The Seoul government is planning to make a formal request soon to Japan asking for the correction of its distorted history textbooks. In a recent report to the National Assembly, the Education Ministry also said it would send an email to civic groups and some 10,000 history teachers in Japan to “let them know the bare truth” about the history of the bilateral relationship between Korea and Japan.

Ministry officials, however, might feel somewhat embarrassed with taking these moves at a time when an internal dispute is escalating over the definition of key events in Korea’s modern history. Recently, conservative and liberal scholars have quarreled over the draft for a new history textbook, which critics say is biased toward right-wing views. Some politicians have joined the squabble, adding a partisan color to the historical dispute.

Conservatives have argued that the draft, which is being reviewed by the government for final approval, is a remedy for inaccurate descriptions in existing textbooks written and published by liberal figures. They have also accused members of a left-wing teachers’ union for having tried to inject pro-Pyongyang views into young students’ minds.

Their concern was deepened by a recent survey that showed a majority of teenage students here believed the 1950-53 Korean War was started by an invasion of the North by the South. Regardless of where one stands on the ideological spectrum, it is worrisome that nearly 70 percent of high school students have a perception contrary to the indisputable fact that heavily armed communist troops launched a surprise attack on the South on June 25, six decades ago.

President Park Geun-hye came forward this week to lament distorted history education, citing the outcome of the survey as evidence. As she noted, teaching historical distortions should never be overlooked or allowed to happen, as it shatters the basic values and attitudes students should gain to become exemplary citizens.

There can be different views over whether it is appropriate for the head of state to step into the field of history education. Remarks by Park’s predecessors on the nation’s modern history often sparked a backlash and deepened the divide between confronting opinions. The president’s expression of concern over history education prompted the liberal main opposition party to take issue with what it described as a distorted handling by her administration of allegations the nation’s top intelligence agency meddled in last year’s presidential election.

But Park was right to point out the seriousness of the problem, considering it is unthinkable to leave the future of our nation to a generation with scant, inaccurate and distorted knowledge of its history. Teachers may have different views on history but they should avoid distorting historical facts in class. It is also necessary to lead students to take more interest in the history of their nation by encouraging discussion and visits to historical sites.

All Koreans must recognize that they should share accurate views of their own history before calling on their neighboring country to correct its distorted history textbooks. In a move to better respond to Japan’s false claims, government officials have been in consultation with relevant institutions and civic groups here to accumulate objective data on key historical issues. Such efforts should not be spared to help settle the internal dispute over history.