President Lee Jaemyung's Mention of "Hwanppa" Sparks Debate
"Administration Must Clarify Its Position and Refrain from Support"
The historical and archaeological academic communities have officially classified "Hwandan Gogi" as an outright forgery (a fabricated book) and have called on the government and political circles to take a clear stance on the matter.
On December 17, forty-eight academic societies, including the Korean Historical Association, the Korean Ancient History Association, and the Historical Society of Korea, issued a statement saying, "The Lee Jaemyung administration and both the ruling and opposition parties must recognize the dangers of pseudo-history and draw a clear line."
The academic community's statement was prompted by a recent remark from President Lee Jaemyung. During a briefing by the Northeast Asian History Foundation, he mentioned "Hwanppa" and "Hwandan Gogi," bringing the issue of pseudo-history to the forefront of political and social debate.
"Hwandan Gogi" is said to have been published in 1911, based on several books written from the late Goryeo to early Joseon periods. However, mainstream historians regard it as a forgery published in 1979. They also point out that its roots are closely connected to the pan-Asianism of Japanese imperialism.
The academic societies stated, "There is no academic debate between historians and pseudo-historians," and urged, "The Lee Jaemyung administration must clearly state its position on pseudo-history and refrain from providing any support."
The historical academic community has consistently criticized pseudo-history. At the National History Conference held in October, they also issued a statement warning of its dangers.
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