Humanistic Approach to Unification Education in the Ethics of Others

This study seeks to explore the humanistic foundation of Korean reunification through the ethics of the Other, and to propose a humanistic approach to unification education based on this foundation. To this end, it focuses on Emmanuel Levinas’s ethics of the Other, examining North Korea as the Other and presenting this reflection as a framework for unification education. This discussion arises from the recognition that unification education in schools has traditionally justified reunification on the grounds of nationalism, economic benefit, or political necessity. However, there is now a need to generate interest in reunification through more fundamental and philosophically reflective reasons. Accordingly, this study presupposes North Korea as the closest yet most unfamiliar Other, and emphasizes the need to contemplate our responsibility toward reunification. It further argues that this sense of responsibility is heightened when we confront the face of the Other, which serves as a humanistic basis for reunification. Regarding the humanistic approach to unification education, the study suggests that among the many Others, we must reflect on North Korea as a specific Other, practice an ethics of hospitality and acceptance toward it, and envision reunification as the birth of a new future. Through this line of inquiry, the study aims to continue developing a humanistic approach to unification education.