EDUCATION

Korea Education System

Korea Education System

Purpose of the Project and its Relationship with the Course

This paper intends to explore the Korea education system. The primary focus of this paper is on the impact of Confucianism on contemporary Korea education system. For this purpose 5 references will be critically analyzed in relation to the topic.

Research Question

Research question narrows down the research and provides a focus to the writer. Thus, accordingly the paper is structured to answer the research question. The research question on which this paper is based is as follows;

How Confucianism influenced contemporary Korea education system?



Lee, Jeong-Kyu (2001), “Confucian Thought Affecting Leadership and Organizational Culture of Korean Higher Education”, Radical Pedagogy 3(1)

It provides information about the education system of Korea that it is exceptionally firm and rigid. It says that the structure of the educational system is vertical in terms of hierarchy, just like any other academic institution under Confucian setting. It is reported that the Korea educational system is basically based on American educational system. However, the similarity between the two systems is somehow quite superficial. Since the education system of America is very open and decentralized, while on the other hand Korean system of education is closed and rigid. In addition to this, the interpersonal connections between the two forms are very different, as well as techniques of studying and teaching. The Korean system of education is governed by Ministry of education and they are the ones who make policies and make evaluations. Thus, this entity regulates the behavior of all educational institutes nationwide. This particular kind of vertical structuring is quite evocative of Confucian ministries, and the effect is thereby echoed within the educational institutions themselves (Lee, Jeong-Kyu, 2001).

Basically Korea was at all times under the influence of its great neighbor China. That is the place from where Confucianism came to Korea. Although the cultural exchange between the two countries began in ancient times, to follow the teachings of Confucius, the practical impact of the ideology of the Korean nation is possible only from the time of the Three Kingdoms.

Confucianism, with its system of values, aimed at understanding the world and people-centered man, found an echo in the soul of the Korean people and has become a fundamental element of the adopted laws, lifestyles and value systems of the state, thus making a fundamental change in the development of life as well as Korean Educational system.

Analytical Summaries of Readings

Deuchler, Martina (1992), The Confucian transformation of Korea: a study of society and ideology, Harvard University Asia Center.

This source of information provides information about Koguryo kingdom that how it was under the strong influence of Chinese culture and Confucian philosophy, but at the same time it preserved the original traditions and customs. Confucian teachings became the basis for the structure of government and the administration of the kingdom of Baekje and merged with the existing state system of culture and art. Silla was the last of the kingdoms that have adopted Confucianism, although before that the ...