hankyoreh

The Korea Liberation Association and other related organizations called on the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to apologize for his actions and recall all the books distributed to middle and high schools across the country. The minister was hit by a wave of opposition when the books were criticized for ignoring the legitimacy of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, which is recognized by the Korean Constitution.

The group says they will take action if its demands are not met. The ministry says, however, that “none of the related descriptions ignore the legitimacy of the Provisional Government,” and added that the books will not be recalled.

The KLA, which consists of independence activists who fought against Japanese colonial rule, and members of their families, said, “In an emergency meeting on December 24, we will adopt a statement of protest and discuss future countermeasures.”

A KLA official said, “Is the government trying to divide public opinion by distorting a historical fact that is included in the preamble of the Constitution? Unless (MCST) Minister Yu In-chon apologizes and recalls the book, just as the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology did in the case of the DVD ‘A History of Miracles,’ the mood is that there will be no choice but to take stern action.”.

In response to the MCST’s statement that the book does not ignore the legitimacy of the Provisional Government, the official said, “It doesn’t recognize the substance of the Provisional Government, saying that its significance is ‘declaratory and symbolic,’ but says that ‘credit for the meritorious deed of founding the Republic of Korea should be given to those who participated in the establishment of the government in August 1948.’ Still, the ministry says that the book is not ignoring the legitimacy of the Provisional Government. Are they trying to make fools of us?”

An official with the “Association to Sustain and Inherit the Spirit of Independence Activists of Merit” said, “Although the book distributed by the MCST says the Provisional Government did not win international recognition, it failed to outline the facts. At the time the Provisional Government was established, its establishment was approved by China and won recognition and support from the provisional government of France and from the U.S. Congress.”

The April 3 Jeju Research Institute and the May 18 Memorial Foundation also said that the MCST intentionally ignored the two incidents, both of which represent major scars in the nation’s contemporary history, to beautify the dictatorships of Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan, and that the government is trying to distort history to suit its tastes.

Meanwhile, in a press conference on the same day, Seo Gang-su, the director of the public relations support bureau at the MCST, said, “Some of the phrases seem to be easily misunderstood by the general public. With the goal of taking an objective look at our modern and contemporary history, the writers reviewed and revised their texts more than 10 times. The ministry did not include the subjective points of view of any of the writers.” Seo added that the ministry “has no plans to take additional measures, such as a recall, because book distribution was completed in October.”

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