History of education in Korea
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The history of education in Korea can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms of Korea, or even back to the prehistoric period. Both private schools and public schools were prominent. Public education was established as early as the 400 AD. Historically, the education has been heavily influenced by Confucianism and Buddhism.
Prehistoric and Gojoseon period
Education in the prehistoric times mostly consisted of hunting, fishing, toolmaking, and combat. Through those lessons, people were taught to be members of society. Since the prehistoric education was based on protection from nature, it was unorganized. Such education eventually led to the first religious beliefs. In Korea, the ideas lead to the development of the idea of Samsin (Korea: 삼신, Hanja:三神, English: Three Gods) along with the Korean versions of animism and shamanism. However, there was no particular religion involved and the education relied on anecdotal teachings.[1]
In the
Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla period
In the period of the Three Kingdoms of Korea (57-688 AD), the governments began to institute education. The education system was heavily influenced by Confucianism and Buddhism.[1]
Goguryeo period
Baekje period
Baekje was established from 18 BC to 660 AD.[8] Evidence of the scholarly method can be seen through the Japanese books of Nihon Shoki and Kojiki. It can also be seen through cultural exchanges with Japan, such as the transference of the books the Analects and the Thousand Character Classic at 258 AD. Further evidence of education is shown in the history book Seugi (서기; 書記)[1]
There are no records of an established institution.[1] However, references to an establishment can be seen through various posts establishing relations with Japan. The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea holds that educational institutions were found earlier than 372 AD.[7]
Silla
Three Kingdoms period
Unified Silla period
Unified Silla was established from 668 AD to 935 AD.[10] Education besides Hwarang began to be established after foreign influence. There were several student exchange programs with China. The major establishment is Gukhak (국학; 國學). The curriculum was directly taken from the system of the Tang dynasty.[1] It was established at 682 AD. Most of the subjects were humanities.[11]
Goryeo period
The
There were two major types of education in this period: Gwanhak (관학; 官學) and Sahak (사학; 私學).[1] Gwanhak is defined as schools established and managed by the government.[13] Major Gwanhak institutions include Gukjagam and Hakdang (학당; 學堂) in the cities and Hyanggyo in the rural areas. The government also established public libraries such as Bisuhwon (비서원; 秘書院) and Susuhwon (수서원; 修書院) to support educational efforts. Gukjagam was established on 992 AD as the first university in the country. It was regulated by social class and rank and played a major role in establishing future institutions.[1]
Sahak is defined as schools not established and not controlled by the government.[14] Major Sahak institutions include Sibido (십이도; 十二徒) and Seodang (서당; 書堂). Even though Sibido was considered a Sahak, it was controlled by the government. It was closed down on 1391 AD.[1]
Joseon period
The Joseon dynasty was established from 1392 to 1910 AD.[15] At the end of the Goryeo dynasty, Buddhism began to lose political influence. Instead, Confucianism became the official philosophy of the dynasty.[6] Following this idea, Yangban's education was valued more than commoner's education. Education also focused on gaining rank and personal cultivation. The humanities was valued while vocational education was belittled. This idea has been credited with establishing a system of ethics for the entire country and contributing to Korea's philosophy of education as a whole.[1]
The
In 1411, four institutions named Sahak (사학,; 四學) were established, which differed from the
There was a school for the royal family called Joghak (종학; 宗學). It was established on 1429 AD.
19th century
In the late 19th century, the government, patriots, and foreign
In 1894, along with the
Along with the Gabo education reform led by the central government, passions and efforts toward building modern education in every town was blooming in Korea, led by reform-minded civilian leaders.[16]
Notable schools
The first
Japanese rule (1910–1945)
The first policy in this period is reflected in the Joseon Education Decree (조선교육령; 朝鮮敎育令) and Private School Regulation (사립학교규칙) decreed in 1911.[1] Joseon Education Decree is interpreted to have the purpose of obliterating all Korean cultural and spiritual independence to keep Koreans colonized forever.[17] After the decrees, various policies established the education system to have three to four years of botong school (보통학교; 普通學校), a type of primary education; four years of godeung botong school (고등보통학교; 高等普通學校) and girls-only godeung botong school (여자고등보통학교; 女子高等普通學校), both forms of secondary education; two to three years of sileop school (실업학교; 實業學校) and gani sileop school (간이실업학교) with no particular limit, both forms of vocational schools; jeonmun school (전문학교; 專門學校), a form of tertiary education.[1]
Botong school focused on reading, writing, and arithmetic. The subjects Susin (수신), Korean, Japanese, hanja, and arithmetic were required. The school served more for as preparations for jobs, not for higher education. Godong botong school also focused on job training. Subjects included Susin, Korean, Hanja, and Japanese. As of 1915, there were 399 botong schools, 56,253 male botong school students, and 5,976 female botong school students compared to 291 Japanese primary schools, 31,142 male Japanese primary school students, and 28,206 female Japanese primary school students. 30% of the instructors in botong schools were Japanese, and 60% in godong botong schools.[1]
