Historical Progression of English Education in Korea

This book offers a comprehensive overview of the historical progression of English language teaching and learning in Korea. It analyzes English textbook archives and newspaper articles published from 1882 to the 2020s, exploring the sociopolitical implications of learning English. This is the first book on the history of English language teaching and learning in Korea written in English, allowing access to international readers.

Chapters explore: English language education conducted before and after Korea’s liberation from Imperial Japan in 1945; the 1950s to the 1970s when English was regarded as the “social ladder” toward high social status; the technology-focused industrialization of the 1980s when English became necessary for international trade; and the 21st century rise of the Internet, and of K-culture, which uses English to promote Korean culture to the world.

The book is intended for graduate students, international professional researchers and education policymakers.