Defense Ministry under fire for trying to glorify former dictators

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Defense Ministry on Thursday came under severe criticism as it was found to have suggested revisions to history textbooks
that, if adopted, would have cast a former president convicted for mass murder as
a leader who was forced to use such brutal force against his own people to
protect the country from North Korea.
The controversial suggestions came in June after the Education Ministry asked the
Defense Ministry to make suggestions for any revisions to school textbooks,
according to Rep. Ahn Gyu-back of the opposition Democratic Party, who is a
member of the parliamentary committee on defense.
The most controversial suggestion was that former President Chun Doo-hwan, who
ordered a violent clampdown on a democratic movement in 1980 that left hundreds
of people killed, if not more, be described as having been "forced to take
various measures to halt activities by pro-North Korea leftists."
Chun was sentenced to death in a 1995 trial, but was freed in 1997 by a
presidential pardon. The textbook currently depicts Chun, who rose to power in
the wake of the assassination of former president and dictator Park Chung-hee in
a military coup, as someone who ruled through coercion.
Other suggestions included a change in the description of the country's first
elected president, Syngman Rhee, who was nearly thrown out of office in a 1960
democratic uprising after an extended 15-year rule, which was made possible
through constitutional amendments and election-rigging.
The ministry suggested the former president be praised for what it called his
role in establishing "a free democratic system" and preventing the spread of
communism.
The Defense Ministry acknowledged making "mistakes" in coming up with the
suggested revisions, but tried to place the blame on the official in charge,
saying some of the controversial suggestions were the individual's personal
views.
A ministry spokesman, Won Tae-jae, later offered an official apology, noting the
suggestions -- though they reflected personal views rather than the official view
of the ministry -- were delivered to the Education Ministry after a final
approval by leaders, including Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee.
"Our suggestions were only aimed at asking that the textbooks contain more
balanced views as they only focused on the faults (of former leaders) while
ignoring their services," Won told a press briefing.
"They were in no way aimed at glorifying their misdeeds," he added.