The present study aims to examine whether the Korean elementary school texts rightly and impartially describe the history of Protestant Christianity. In Korea the contents of the elementary school texts change as the education curricula are revised by the Department of Education. This study analyzes the description of Protestant Christianity in the elementary school texts published in each education curriculum (education curricula have been revised seven times during from 1955 to 1997.
This study first examines the space which the current elementary school text alloted to the description of Protestant Christianity in comparison with the space alloted to the description of other religions, in particular Chyeonjugyo, Chyeondogyo, Daejonggyo, and Wonbulgyo. Next it turns to the concept of Protestant Christianity as it is understood in the elementary school texts. Thereafter it examines what the elementary school texts describe about the contribution of Protestant Christianity to the modernization of Korea. And it also investigates what these elementary school texts talk about the contribution of Protestant Christianity to the recovery of national sovereignty in Japan’s colonial period.
From this study is resulted this. First, the current elementary school text alloted more space to the description of Chyeonjugyo, Chyeondogyo, Daejonggyo, and Wonbulgyo than to that of Protestant Christianity. Secondly the elementary school texts mentioned the teaching of Protestant Christianity and its contributions to Korean society but did not explain the introduction-process and the main activities of Protestant Christianity. Thirdly the elementary school texts mentioned the introduction of new belief, and Western medicine, education plus culture, as the contributions of Protestant Christianity but often omitted the propagation of the idea of equality, abolition of superstition, and development of national self-supporting spirit.
To conclude, this study proposes some suggestions to improve the description of Protestant Christianity in the elementary school text to be produced in accordance with the 2007 revised education curriculum.
1) The text to be produced in accordance with the 2007 revised education curriculum should mention the influences which the reception in Korea of Protestant Christianity exerted on Korean society and daily life;
2) this text should explain Protestant Christianity’s contributions in the March First Independence Movement and the following economic, social, and cultural movements in Japan’s colonial period;
3) this text should describe Protestant Christianity’s participation in the movement for democratization in 1970-1980s.

• 백종구(서울기독대학교) | Paek, Chong Ku