Intercultural sensitivity among music students in the United States and the Republic of Korea: a comparative study

The role of musical education in developing intercultural sensitivity, a key skill in today’s globalized world, was examined. Intercultural sensitivity among music students from public universities in South Korea and the United States was compared using the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS). Survey responses from 300 fourth-year music students in each country were analyzed, and the Mann–Whitney U test was employed to identify statistically significant differences between the groups. The results indicated that US students demonstrated higher levels of intercultural sensitivity, particularly in the areas of engagement, confidence, enjoyment, attentiveness, and respect during intercultural interactions. The findings highlighted the importance of incorporating cultural diversity into music education to better prepare students for global professional and interpersonal environments. Such integration may enhance musicians’ ability to navigate different musical genres and appreciate cultural diversity, thereby fostering competencies essential for their future careers. The results further suggested that political and cultural contexts influenced how musicians perceived and accepted cultural differences.