Blue House denies link to ‘secret textbook team’

The presidential office on Wednesday denied allegations by the opposition that it had operated a secret task force for the state-published history textbooks, stressing that the team’s operation was “completely legal.”

On Sunday, members of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy alleged that the Education Ministry has been running a covert 21-member team -- reporting directly to Cheong Wa Dae -- to develop and promote history textbooks for secondary education. The NPAD members visited its Seoul office and were engaged in an overnight standoff, with the officials refusing them entry.

Minister Hwang had denied the allegation and said that it is a routine team, which scaled up recently due to a surge in the workload.

“I just learned (of the ministerial team) on Monday,” said Lee Byung-ki, President Park Geun-hye’s chief of staff, during a parliamentary house steering committee meeting. “How can the chief of staff know all the details of teams formed by each ministry for specific tasks?”

He denied rumors that the presidential office was orchestrating the drive to revive state history textbooks, adding that the ministry had reached its own conclusion after mulling it for over a year.

Late Tuesday, the ministry released a statement denying comments by NPAD leader Rep. Moon Jae-in that Hwang told him the state textbook was “not his idea, but of those above him.” Moon said that the alleged comments came during a private conversation and refused to elaborate.

The parliamentary standoff, which has persisted since the ministry confirmed the plans for state textbooks on Oct. 12, continued Wednesday during a meeting of the standing committee for education, culture, sports and tourism.

The ruling Saenuri Party said that the NPAD lawmakers “imprisoned” the officials in their office with their unexpected visit, while the opposition said it was a casual visit and demanded that the team’s leader appear before the committee. Minister Hwang said that the standard procedures do not call for the cited official’s attendance.

By Yoon Min-sik(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)