Government announces it will “correct errors” by writing its own version of history, angering teachers and academics.

Seoul – The South Korean government has said it will replace the country’s school history books with a single text, which will be called the “correct history textbook”.

Hwang Woo-yea, the education minister, said on Monday that “the current history textbooks contain errors in historical facts and contents that have caused controversy over ideological bias”.

“This has been causing confusion over history perception among students and also a division in national discourse and social conflicts,” Hwang said.

Critics say the government wants, among other things, to portray current President Park Geun-hye’s father, the 1960s and ’70s dictator, Park Chung-hee, in a better light.

More than 50,000 people have signed a petition against the move – the protests led by teachers and academics.

It will mean the contents of the textbook can be changed to suit the state’s taste, said Han Sang-kwon, a professor of history at the Duksung Women’s University.

“Even if solid academic findings are used in the writing of the book, the contents can be changed and distorted.”