Dahee Kim
Dahee Kim is a researcher with the Understanding Korea Project at the Academy of Korean Studies. Since 2013, she has specialized in critically analyzing Korea-related narratives in North American textbooks and international educational materials. She earned her Ph.D. with a focus on a comparative study of policies and practices in textbook publication. As a researcher, she bridges the gap between academic research and public diplomacy. Collaborating with international publishers, curriculum developers, and educators, she promotes accurate and in-depth representations of Korean history and culture. These efforts reflect her dedication to fostering a deeper understanding of Korea in global classrooms.
The Academy for Korean Studies
Session
How is Korea’s historical agency negotiated between textbook narratives and classroom practice? This panel examines the tensions between official representations of Korea in world history curricula and their interpretation in educational settings in the United States and South Korea. Kenneth R. Curtis opens by reflecting on decades of engagement with U.S. “history wars,” highlighting the structural constraints that have shaped Korea’s marginal position within Western-centered state standards. Mimi Lee shifts the focus to teacher agency, drawing on empirical research to show how educators actively interpret, adapt, and at times resist narratives of “the other” in order to connect historical narratives to students’ present lives. Finally, Dahee Kim identifies persistent gaps between academic scholarship and classroom content, presenting cases of collaboration with global publishers to reposition Korea as an active and independent agent in world history.
Together, these presentations show that reframing Korea requires more than revising textbook narratives; it demands sustained attention to teacher professional learning and institutional partnerships that bridge the divide between scholarship and classroom practice.