One of the government-appointed authors of the state-issued textbook for secondary education offered his resignation upon accusations of having sexually harassed a female reporter.

Professor emeritus at Seoul National University Choi Mong-lyong, who was invited to participate in writing the textbook, told local media Friday he was leaving his post as an author, three days after the National Institute of Korean History announced his appointment. 

(Yonhap)
“I will end it all. I‘ve sparked dispute concerning the NIKH. I’ll resign (as author of the) textbook, too,” he said, adding he did not want to burden the state-run institution. The NIKH is commissioned by the Education Ministry to oversee the publication process for the secondary education history textbooks.

Choi, who was to be one of six main authors, had a meal with four local reporters Wednesday after the NIKH revealed the plans for the publication at a press conference. He allegedly uttered sexually offensive words and initiated inappropriate physical contact with a female reporter. 

He denied there was any contact, but admitted to “some jokes,” saying he is always like that.

The 70-year-old scholar had already been embroiled in controversy after revealing in a Wednesday interview with local media that Hyun Jung-taik, senior presidential secretary for policy coordination, had called him and requested he attend the NIKH’s press conference on that day, giving aid to the administration. He also said he was a “shield” for the government in the implementation of the contentious policy. 

The news fueled speculation that Cheong Wa Dae was pressuring scholars to support the textbook. 

Choi denied the phone call the next day, then flip-flopped again later, saying that while there was a phone call, it was just a conversation between old friends.

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy said the fiasco with Choi was a “disaster caused by the reckless and forced nature of the state textbook policy” and urged President Park Geun-hye to scrap the plan.

Later in the afternoon, the NIKH confirmed Choi’s resignation and said he apologized to the female reporter in question.

“Choi told us that he wishes his resignation does not tarnish the true purpose of ‘correct history textbooks,’” it said.

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