.

"The Correct Textbook of History" program will replace the old system where schools are allowed to choose from eight different history textbooks written by private publishing houses.

Korea Times reports Thursday, President Park Geun Hye was quoted by press secretary Kim Sung Woo as saying, "Some of the textbooks children are learning from these days state that they shouldn't have been born in South Korea, and call North Korea a legitimate country."

"The correct way to raise our future generation is to instill in them pride in our country so they may prepare for Korean unification," Park said.

However, South Korea is divided on the issue.

The Los Angeles Times notes Thursday, conservatives accuse liberal scholars who wrote existing textbooks for ignoring the darker side of the North Korean dictatorship. Liberals, on the other hand, are against the conservatives' attempt to "demonize" Pyongyang.

Conservatives also point out that liberal present North Korea's philosophy of self-reliance in a positive way. They are also outrage by how textbooks depict both North and South Korea as responsible for the beginnings Korean War.

The current controversy is being alluded to the regime of Park Chung Hee, current president Park Geun Hye's father. Under Park Chung Hee's rule, the government controlled what was being taught in schools and censorship was strictly imposed.

However, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo Ahn assured citizens that the goal of the government is "to provide textbooks which are based on an objective, balanced view of history."