In 2000, South Korea formally introduced global citizenship and peace education into its national curriculum following the first inter-Korean summit. While this marked a significant policy shift, the foundational values behind global citizenship had already been developing in Korean education through earlier civic and moral education reforms. By employing Michel Foucault's theory of discourse, this study investigates how peace and civic values were constructed in Korean public education prior to 2000. Using qualitative methods, the research analyzes curriculum documents, social studies and moral education textbooks, and teacher-led civic education programs between 1987 and 2000. These materials are examined through a discourse-analytic lens to trace how values such as nonviolence, reconciliation, civic participation, and democratic responsibility gradually became embedded in the language and practice of education. The study aims to explore how these values were institutionally embedded in Korean education long before the term global citizenship entered formal policy discourse. South Korea represents a rare case of a country that internalized global citizenship values while still in an unresolved state of national division. Unlike most post-conflict societies, Korea's experience offers a unique context for understanding how civic and peace-oriented education can develop under ongoing geopolitical tension. By uncovering these historical roots, this study highlights how Korea's peace education model, grounded in its own experiences of conflict and democratization, can contribute to global discussions on sustainable and context-driven approaches to citizenship education.

Authors:
Seri Yoon, Waseda University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Seri Yoon is Master’s student at Waseda University focusing on economic growth and higher education under macroeconomics and education professors, exploring sustainable development and fostering economic resilience through higher education policies.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/seri-y-711ab5333

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