On October 12, despite all oppositions, the Korean government decided to make Korean history textbooks statutory, effective starting from 2017. Due to President Park Geun Hye and the government’s unyielding stance, the KUSA found it inevitable but to show active opposition at the People’s Square on October 14.

 
   
▲ KUSA and KU students are actively showing opposition towards statutory Korean history textbooks. Photographed by Lee Jeong Min.
The three keywords of KUSA’s stance were diversity, integration, and cause. First, history can be interpreted differently by different people. It is common sense that, in order to understand history most objectively, one has to know historical facts to the fullest. Since history is written by the winners, it is important to “allow diversity in interpretations of history,” thus allow descendents to receive as much information as possible and create their own objective stance.
 
Secondly, President Park showed her determination to accomplish national integration. Integration requires listening to various opinions and reaching a commonly agreeable conclusion. KUSA thus claimed that statutory Korean history textbooks are not only the opposite of listening to opinions of people, but also an act that “painfully underestimates the capability and potential of future generations.”
 

Lastly, KUSA argued that nobody should ever forget the reason history is taught. History is taught to prevent mistakes from the past from being repeated. If this is true, Korea has gone through painful memories that should definitely not be repeated. The current government’s decision is, according to KUSA, a “shameful self-portrait of today’s abnormal Korean society.” KUSA urges for further enthusiasm and attention of students.

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