Include 'Jayuminjujuui' in the 2022 Revised Curriculum

2022 Revised Curriculum Administrative Notice from 9th to 29th
Policy Researchers Maintain Existing Position After Public Hearing
Ministry of Education Adds 'Liberal Democracy' Notation Through Related Committee
Expressions Related to Gender Equality and Sexual Minorities Also Revised

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Starting from 2024, the Ministry of Education has decided to include the term 'liberal democracy' in the 2022 revised curriculum, which will be applied sequentially.

On the 9th, the Ministry of Education announced an administrative notice period until the 29th for the revision proposals of the 'Elementary and Secondary School Curriculum' and the 'Special Education Curriculum.' This is to collect public opinions on the revised curriculum in accordance with Article 46 of the Administrative Procedures Act. After the administrative notice, the Ministry plans to submit the revision proposal to the National Education Commission for review and resolution in early next month and finalize and announce it within the year.

The policy research team submitted the revised opinions collected from public hearings and the second round of public participation communication channels to the Ministry of Education after making corrections and supplements. The Ministry enforced the inclusion of controversial items such as the term 'liberal democracy,' which was demanded by the conservative camp, through the curriculum revision consultative body and the curriculum review committee.

The Ministry of Education reflected the term 'liberal democracy,' requested by the conservative camp that caused controversy, in the administrative notice draft. Although the expression 'June 25 North Korean invasion' was included in the draft revised curriculum announced by the research team, the request for descriptions related to liberal democracy was adjusted by the Ministry after the policy research team maintained the original draft even after the public hearing.

An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "We promoted curriculum revision together with the public, and the policy research team did not reflect the concerns raised by the public. We also received recommendations and opinions through the detailed adjustment committee and the revision promotion committee, but since they were not reflected, the Ministry took the lead in proceeding with the process through the curriculum review committee's steering committee to make adjustments."

The Ministry of Education's position is that the term 'liberal democracy' is a commonly used term in the Constitution, Constitutional Court decisions, and related laws, and is a term that has undergone national consensus as it is specified in the preamble of the Constitution. The Ministry official added, "There is a precedent where the term 'liberal democracy' caused controversy during the 2011 and 2018 history curriculum revisions and was adjusted through the committee."

Expressions related to sexual minorities and gender equality, which were criticized by conservative groups, were also significantly revised. In the explanatory notes for the achievement standards of integrated social studies in high school, the phrase 'social minorities' was originally exemplified as 'people with disabilities, migrant foreigners, sexual minorities, etc.,' but after several discussions, it was revised and supplemented to 'members of society who face discrimination due to gender, age, race, nationality, disability, etc.'

An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "The inclusion of 'sexual minorities' as an example of social minorities raised concerns during the opinion collection process about whether explicitly stating it might promote a 'third gender.' The detailed adjustment committee and the review committee also conveyed concerns that it could cause confusion during adolescence when sexual identity is being established, and this decision was made considering various situations."

In the ethics subject, the term 'gender equality' was changed to 'prejudice against gender,' and the 'meaning of gender equality' was revised to 'the ethical issue of gender discrimination.' This was a correction and supplement made by the policy research team considering the nature of the subject, which involves philosophical discussions related to gender. In the health subject, the phrase 'sexual and reproductive health and rights' was revised to 'sexual and reproductive health and rights,' clarifying that the learning content includes 'health management related to sex, pregnancy, childbirth, and rights such as parental leave.'

The content related to Korean traditional music in the music subject, which had been controversial, was reflected based on the recommendations of the related revision consultative body. Reflecting the connection with the 2015 revised curriculum, learning content related to Korean traditional music was separately presented in the content system and achievement standards.

Additionally, the achievement standards and explanatory notes for elementary school social studies included 'freedom of enterprise' and 'free economic activities of enterprises,' and the middle school social studies subject explicitly stated 'market economy' and 'market economy based on free competition.'

Furthermore, content to strengthen safety education following the Itaewon tragedy was also incorporated. Provisions were established to link safety education with related subjects and creative experiential activities, and safety education involving education, experience, and practice in densely crowded situations was enhanced. Safety rules for densely crowded environments were included in the elementary integrated, physical education, music, and art subjects, and the health subject reflected specifications to strengthen crisis response capabilities.

Although the Ministry of Education promoted curriculum revision reflecting public participation, the fact that public hearings were not smoothly conducted due to ideological disputes and fierce opposition from conservative groups remains a limitation.

Deputy Minister of Education Jang Sang-yoon said, "To cultivate the competencies needed in a future society where uncertainties such as digital transformation and climate and ecological environment changes are increasing, the educational community and our society must work together to establish a curriculum and teaching-learning system that can maximize the development of each student's competencies."