Kindergarten Name 'Yua School' Should Be Revised...

Remaining Japanese Colonial Legacies in Education...Support for the Position of the National Public Kindergarten Teachers' Union

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the occasion of the 574th anniversary of Hangeul Day, the National Public Kindergarten Teachers' Union is launching a civic movement to revise the name "Yuchiwon" (kindergarten) to "Yua Hakgyo" (early childhood school).

The Liberation Association has expressed full support for this educational sector stance and urged the government and the National Assembly to back it with laws and systems.

Since liberation, various efforts have been made to eradicate remnants of Japanese colonial rule. With the intention of reclaiming our national spirit, in 1995, the National Assembly amended the Education Act to change the name "Gukminhakgyo" (national school) to "Chodeunghakgyo" (elementary school).

However, the term "Yuchiwon," a Japanese-style coined word, has continued to be used even 15 years after the name "Chodeunghakgyo" was revised.

"Yuchiwon" is a Sino-Korean word following the Japanese-style coinage meaning "children's garden." The word "yuchi" means "young in age" but also carries the meaning of "low level or immature," and in Korea, it is mainly used with the latter meaning.

Among Sino-Korean cultural spheres that use Chinese characters, only Korea and Japan use the term "Yuchiwon (幼稚園)" for early childhood education institutions.

It is deeply regrettable that our children's first school is called by a name that is a remnant of Japanese colonial rule. Now is the time for the entire nation to unite with awareness of the problem of these long-standing remnants of Japanese colonialism embedded in our lives, to eradicate them, and to reclaim our national spirit.

The government should actively promote the revision of the kindergarten name to "Yua Hakgyo," removing the remnants of Japanese colonial rule from the names of educational institutions, so that our children's first educational institutions and early childhood education can regain their rightful status.