The Republic of Korea is a liberal society where individual freedom and the discouse of right are respected. At the same time, it is a society where one can easily see people expressing their patriotism, an eagerness to see the development of one''s country. However, patriotism has been depreciated in South Korean societies until today. Patriotism is an essential concept for the development and unity of South Korea as well as for the betterness of the community. For this reason, it is critical to ask several questions - what is the meaning of patriotism, which patriotism would be suitable for South Korean society, and what educational actions should be taken to maintain and develop the suitable patriotism. To provide answers to these questions, this study examines the following issues.
First, it discusses three most influential types of patriotism in South Korea: patriotism of liberalism, communitarianism and republicanism. The meaning of the three concepts varies depending on their views of human and society. Liberal patriotism appreciates both moderate patriotism and constitutional patriotism, which are compatible with liberal morality, even though it puts emphasis on individual and national rights. Still, liberal patriotism has its limitation in that it lacks common good. Communitative patriotism stresses the bond between a country and its people. Communitative patriotism plays a role as a link between individuals and their country, so it holds its position as a moral source. In other words, with communitative patriotism, people consider possessing love towards one''s nation and being responsible for public work as a duty. However, communitative patriotism is prone to degenerating into a patriotism that emphasizes uniformity. Republican patriotism places much value on freedom as non-domination for both nations and their people. The target of republican patriotism is an artificial and politically-characterized space, so republican patriotism itself is artificial and political. In addition, it can be claimed that republican patriotism is a patriotism of citizens who value citizens'' virtue, or public interest, have restraining influence and passion for politics.
Second, among liberal patriotism, communitative patriotism and republican patriotism, the most suitable one for South Korea is republican patriotism. It does not mean republican patriotism is perfect, but it can offer solutions to South Korea'' current problems such as the neo-liberalism''s domineering growth discourse, the need to view "candle democracy" in a critical manner, the remaining nationalism-featured patriotism and the necessity of discovering a patriotism that is compatible with cosmopolitanism.
Third, the main subject that is account for patriotism education in a school is ethics. To maintain and develop a republican patriotism compatible with South Korean societies, ethics courses should deal with patriotism as one of its main contents. Sadly, current ethics courses in South Korea neglect patriotism education; it is preoccupied with cosmopolitanism education. In this regard, it is necessary to contrive ways to make students into people equipped with republican patriotism through ethics courses. The followings are the ways to achieve this goal. (1) We should impart a sound knowledge of republican patriotism and teach how to think morally to our students. (2) We must teach republican patriotism along with emotional education. (3) We need to enable them to cultivate artificial and political patriotism. (4) We have to make sure our students can develop an empirical republican patriotism. Based on the aforementioned four educational approaches, this study presented numerous strategies for the education of republican patriotism. I assert that if we set the right direction of patriotism education and combine it with effective teaching methods, South Korea will thrive and prosper with citizens who are armed with republican patriotism.