ABSTRACT

This study historically examines the early formation of contemporary elementary music education in Korea, from the 1945 liberation to the post-war 1950s, focusing on the connections and interactions within an international context. Using historical research method, it analyzes materials through chronological and thematic approaches. The research findings are as follows: First, even amid the severe crisis situations of this turbulent period, the high interest in and active adoption efforts toward Western international music education are worthy of positive evaluation; Second, the observation records and reports from education missions of the U.S. and foreign aid organizations hold high value as historical materials; Lastly, UNESCO’s hosting of the world’s first international music education conference in 1953 and its establishment of the ISME mark the foundation of global music education, and the conference’s resolutions can serve as an indicator for evaluating the status of Korean elementary music education.

Keyword :

REFERENCES

1. American Education Team (1954). Curriculum handbook for the schools of Korea by the American education team, 1954-55 under the auspices of the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency and the American-Korean Foundation. Central Education Research Institute.
2. Char, H. S., Lee, I. H., Han, Y. W., Kang, K. H., Lee, J. Y., Yu, Y. I., Nam, S. U., Kim, Y. H., Kim, Y. H., So, B., Kim, Y. B., Jeon, S. I., Park, H. J., Ahn, B. J., & Joo, M. G. (2013). Korean modern history. Sejong Institute.
3. Cottrell, D. P. (1953). Rebuilding education in the Republic of Korea: The final report. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000179163?poslnSet=1&queryld=4ef8f44f-595b-40f2-b3e8-a662f33df349
4. Department of Education (1955). Music 5. Korea Textbook Printing Co., Ltd.
5. Department of Education, United States Army Military Government in Korea (1946). Curriculum guidelines for each subject in elementary and secondary schools. Chosun Educational Books.
6. Department of Education, United States Army Military Government in Korea (1946). Overview of education administration. Ministry of Education.
7. Hwang, W. C., Kim, S. Y., & Ko, C. K. (2004). Public education: Ideals, systems, and reforms. Wonmisa Publishing.
8. International Society for Music Education (1986). International society for music education. International Journal of Music Education, os-7(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.1177/025576148600700125 [Crossref]
9. Izdebski, C. (1983). Vanett lawler: Her contribution to national and international communication in music education. International Journal of Music Education, os-2(1), 45-48. https://doi.org/10.1177/025576148300200110 [Crossref]
10. Kang, I. G. (2002). A study on 'the new education movement' in South Korea: The elementary curriculum in the 1950s. Doctoral dissertation, Seoul National University.
11. Kim, D. G. (1995). Education during the U.S. Army Military Government Period. Moonumsa.
12. Kim, E. J., & Choi, Y. S. (2022). A study on elementary music textbook Ch'odŭng Noraech'aek in the United States Army Military Government Period. Korean Journal of Research in Music Education, 51(2), 21-46. https://doi.org/10.30775/KMES.51.2.21 [Crossref]
13. Kim, M. R. (1996). The school bell rings. Hyundae Aesthetics Publishing. Korean Mothers Association (1977). 30 years of Korean education. Korean Youth Culture Research Institute.
14. Korean National Commission of UNESCO (2014). From the foundation of Korea's development to a global leader in sharing: 60 years of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, 1954-2014. Korean National Commission of UNESCO.
15. Korean National Commission of UNESCO (2019). A study on the retrospect and prospects of the 70th anniversary of Korea's membership in UNESCO. Korean National Commission of UNESCO.
16. Kwon, H. G. (2014). Research on the music education during the post-liberation period. Journal of the Society for Korean Historico-Musicology, 53, 5-35.
17. Lawler, V. (1953). The world friendship through music. A report of the international conferences on music education at Brussels, Belgium. Music Educators Journal, 40(2), 25-31. https://doi.org/10.2307/3387914 [Crossref]
18. Lawler, V. (1958). Glimpses from Copenhagen. A report of the third general assembly of the International Society for Music Education. Music Educators Journal, 45(2), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.2307/3388913 [Crossref]
19. Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (2001). Music curriculum standards for elementary, middle, and high schools (1955~1997). Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development.
20. Moon, K. S. (2014). An investigation on Korean music education during the United States Army Military Government Period. Korean Journal of Research in Music Education, 43(3), 21-46.
21. Music Educators National Conference (1946). UNESCO and music. Music Educators Journal, 33(2), 28. https://doi.org/10.2307/3388403 [Crossref]
22. Music Educators National Conference (1951). Planning the first international conference on music education. Music Educators Journal, 38(2), 17-18. https://doi.org/10.2307/3387573 [Crossref]
23. Music Educators National Conference (1957). The MENC of Korea. Music Educators Journal, 43(5), 89-90. https://doi.org/10.2307/3388283 [Crossref]
24. Noah, M. (1949). Mission to Korea. Music Educators Journal, 35(6), 14-16. https://doi.org/10.2307/3387039 [Crossref]
25. Oh, C. S. (2014). History of modern Korean education (Revised ed.). Kyoyookkwahaksa.
26. Seoul Newspaper (1946). Printing and distribution of national history and civics textbooks to schools, page 2, column 1. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://nl.go.kr/newspaper/detail.do?content_id=CNTS-00133387908
27. Shin, G. H. (2004). A study on elementary music education during the United States Army Military Government Period. The Journal of Education, 23, 127-143.
28. Shin, G. H. (2005). A study on elementary music education during the period of syllabus period. The Journal of Education, 25(1), 3-24.
29. UNESCO (1955). Music in education: International conference on the role and place of music in the education of youth and adults, Brussels, 29 June to 9 July 1953. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000126900?poslnSet=2&queryld=af48606a-bef7-488f-90ae-991dcbf3bb8c
30. Yu, Y. I. (2006). Reevaluation of president syngman rhee. Yonsei University Press.