The First Curriculum of Mathematics in Korea for the New Millennium

In the Republic of Korea, mathematics has always been a major blame for huge private expenditures on so-called "private education," which consists of private tutoring and lessons at "private academies of extra curricula." The private spending on out-of-school education often exceeded public expenditures on schools. In 1997, South Korean Ministry of Education reformed curriculum of mathematics along with other subjects to ease the burden of private education. The aim of this curriculum change was to put a boost on individual students' interests, affections and other attributes toward school mathematics. The essential distinctiveness of the new curriculum of mathematics compared with the previous one is as follows: 1. The implementation of so-called "differentiated curriculum" for grades 1-10. 2. 30% reduction of contents in mathematics and the reconciliation of contents. 3. Elective subjects for mathematics for grades 11 and 12. 4. More uses of technology in mathematics teaching. Firstly, we examine the background of the curriculum reform and analyze the new curriculum according to awareness of educational administrators, teaching environments of schools and readiness of mathematics teachers. Then we find out what kinds of problems it has and look for some suggestions for remedies.