교육대학 학생들의 북한 인식과 북한이해교육의 과제: 2016~2018년 「북한과 통일론」의 사례

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the problem of South Korean college students’ perception of North Korea and education for understanding North Korea through students at the Pusan National University of Education. For this purpose, the case of “Lectures on North Korea and Unification” (i.e., in-depth require the course for 4th-grade students in the Department of Ethics Education) from 2016 to 2018 was selected. The college students recognized North Korea as a ‘negative, scary, and inferior being’ and had images of ‘enemies, antipathy, and the boy who cried’. At the same time, however, they believed that the North Korean residences should be perceived as separated ones from the North Korean regime, thinking that warm hearts for North Koreans are needed as compatriots and family. The findings of the study show that the structure of the curriculum (i.e., prior work – 10 minutes lecture – four presentations and discussion seminars – a conversation with North Korean defectors – Take-home examination) could improve the college students’ interest and understanding of North Korea. The students expressed their sense of responsibility to prepare professional knowledge of North Korean in preparation for teaching. The students indicated that the course, “Lectures on North Korea and Unification”, was worthy as it encouraged their active learning attitude through the class environment, effective to participate in presentation and discussion, and impressive to talk with North Korean defectors. With a determination to grasp and empathize from daily features of North Korea, the students exhibited their willingness to approach to understanding North Korea from the equitable human point of view, apart from the consciousness of confrontation between two Koreas and antipathy. Based on the students’ perception, 1) establishment of an independent subject, 2) approach to daily life, 3) access to defectors, 4) multi-level approach to understanding North Korea, and 5) use of various teaching tools and media are suggested as educations for understanding North Korea.