SDF

[Title] Finding Solutions for the Future of Democracy in Our Schools

KIM Myung-jung earned his PhD in Social Studies Education at Seoul National University, where he conducted research on Korea’s Youth National Assembly. His main research areas are social studies curriculums, political education, and civic education. Major publications include “A Study on the Improvements of School Suffrage Education in Accordance with the Revision of Political Participation Acts” (2022), “Methods for Restructuring Political Education” (2018), and “Youth Problems and Protection” (2020, co-authored). He was awarded the Kangwon National University Teaching Award in 2022. He is currently a professor in the Department of Social Studies Education of the College of Education at Kangwon National University.

The sustainability of democracy can be guaranteed only when a society is able to continue to produce capable and competent citizens. At a time of significant change in our political system, including the lowering of the voting age as well as political candidacy age to 18 and the eligible age for party membership to 16, what kind of political education are schools prepared to provide? Teaching politics in school is fraught with challenges: classroom curriculums are often boring and conventional; “real-life” topics are more interesting but tricky and sensitive to address lightly; and amid ongoing debates about neutrality and bias with education, it is easy to simply give up. The challenge educators must grapple with today is whether to continue teaching knowledge devoid of any practical application or attempt to bring the excitement of civic participation into the classroom.

Chair of the Curriculum Committee, Korea Association of Social Education
Advisor on Democratic Citizenship Education (Gangwon Provincial Office of Education)
Associate Research Fellow, Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation