Republic of Korea ( Korea )

The situation of Environmental Education in Korea

   Since the 1970s, Environmental Education (EE) in Korea has been developing through various efforts. It is said that we are now facing the transition period in this historic trends. This transition is deeply related to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) which is making a great impact on the world including Japan.

EE in Schools
   In the 6th school curriculum (1992) in Korea, “Environment” was established as an elective subject for junior high and high schools. Although there are still some problems, election ratio of the Environment subject has been gradually increasing. According to Korean Environment Ministry in 2005, 11.8% of junior high schools and 30.3% of high schools chose the Environment subject. Besides this, elementary, junior high, and high schools have coped with EE through different subjects and using school forests and nature in communities. New school curriculum in 2007 takes the concept of ESD in the Environment subject having more practical contents, including work-study, comprehensive perspectives, life style, and sustainability.

Social Environmental Education
   Korean Environment Ministry has been dealing with various social EE projects. Support for selected excellent programs developed by NGOs (959 organizations have been supported), support for EE teachers, and dissemination/support for EE materials are important projects.

   EE development plan (2006-2015) was announced to the public in 2006. Enlarging its target/stakeholders such as private companies and military personnel, social EE is aiming for effective EE by developing network with associated organizations. As a part of the network development, KEEN (Korean Environmental Education Network) was established in 2005. At present, citizen organizations, teachers, public officials, private corporations, and students join KEEN (108 organizations and 487 people are member as of 2007).

Mr. Yi-sung Kim