Over half of North Jeolla primary schools use textbook omitting Donghak Peasant Revolution
In short
Data from the North Jeolla education office show that 212 of 399 primary schools with a fifth-grade class (53.1%) adopted a social studies textbook that leaves out the Donghak Peasant Revolution. Lawmaker Kang Kyung-sook, who released the figures on 20 October, called for a review of the curriculum and the textbook screening system.
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More than half of primary schools in North Jeolla adopted a social studies textbook that omits the Donghak Peasant Revolution, according to data released on 20 October by lawmaker Kang Kyung-sook of the Rebuilding Korea Party (조국혁신당), a member of the National Assembly Education Committee. She received the data from the North Jeolla office of education. Of 399 schools in the province with a fifth-grade class, 212 (53.1%) chose the textbook. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The textbook is one of eight approved fifth-grade, second-semester social studies textbooks published under the 2022 revised curriculum. Besides the Donghak revolution, it leaves out other major historical events, including the Independence Club and the Mandong Gongdonghoe. Kyunghyang Shinmun said another publisher presents the revolution as a learning activity, while 'publisher A' focuses on changes in daily life after the opening of ports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Kang said the revolution sought social-status reform and equality and opposed Japanese imperial aggression, and that students should be able to learn it properly. She said it is not the history of one region only but the root of South Korean democracy. She said the answer should go beyond revising a textbook: the curriculum and the screening system should be checked so students learn important events whichever textbook is chosen. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Kang spoke at the parliamentary audit of the North Jeolla office of education and others. It said the office has distributed related videos and virtual reality materials to schools and plans to expand on-site Donghak education next year to 54 schools and 105 classes, up by nine schools and 10 classes from 45 schools and 95 classes this year. The programme involves visits to sites in Gochang, Jeongeup, Jeonju and Namwon, followed by discussion of the revolution's spirit and democratic values. [ 1 ]
Newsis quoted Kang as saying the office had earlier guided schools to video and VR materials and asked that the content be reflected in local teaching materials. She said such steps must not stay in North Jeolla, and that the office should work with other education offices and local governments so that Donghak education is carried out across the country. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Superintendent Cheon Ho-seong replied, 'We will do so.' [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The figures put the screening of approved textbooks under scrutiny, since a lawmaker says schools could choose a textbook without key historical events. The North Jeolla education office is already expanding its own history education, and Kang urged that such steps not stay local.
Key facts
- Of 399 primary schools in North Jeolla with a fifth-grade class, 212 (53.1%) adopted a textbook that omits Donghak Peasant Revolution content. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The textbook is one of eight approved fifth-grade, second-semester social studies textbooks published under the 2022 revised curriculum. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- It also leaves out other major events, including the Independence Club and the Mandong Gongdonghoe (people's joint assembly). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kang Kyung-sook of the Rebuilding Korea Party (조국혁신당), a member of the National Assembly Education Committee, received the data from the North Jeolla office of education on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kang said the curriculum and the screening system should be reviewed so that no essential history is excluded whichever textbook is chosen. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The North Jeolla office plans on-site Donghak history education for 54 schools and 105 classes next year, up from 45 schools and 95 classes this year. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- 212 of 399 North Jeolla primary schools with fifth-graders (53.1%) adopted a social studies textbook lacking Donghak Peasant Revolution content, according to data Kang Kyung-sook received from the North Jeolla office of education. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The textbook is one of eight approved fifth-grade second-semester social studies textbooks under the 2022 revised curriculum. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kang said the revolution sought social-status reform and equality, opposed Japanese imperial aggression and is not only regional history but the root of South Korean democracy. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Which publisher's textbook omits the revolution. Document 1 refers to it only as 'publisher A'; the other documents do not name it.
- Whether the omission of the Independence Club and the Mandong Gongdonghoe is established beyond Kang's account. Document 2 says Kang explained the textbook excluded them, and document 4 says this 'was reported'; the documents give no separate check of the textbook.
- Whether textbook screening rules or the curriculum will change. Kang called for a review, but no document reports a decision by the education ministry or any other authority.