For private schools, the Decree concerning private schools (사립학교령) was decreed in 1908. The decree was modified in 1911. In 1915, Modification of the regulation of private schools (개정사립학교규칙) was decreed. The decrees applied to all private schools. They promulgated that the purpose of the establishment of schools, head teachers, teachers, and textbooks must be regulated by the Empire of Japan. Moreover, the subjects of geography, history, and the Bible was prohibited. Consequently, the number of private schools decreased, from 1,973 in 1910 to 1,317 in 1912, 1,240 in 1914, and 690 in 1919.[1]
The educational policies were modified after the March 1st Movement on March 1, 1919. The modified policies were promulgated on 1922. The educational policies for students speaking Japanese and Korean were separately created. Korean students were permitted to study in normal schools (사범학교; 師範學校). The quality of education as a whole also increased. The length of botong school was increased from four to six years. The subject of the Korean language, which had been abolished in some schools, changed to become a required subject. More schools were also established.[1]
When nationalistic leaders called for establishments of Minlip Daehak (민립 대학; 民立大學), the Japanese government made compromises to establish universities under the control of the government. As a direct consequence, Rules concerning the establishment of Keijō Imperial University (경성제국대학설치에 관한 법률) was promulgated in 1922. Although such policies were similar to the Japanese curriculum, the focus of the curriculum was to strengthen the Japanese education while diminishing Korean culture. This argument is supported by the facts that the time for the teaching of the Japanese language was two to three times longer than the time to teach the Korean language in primary and secondary education systems as well as the teachings of history of Japan and the geography of Japan.[1]
In March 1938, the third Joseon Education Degree was promulgated by Jirō Minami. All Japanese elements were strengthened and the courses were forced to be taught in the Japanese language. The main points in this decree were that the names of schools were changed in the style of the Japanese language: "botong school" was changed to "simsang primary school" (심상소학교); "godeung botong school" to "middle school" (중학교); "girls-only godeung botong school" to "godeung girls' school" (고등여학교).[1]
The Korean language was changed to an
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad 교육 [Education] (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- Doopedia (in Korean). Doosan Corporation. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- ^ Jung, Hyang-jin; Lee, Ji-seon; Chang, Hang-ji; Han, Yoon-sang; Jackson, Matthew, eds. (2011). The Practice of Hongik Ingan (PDF). Seoul: Diamond Sutra Recitation Group. p. 7. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ "Koguryŏ". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Education". Life in Asia, Inc. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Religion and Social Thought". Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- ^ Doopedia (in Korean). Doosan Corporation. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- ^ "Paekche". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
- ^ "Silla". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
- ^ "Unified Silla". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
- Doopedia (in Korean). Doosan Corporation. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
- ^ "Koryŏ dynasty". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- Doopedia (in Korean). Doosan Corporation. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- Doopedia (in Korean). Doosan Corporation. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ "Chosŏn dynasty". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ Seong Cheol-Oh and Ki-Seom Kim, "The Increase of Educational Opportunity in Korea under the Japanese Occupation: For Whom the Bell Told?". . Seoul National University. s-space.snu.ac.kr
- Doopedia (in Korean). Doosan Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
Further reading
- Jongeneel, Jan A.B. et al. Christian Mission and Education in Modern China, Japan, and Korea: Historical Studies (2009).
- Kee, Chang Duck. "The Early History of National Education of Western Medicine in Korea." Korean Journal of Medical History 2.1 (1993): 10-37 online.
- Kim, Hyung-chan, and Tong-gyu Kim. Human remolding in North Korea: a social history of education (University Press of America, 2005).
- Kim, Jaein, et al. "A Study on the History of Women's Education in Korea." Women's Studies Forum. Vol. 18. (Korean Women's Development Institute, 2002) online.
- Kim, Young Chun. "History of Shadow Education in Korea." in Shadow Education and the Curriculum and Culture of Schooling in South Korea (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) pp. 15–32. pribvate tutoring/
- Lee, Chong Jae, Yong Kim, and Soo-yong Byun. "The rise of Korean education from the ashes of the Korean War." Prospects 42.3 (2012): 303-318 online
- Lee, Sungho. “The Emergence of the Modern University in Korea.” Higher Education (18) 1989, pg. 87-116.
- Seo, Sojung. "Early childhood education and care in Korea: History, current trends and future challenges." in International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Care (Routledge, 2018) pp. 114–126.
- Sin, Ju-back. "Competing concepts of publicness in the creation of a modern people in the history of modern education in Korea: 1894–1919." Educational Philosophy and Theory 51.9 (2019): 900-911. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2018.1427571