ID :
35759
Mon, 12/15/2008 - 17:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/35759
The shortlink copeid
Authors seek court order to halt revision of 'left-leaning' history book
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- Authors of a major history textbook requested a court injunction on Monday to prevent their publisher from printing and distributing a revised edition for the new semester without their approval amid accusations that the original version is "left-leaning."
The conservative government of Lee Myung-bak, inaugurated in February, has
charged that the current textbook on Korean modern history plays down the meaning
of the foundation of South Korea while glossing over the problems of the North
Korean regime, and instructed publishers to revise the content.
Kumsung Publishing Co., whose history book is used by more than half of Seoul
high schools, followed the government directive and submitted a revised edition
to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology last month despite the
authors' protest.
The new edition, expected to be confirmed by the education ministry this week,
might not be printed as scheduled, however, if the court grants an injunction to
halt publication as requested by the authors. Five out of the six scholars who
wrote the Kumsung book in 2002, led by Kim Tae-woong, a history education
professor at Seoul National University, argue that revising the book without
their consent violates their copyright.
"It doesn't make sense to claim that the book -- which has been used by a number
of schools over the past six years after gaining the education ministry's
approval -- is not appropriate for education," the authors said in the document
submitted to the Seoul Central District Court.
"This revision only aims to make textbooks fit in with the incumbent government's
view of history, an unconstitutional measure that infringes upon academic freedom
and the independence, professionalism and neutrality of education," they said.
The court has to make its decision quickly, as the new semester starts in March.
Hearings may be held with the publisher and the authors.
Over the past few weeks, the ideological controversy has forced 45 high schools
in Seoul and scores of others nationwide to hurriedly switch from Kumsung to
other publishers before the new academic year begins in March. Kumsung's adoption
rate in Seoul will fall to 33 percent from the current 52 percent when new books
are distributed.
History textbooks last underwent major revisions in 1997 as part of a liberal
drive to set history right after decades of authoritarian rule. Right-wing
scholars have accused them "left-leaning" and demanded their authors take out
critical segments on Korea's turbulent modern history, such as the decision by
the U.S. and the Soviet Union to put Korea under their trusteeship following its
liberation from Japan's colonial rule at the end of World War II.
Conservatives have also said that textbooks should cast a more positive light on
South Korea's first president, Rhee Syngman, and add descriptions of contemporary
North Korea that detail its poverty and human rights conditions.
The conservative government of Lee Myung-bak, inaugurated in February, has
charged that the current textbook on Korean modern history plays down the meaning
of the foundation of South Korea while glossing over the problems of the North
Korean regime, and instructed publishers to revise the content.
Kumsung Publishing Co., whose history book is used by more than half of Seoul
high schools, followed the government directive and submitted a revised edition
to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology last month despite the
authors' protest.
The new edition, expected to be confirmed by the education ministry this week,
might not be printed as scheduled, however, if the court grants an injunction to
halt publication as requested by the authors. Five out of the six scholars who
wrote the Kumsung book in 2002, led by Kim Tae-woong, a history education
professor at Seoul National University, argue that revising the book without
their consent violates their copyright.
"It doesn't make sense to claim that the book -- which has been used by a number
of schools over the past six years after gaining the education ministry's
approval -- is not appropriate for education," the authors said in the document
submitted to the Seoul Central District Court.
"This revision only aims to make textbooks fit in with the incumbent government's
view of history, an unconstitutional measure that infringes upon academic freedom
and the independence, professionalism and neutrality of education," they said.
The court has to make its decision quickly, as the new semester starts in March.
Hearings may be held with the publisher and the authors.
Over the past few weeks, the ideological controversy has forced 45 high schools
in Seoul and scores of others nationwide to hurriedly switch from Kumsung to
other publishers before the new academic year begins in March. Kumsung's adoption
rate in Seoul will fall to 33 percent from the current 52 percent when new books
are distributed.
History textbooks last underwent major revisions in 1997 as part of a liberal
drive to set history right after decades of authoritarian rule. Right-wing
scholars have accused them "left-leaning" and demanded their authors take out
critical segments on Korea's turbulent modern history, such as the decision by
the U.S. and the Soviet Union to put Korea under their trusteeship following its
liberation from Japan's colonial rule at the end of World War II.
Conservatives have also said that textbooks should cast a more positive light on
South Korea's first president, Rhee Syngman, and add descriptions of contemporary
North Korea that detail its poverty and human rights conditions.
