This research was to analyze the appearance and expansion of military disciplines in schools
through the case of military gymnastics and to find out its social functions from 1880's to 1910. The
results were as follows;
First, military drill, which was carried out in Wonsanhaksa for the first time in modern times, was
taught in earnest in early 1890's by foreign and domestic soldiers in gymnastic classes in some
Christian schools.
Second, military gymnastics first appeared in the curriculum in 1895, owing to Japanese
consultants' influence and the endeavor of Korean officials who wanted to meet the demands of
Koreans then. Military gymnastics disappeared from the elementary school curriculum by Japanese
intervention in 1906. In 1909, the change in gymnastics curriculum was characterized by the
disappearance of military gymnastics and appearance of school gymnastics based on the Swedish
gymnastics.
Third, Korean government sent foreign and domestic soldiers as physical education instructors to
foreign schools before 1906 and implemented military gymnastics in full force.
Fourth, military gymnastics was eliminated from national and public schools and spread throughout
private schools after 1906. It was in order to meet the demands of Koreans that military gymnastics
was carried out in almost all private schools.
Fifth, military gymnastics played a role in unifying Korean society under the king and raising
brave fighters to restore national rights.
To sum up in terms of school discipline, the historical process of military gymnastics was the
process by which military discipline achieved a firm legitimacy in school. Before 1910, military
discipline in schools was a product of the time and society. As for the military discipline that still
remains in the schools of the 21th century, we need to examine whether it is suitable for the
modern times.