남․북한과 중국 조선족의국어 교과서 우화 텍스트 비교 연구

Abstract

This study conducts a comparative analysis of fables included in elementary Korean language textbooks from South Korea, North Korea, and the Chinese Korean (Joseonjok) community. By examining characters, moral themes, narrative endings, and modes of didactic presentation, the study explores how each region’s educational ideology and linguistic worldview are reflected in fable texts. A total of 65 fables were analyzed, selected primarily based on the Perry Index, along with additional criteria for creative variants. The findings reveal that South Korean textbooks emphasize emotional empathy, self-reflection, and individual judgment; North Korean textbooks foreground socialist ethics, discipline, and collective norms through explicit and punitive moral conclusions; and Joseonjok textbooks highlight communal harmony, practical wisdom, and experiential learning within a multicultural context. A focused comparison of the shared fable “The Father, the Son, and the Donkey” further illustrates region-specific narrative transformations and moral framing. The study demonstrates that textbook fables function not only as literary texts but also as socio-cultural instruments shaping educational values and conceptions of ideal learners.