A Critical Analysis of Ancient Sino-Korean Relations in the 2022 Korean History Curriculum

One of the notable changes in the 2022 Revised Curriculum in Korea is the restructuring of subjects. The discontinuation of East Asian History and the revision of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) have resulted in Korean History remaining as the sole history subject. This study examines the structure and narrative of ancient foreign relations in Korean history textbooks, aiming to move beyond a nation- centered perspective and understand Korean history within the broader East Asian world. By analyzing the composition and descriptions in textbooks, this research seeks to provide insights into how historical education has adapted to these curriculum changes.The newly introduced nine Korean history textbooks exhibit significant diversity, making it difficult to identify commonalities. They incorporate numerous visually striking materials; however, there is a tendency to compensate for narrative gaps by excessively listing visual elements without contextual coherence. Furthermore, in the ancient Korea-China relations section, the terms tributary and investiture have been omitted and replaced with the vague term exchange, resulting in potential misunderstandings among learners. In response to these issues, this study reassesses academic discussions on the tributary and investiture system and proposes effective learning strategies.By doing so, this paper aims to serve as a catalyst for a more informed approach to historical education, fostering a well-balanced response to contemporary challenges beyond the isolated perspectives of Korean history, East Asian history, and history education scholarship.