From War Memory to Shared Humanity: Ethical Global Citizenship in the Shadow of the Korean War

Purpose: This article examines how the memory of the Korean War, seventy-five years after its outbreak, can be reinterpreted as a resource for cultivating ethical global citizenship. By moving beyond nationalistic narratives, the paper explores how war memory may foster empathy, justice, and solidarity across borders. Method: This research project used a qualitative approach consisting of a critical literature review of scholarly works on war memory, ethics, and global citizenship education, combined with analysis of case studies including South Korea’s peace education curriculum, UNESCO’s Global Citizenship Education (GCE) initiatives, youth dialogues at DMZ Peace Camps, and memorial practices such as the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum in Seoul. Results: The research identifies how ethical GCE can transform the legacy of war into a dialogic space for peacebuilding. It shows that dialogic ethics and narrative imagination offer pathways for reinterpreting war memory as a shared human experience, enabling learners to recognize interdependence and the moral responsibilities of global solidarity. Conclusion: The article argues that remembering the Korean War as a global rather than merely national event can contribute to the cultivation of ethical GCE. By reframing memory through dialogic ethics, societies can nurture empathy and responsibility, making war remembrance a foundation for building just and peaceful futures in the 21st century. Key Words: Korean War, war memory, ethical global citizenship education, dialogic ethics, peace education, UNESCO, empathy, shared humanity, interdependence