Korean Culture as Portrayed in Young Children’s Picture Books: The Pursuit of Cultural Authenticity

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to investigate how contemporary Korea and its culture are portrayed in children’s picture books published in the United States. Our analysis of the representation of Korean culture in text and illustrations was based on a sample of 33 picture books written in English and published in the US between 1990 and 2012. The findings revealed that (1) the nation of Korea was usually described with short sentences focusing on the country’s foreignness and with outdated content and illustrations; (2) Koreans and their culture were primarily presented at the surface level and differences were highlighted by being contrasted with western culture; (3) traditional aspects of Korean culture and the admixing of Korean culture with other Asian cultures were often ascribed to contemporary Korean culture; and (4) books that covered topics on immigration and acculturation commonly included identity-related conflicts the characters faced, in the dichotomous context of keeping one’s original culture or conforming to the new culture. Based on these findings, there is a pressing need for authors and illustrators of children’s books, when introducing a foreign culture, to depict realistic stories and illustrations that reflect current ideology, customs, and everyday life. In order to create high-quality and authentic multicultural literature, it is vitally important to incorporate a deeper understanding of cultural values and diverse viewpoints that are developmentally appropriate for young readers.