The word of integration/inclusion (“Tong-hap”) in terms of Korea special education has been
used in diverse educational situations. Among its various educational terms this study considered to clarify and define inclusive education in special education. In addition, special education curricula of Japan, China, and Hong Kong were compared and analyzed for establishing necessary inclusive education movement in elementary curriculum of Korea special education.
The findings of the comparison with three countries were the following:
First, special education of three countries aims at the inclusion and mainly is implemented in
elementary levels of general schools and classrooms, not in special schools. Second, inclusive education demands national special education curriculum to reestablish due to the systematic dualism of special education. Third, inclusive education needs to be ultimately implemented through the individualized education program (IEP), intending classroom-based and teacher-based curriculum.
Specific and practical curriculum should be required for implementing inclusive education.
Through the study of three different and similar system for inclusive education, we recognize
that the present development level of Korea inclusive education does not meet the inclusive
education needs for general education. To shape and achieve successful inclusive education model in Korea, we can collect useful information in the case studies of Japan\'s ‘special support education’;
that is, it regards inclusive education as a goal of all education, not an integration of special
education into general education, and China\'s whole school approach; in the level of implementing inclusive education, educational awareness of disabilities based on the cultural changes and the different interests of educators is significant.