ABSTRACT

This study examines the evolution of Korean traditional music content in the “Pleasant Life” curriculum for 1st and 2nd grade elementary school students. The analysis spans from the 4th national curriculum to the 2007, 2009, and 2015 revisions, during which integrated subjects were introduced. The findings indicate that since the 2007 curriculum revision, the start of integrated units led to a reduction in the diversity of genres, as well as a simplification of content, which became heavily focused on songs and games. This trend accelerated after the introduction of the integrated subject curriculum in the 2009 revision, further narrowing the genres to traditional and newly created Korean traditional children's songs, with activities centered on singing and playing games. Additionally, the content increasingly failed to consider the connection with the music subject, leading to issues such as a lack of diversity and creativity in Korean traditional music education and the disruption of the systematic progression of music education starting in 3rd grade. These limitations of the theme-based textbooks highlight the need for an independent music subject within the “Pleasant Life” curriculum to enhance the quality of Korean traditional music education.

Keyword :

REFERENCES

1. Chosun Newspaper. (1981, January 18). Change the contents of elementary school textbooks: Reduce the number of books for 1st and 2nd graders from next year. Chosun Newspaper, 7.
2. Hong, Y. J. (1996). Japanese warabe uta (Traditional children's songs) sung by Korean children. Understanding Ethnic Music, 5, 77-156.
3. Kim, M. H., & Sung, K. R. (2014). Aspects of Korean music materials included in integrated subject textbooks for elementary school students. Journal of the Korean Music and Education, 38, 29-61.
4. Kwon, D. W. (2018). Change of integrated subjects and Korean traditional music education. Journal of the Korean Music and Education, 46, 29-53.
5. Ministry of Education (1979). Elementary school curriculum (No. 424). Seoul: Author.
6. Ministry of Education (1981). Elementary school curriculum (No. 422). Seoul: Author.
7. Ministry of Education (1987). Elementary school curriculum (No. 87-9). Seoul: Author.
8. Ministry of Education (1992). Elementary school curriculum (No. 1992-16). Seoul: Author.
9. Ministry of Education (1997). Elementary school curriculum explanatin(Ⅱ) (No. 1997-15). Seoul: Author.
10. Ministry of Education (2007). Elementary school curriculum explanation (No. 2007-79). Seoul: Author.
11. Ministry of Education (2011). Disciplined life, wise life, pleasant life curriculum (No. 2011-361 [Supplementary 15]). Seoul: Author.
12. Ministry of Education (2015). Disciplined life, wise life, pleasant life curriculum (No. 2015-74 [Supplementary 15]). Sejong: Author.
13. Ministry of Education (2022a). Disciplined life, wise life, pleasant life curriculum (No. 2022-33 [Supplementary 15]). Sejong: Author.
14. Ministry of Education (2022b). Music curriculum (No. 2022-33 [Supplementary 12]).
15. Dong-a Newspaper. (1981, January 17). Textbooks for 1st and 2nd graders of elementary school will be reduced: Full reorganization from next year. Dong-a Newspaper, 7.