This study was intended to examine the changing patterns of the Korean language textbook for
elementary school students from the 1st curriculum period until the amended curriculum period of 2009
based on the entities developing the textbook, internal and external system of textbook, guidance on
characters at the introductory phase, and other characteristics.
Regarding the entities developing the textbooks, Ministry of Education, Korean Educational Development
Institute(KEDI), Korea Institute of Curriculum & Evaluation(KICE) developed the government-designated
textbooks in the 1st to 7th curriculum period. Since the amendment of curriculum in 2007, the textbook
development has been led by Korea National University of Education and Seoul National University of
Education selected in the open competition for the government-designated textbook development. The
results of this study showed that the method of binding in fascicles adopted the volume system in the 1st
to 4th curriculum period, and applied the divided textbook system in 5th curriculum period to the
amended curriculum period of 2007. Since, the amendment of curriculum in 2009, the volume system has
been adopted again. The book size has been used on the small octavo, 4×6 towfold format, at this present
use modified small octavo towfold format(210×274mm). Regarding the unit system, the minor unit and
major unit system were used altogether for each grade in the 1st to 3rd curriculum period. However, the
unit system adopted the minor unit system in the 4th to 6th curriculum period, and changed to the major
unit system in the 7th curriculum period, and shifted to the intermediate unit system in the amended
curriculum period of 2007. Since the amendment of curriculum in 2009, the minor unit system has been
applied again. In relation to the structuring method of units, the theme and sentence type were mixed in
the 1st to 3rd curriculum period while the sentence type dominated in the 4th curriculum period. From
the 5th curriculum period, the units were found to be primarily based on the objective-oriented structure.
Since the 6th curriculum period, the unit compilation diagram has been presented, laying the foundation
for the unit structuring method which is based on the process of 'introductory learning→ understanding
of the learning contents → application of learning → repeating the main points of learning(recapping)'. The
method of guidance on characters at the introductory phase took the meaning-centered approach in the 1st
to 3rd curriculum period, and adopted the eclectic approach(meaning + pronunciation) in the 4th
curriculum period to the amended curriculum period of 2009. In addition, the experimental textbooks have
been developed and applied since the 3rd curriculum period, and the and textbooks have been developed, which reflect the introduction of school district system and
integration of areas/functions, since the amendment of curriculum in 2009.