The proposal for a Korean traditional Music Education Curriculum in Teacher Training Institutions : Focusing on the Music Education Curriculum in Teacher Training Colleges

This study seeks to enhance the quality of music teacher education programs in Korea with the goal of cultivating music teachers who can foster a strong sense of national cultural identity and global citizenship among Korean students. By analyzing the music education curricula of nine teacher training colleges in light of the 2022 revised national curriculum and the 2023 basic required courses and fields, this study identifies key challenges and proposes solutions. There are two main issues with the music education curricula in teacher training colleges. First, the courses on gugak do not align with the national curriculum standards, particularly regarding the required basic courses and fields. Second, there is a significant imbalance in the faculty composition of music education departments, with a disproportionately higher number of professors specializing in Western music compared to gugak. To address these issues, the following revisions to the music education curriculum in teacher training colleges are proposed. First, the curriculum should be overhauled to align with the Ministry of Education’s 2022 revised music curriculum and the 2023 basic required courses and fields. Second, the faculty composition of music education departments should be adjusted to reflect the appropriate balance between gugak and Western music as outlined in the national curriculum. Third, the Ministry of Education should implement stronger oversight of music teacher education curricula and faculty appointments to ensure that these proposed changes are effectively implemented.