hankyoreh

A modern history DVD made by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and distributed to over 10,000 elementary, middle and high schools nationwide features content predominantly disparaging the “April 19 Revolution” that occurred in 1960 as the “April 19 Demonstrations” and praising former Presidents Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan. This DVD was produced as one of the projects promoted by the Lee Myung-bak administration to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Korea.

According to accounts made Sunday by the MEST and schoolteachers, during the months of October and November the MEST distributed books and a DVD entitled “A History of Miracles”, containing over 80 video clips, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the nation’s founding. The MEST requested that the DVD be actively used during class time or as a discretionary activity.

“A History of Miracles” is a modern history DVD with content on history from the 1950s to the 2000s, and its section on the 1960s features a two-minute video spliced from Taehan (Korea) News under the title “The April 19 Demonstrations.” Without any narration, the video features such captions as “demonstration by citizens and students,” “confrontation between police and protestors” and “burning building and Jeep,” focusing only on showing images of protests rather than presenting the background or meaning of the April 19 Revolution.

“Even the preamble to the Constitution acknowledges that April 19 was a democratic revolution that brought down Syngman Rhee’s dictatorship. I can’t believe that the government could send a DVD disparaging it as ‘demonstrations’ to our schools,” said an official at the Association of People with Meritorious Service in the 4/19 Revolution, an association of individuals who participated in the April 19 Revolution.

Lee Yeong-cheol, president of the 4/19 Forum, said, “The government is denying the Constitution.” Lee demanded that the DVD distributed to schools be quickly taken away.

In response, a MEST official explained, “We’re not saying to denying the April 19 Revolution. We just used the expression that was used at the time (the 1960s).”

The sections of the DVD about the 1950s to 1970s make no reference to the rigged elections or dictatorial rule of former Presidents Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee, highlighting only achievements such as economic development. In the section on the 1980s, the 1980 Gwangju Uprising and the June 1987 Uprising were left out entirely. The sections on the 2000s leave out the June 15 inter-Korean summit, the first summit between South and North Korea in 55 years, while featuring a section entitled “Cheonggyecheon, yesterday and today,” referencing the achievements of President Lee Myung-bak during his time as mayor of Seoul.

Asia Peace and History Education Network steering committee co-chair Lee Sin-cheol said, “By leaving the democratization process out of modern history and highlighting only industrial development, they’re ultimately glorifying the military government.” Lee added, “It feels like something is happening that was possible only in a time like Park Chung-hee’s Yusin dictatorship.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]