This study set up a hypothesis that education in Korea is not free from national ideologies and aimed to examine how such suppression affects educational texts. As images of children in textbooks are the most ideal and desirable role models that the nation and society pursue in each time period, this study examined the images of children in elementary school Korean language textbooks from the anti-communist education to the 4th curriculums. Some of these images sustained over several periods of time. However, this study focused on different images of children that appeared in new curriculum and that were emphasized in certain periods.
Churi and Yeongi, the new-generation children that appeared on textbooks after Korean Independence, symbolized the ideal images of children to be formed through education. These children represented solidified young citizens who supported the nationalism of Korea. The 1st curriculum used the symbolic meaning of Taegeukgi (national flag of Korea) and used it to spread nationalist and anti-communist ideologies to learners. In the 2nd and 3rd textbooks appeared “working children” and “Saemaeul” children who are diligent, spontaneous, and cooperative. These images of children were created by the economic development ideology of the Park Jung Hee Administration. The 3rd curriculums in the Yusin Period frequently described General Yi Sun Shin, the historical character that was idolized by President Park Jung Hee, and contained accomplishments of the Saemaeul Movement and Yusin Projects. At that time, Korean language textbooks were closely related to national performance. In the 4th curriculum, the desired image of man was set in advance and built in the way the nation wanted. As mentioned above, Korea’s textbooks have clearly been reorganized when new administrations emerged and reflect the ruling ideologies.