Politics · South Korea · 6 hrs ago
Gyeonggi education office faces criticism over history speaker
The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education invited history YouTuber Hwang Hyun-pil to speak at a public education event in South Korea.
The talk is scheduled for October 28 at the office’s southern headquarters and is open to teachers, students and parents who apply.
Hwang, a former history teacher and an independent director of the Independence Hall of Korea, is expected to speak about the importance of history and education.
Teachers have called for him to be replaced because of past comments on political and historical issues.
In one earlier lecture, Hwang said the United States had started the Korean War; he later said his words had been taken out of context and that he had never denied North Korea invaded the South.
He has also drawn criticism for comments about a film concerning the shooting of former first lady Yuk Young-soo.
The education office says the talk will go ahead, arguing that its focus is the importance of history education, not disputed modern-history issues.
Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education plans to host history YouTuber Hwang Hyun-pil at a public lecture on October 28.
Teachers have called for Hwang to be replaced, citing controversy over past political and historical remarks.
Hwang previously said the Korean War was a war started by the United States, but later said his remarks had been taken out of context.
The education office says the lecture will focus on the importance of history education, not controversial aspects of modern history.
The office says it will proceed with the event as planned.
- Who
- Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education invited history YouTuber Hwang Hyun-pil to speak.
- What
- The planned lecture has prompted complaints from teachers who want the speaker replaced.
- When
- The lecture is scheduled for October 28, 2026. The office notified schools about the plan on October 16.
- Where
- The lecture is planned for the auditorium at the office’s southern headquarters.
- Why
- Teachers object to Hwang’s past political and historical remarks. The education office says the talk will address the importance of history education.
Teachers calling for Hwang’s replacement
Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education
Speaker’s suitability
Teachers calling for Hwang’s replacement
They cite Hwang’s past political and historical remarks as grounds for replacing him.
Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education
The office says the lecture is about the importance of history education, not controversial modern history.
Event plans
Teachers calling for Hwang’s replacement
They have submitted complaints asking for a different speaker.
Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education
The office says it will proceed as planned and that changing speakers would be difficult given event arrangements.
The education office notified schools about the planned lecture.
Reports said teachers had submitted complaints calling for Hwang to be replaced.
Hwang is scheduled to give the lecture at the office’s southern headquarters.
- Speaker
- Hwang Hyun-pil
- Lecture date
- October 28, 2026
- Venue
- Auditorium at the education office’s southern headquarters
- Audience
- Up to 500 applicants, including teachers, students and parents
- YouTube subscribers
- 1.13 million
- Topic
- History as history, education as education
3 sources
What people are saying
I have never denied that Kim Il-sung invaded the South with Stalin’s approval at 4 a.m. on June 25, 1950.
It was a war for which the United States arranged, scripted and wrote the scenario. The United States started the Korean War.
Evil editing that cut out the context before and after.
However, this is education on the importance of history education, not a lecture on the controversial modern history issues.