Current Status and Revitalization of Religious Education according to the Application of the Revised 2022 Curriculum: Focusing on Won Buddhism-Affiliated Schools

[Objective] This study aims to propose measures to revitalize religious education by focusing on the transformation of the ‘Life and Religion’ course, under the 2022 revised national curriculum, into an effective subject that helps students address real-life issues. [Contents] The 2022 revised curriculum is characterized by its restructuring into a credit-based, elective-oriented system that allows students to complete courses and earn credits on a semester basis. As a result, all religion-affiliated schools in Korea now face at least two critical challenges: First, how can they harmoniously balance the guaranteeing of students’ right to choose subjects under the high school credit system with the provision of religious education that reflects the founding philosophy of the schools? Second, how can they align the implementation of their founding ideals with the teaching of religious subjects based on national curriculum standards? [Conclusions] This study presents four strategies for revitalizing religious education in schools: 1. Emphasizing character education, 2. Through the explicit (formal) curriculum, 3. Through the hidden (informal) curriculum, and 4. By reorganizing the curriculum. It questions the conventional model of religious education, which has been confined to religion-affiliated schools, in pursuit of more genuine character education for students. Furthermore, it calls for discussions on revitalizing the ‘Life and Religion’ course through a cooperative network of religion teachers from regional religion-affiliated schools, working together beyond denominational boundaries.