본 연구의 목적은 미국 사회과 교과서에 나타난 일반사회 영역, 역사영역, 지리영역의 한국 관련 내용을 비교 분석하여 한국이 어떻게 소개되어 있고, 어떤 문제점이 있으며, 어떤 대안이 필요한지를 알아보려는 것이다. 이를 위해 선행연구를 개관하고 이론적 분석틀을 마련하여 미국에서 가장 널리 사용되는 사회과 교과서(세계문화 6권, 세계사 6권, 세계지리 6권) 18권에 나타난 한국 관련 내용을 분석하여 실증주의적 관점, 국제이해교육적 관점, 세계시민적 관점에서 세 영역을 비교 및 종합하였다. 그 결과 실증주의적 관점에서 과거에 비해 오류와 왜곡이 많이 개선되었으나 여전히 몇몇 교과서에서는 오류와 왜곡이 발견되며, 이는 오래된 통계와 자료가 원인이 되고 있다. 국제이해교육적 관점에서도 많이 개선되기는 하였으나 한국 관련 기술 내용이 일본과 중국에 비해 터무니 없이 적고, 몇몇 교과서, 그리고 한 교과서 안에서도 어떤 대목에서는 미국, 중국, 일본 중심의 기술로 한국에 대해 체계적 누락과 주변화된 시각을 보여주고 있다. 세계시민적 관점에서도 몇몇 교과서는 한국이 인류에 기여한 과학, 기술, 통일과 평화를 위한 노력, 경제발전 등을 소개하면서도 여전히 미국중심주의, 식민사관 등을 보여주고 있다. 이의 개선을 위해서는 교과서 저자와 출판사를 위한 영문으로 된 한국관련 자료를 많이 찾고, 발행 보급하고, 한국관련내용이 미국 사회과 교과서에 양적으로 많이 기술되도록 노력하는 것이 급선무로 보인다. 왜냐하면 기술양이 많아야 그 만큼 오류의 가능성도 줄어들기 때문이다.

The characteristics of the description about Korea in eighteen textbooks(six World Culture textbooks, six World History textbooks, and six Geography textbooks) most widely used in American schools were analyzed based on a social studies theoretical framework: fact-based perspective, international understanding perspective, and world citizenship perspective. According to the 'fact-based perspective', most american textbooks have improved in terms of factual information and usage of current statistics. But some textbooks have still wrong facts because of old statistics and resources. And they were observed that the amount of text devoted to Korea was so fewer than those of Japanese or Chinese. This made probably errors and distortion because the less written about Korea, the less the accuracy, as a general rule. According to the 'international understanding perspective', most american textbooks have improved in view of understanding korean history and culture, but observed that Korea was marginalized in quantity and discriptions on some textbooks or some part of them. They should have described Korean history and culture not for America, China, and Japan but for Korea for them to understand those of Korea exactly. According to the 'world citizenship perspective', some american textbooks have mentioned the contributions of Korea to mankind, not only ancient science, technologies, and construction, but also the endeavor for unification and world peace, and economic development. But some textbooks still have had the tone of american supremacy, colonialistic and condescending attitudes towards Korea. In other to improve the american textbooks' description about Korea, many publications of english resources about Korea for textbook authors and publishers and the endeavor of increasing the quantity of text about Korea are needed.

The characteristics of the description about Korea in eighteen textbooks(six World Culture textbooks, six World History textbooks, and six Geography textbooks) most widely used in American schools were analyzed based on a social studies theoretical framework: fact-based perspective, international understanding perspective, and world citizenship perspective. According to the 'fact-based perspective', most american textbooks have improved in terms of factual information and usage of current statistics. But some textbooks have still wrong facts because of old statistics and resources. And they were observed that the amount of text devoted to Korea was so fewer than those of Japanese or Chinese. This made probably errors and distortion because the less written about Korea, the less the accuracy, as a general rule. According to the 'international understanding perspective', most american textbooks have improved in view of understanding korean history and culture, but observed that Korea was marginalized in quantity and discriptions on some textbooks or some part of them. They should have described Korean history and culture not for America, China, and Japan but for Korea for them to understand those of Korea exactly. According to the 'world citizenship perspective', some american textbooks have mentioned the contributions of Korea to mankind, not only ancient science, technologies, and construction, but also the endeavor for unification and world peace, and economic development. But some textbooks still have had the tone of american supremacy, colonialistic and condescending attitudes towards Korea. In other to improve the american textbooks' description about Korea, many publications of english resources about Korea for textbook authors and publishers and the endeavor of increasing the quantity of text about Korea are needed.

, , , , , , ,

world culture, world history, world geography, fact-based perspective, international understanding perspective, world citizenship perspective, social studies, american textbook