The nation concept did not exist before modern society. It is a historical product of modernization. The
nation concept was sparked off by Shin Chae Ho, but the origin of a racially homogeneous nation view of
history is unclear. Nevertheless, it has had strong influence on us as imprinted in our world of consciousness.
Recently it has faded under the growing influence of multiculturalism under globalization. The racially
homogeneous nation view of history and multiculturalism are two extreme value systems contradicting each
other. It is reasonable to hold either one of the two standpoints due to their merits. That is, even if the racially
homogeneous nation view of history cannot embrace multiculturalism due to its insistence on purity of bloodline,
it serves as a ideological mechanism to increase the nation cohesiveness in the harsh world of the survival of
the fittest. On the other hand, multiculturalism strives for the universal values of freedom and equality based on
human dignity, but may undermine the national consciousness.
But, it is our position that the two paradoxical positions, the racially homogeneous nation view of history
and multiculturalism, must be both accepted to cope with the international situation effectively. To achieve this,
we must embrace the Hongikingan ideology, rather than the Dangun's ideology of blood descendant. Since the
ideology of Hongikingan, the founding principle of our nation, aims at building a community based on freedom,
equality and human dignity, the Hongikingan ideology as a universal value is able to embrace differences in
race, language, area, culture, religion and etc. So, the community nation view of history of Hongikingan
ideology, which emphasizes community harmony, must be sought. The community nation view of history
promotes an open democracy by adopting the universal value of Hongikingan ideology, and not of blood
descendant. The community nation view of history increases national cohesiveness, while embracing
multiculturalism at the same time. In short, the community nation view of history offers the ideological
cornerstone of multicultural education including multicultural differences.