This study examines and evaluates English in the First to the Seventh national school curriculum (1954-present) in South Korea in order to suggest directions for future English curriculum development. First, a sociolinguistic profile of English in South Korea is described to provide a better understanding of English in the national school curriculum. The profile includes a brief description of South Korea, the history of English in South Korea, functional uses of English, general presence and availability of English, the cline of bilingualism in South Korea, English language policy and planning, and attitudes toward English. Second, English in the First to the Seventh national school curriculum is described through the curriculum framework provided by Tyler (1969): goals, content, organization, and evaluation. Third, the recurring theme of English throughout the history of the national school curriculum is evaluated and discussed through information and implications obtained from the sociolinguistic profile. Finally, this study suggests that the recurring theme is not a desirable direction for English in the future national school curriculum because it does not reflect the sociolinguistic reality of English in South Korea. More importantly, it does not serve the needs of the general population in South Korea; as a result, these findings call for a new direction for English in the future national school curriculum.
