North Korea’s ‘Hostile Two-State’ Claim and the ROK’s Unification Education

This paper emphasizes the need for a fundamental re-examination of the Republic of Korea's unification policies and education, particularly in light of North Korea's recent claim that the two Koreas are hostile states. It explores the new challenges North Korea's doctrine of the “hostile two-state claim” poses to the division and unification of the Korean Peninsula. First, the paper analyzes the identity of inter-Korean relations established within the structural framework of division. It also investigates South Koreans' perceptions of unification. Subsequently, the paper examines the changes and determinants of unification policies and education under successive governments while considering the direction that future unification education should take. In this context, the paper reviews international factors, domestic political influences, and North Korean impacts surrounding unification education. Based on this analysis, it proposes a direction for future unification education. This study reflects on how sustainable policies and educational approaches for unification should be designed, emphasizing the necessity of effective unification education amid the complexities of inter-Korean relations and the evolving international landscape.