Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over 'I Baeyong' Historical View at Education Committee Audit

Lee Baeyong, Chairperson of the National Education Commission, attended the National Assembly's audit on the National Education Commission held on the 17th and responded to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 17th, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a heated debate over the historical perspective of Lee Baeyong, Chairperson of the National Education Committee, during the Education Committee's national audit.

Moon Jung-bok, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, referred to Lee's past statement during the audit, saying, "Our failure to modernize was because we were swept along by the flow of modernization without preparation," and criticized it as a "typical pro-Japanese colonial historical view."

He also pointed out, "Lee referred to Empress Myeongseong as 'Minbi' during his tenure as president of the Academy of Korean Studies in 2013."

Another member of the same party, Kang Min-jung, said, "Lee was at the forefront of efforts to promote state-issued textbooks," adding, "He once applied for the position of the first director of the History Museum of the Republic of Korea but was rejected on the grounds that his historical perspective did not align with a balanced view."

On the other hand, the ruling People Power Party emphasized the legitimacy of the state-issued history textbooks that Lee had previously promoted.

Seo Byung-soo, a member of the People Power Party, stated, "There were criticisms that past history textbooks were ideologically biased, and in 2013, left-wing groups were found to have systematically obstructed the adoption of the Kyohaksa textbooks, accusing them of glorifying pro-Japanese views," adding, "The government created the state-issued textbook as one of several approved textbooks to provide choice."

Kim Byung-wook, also from the People Power Party, said, "The 2022 revised curriculum draft for Korean history does not mention the North Korean invasion and lacks an explanation of the liberal democratic basic order," emphasizing, "Students should be adequately taught about the liberal democratic order."

However, Lee stated that he currently has no intention of promoting the state-issued history textbooks.