주한미군의 한국문화적응 역량강화 프로그램 발전방안

About 28,500 US forces are stationed in South Korea. US forces are a symbol and the essence of the Korea-US alliance. Both Korea and the US should try to help the US soldiers to adapt to Korean society during their stay in Korea. From this point of view, this paper tries to review the adjustment program for USFK which provides Korean language, history and culture training to US soldiers who come to Korea for the first time, and to suggest desirable improvements for the program. In this paper, the program was analyzed via the cultural adaptation theory and the theory of empowerment program development. Desirable improvements were sought via survey method and in-depth interviews. The results are as follows: From the viewpoint of cultural adaptation theory, the importance of the instruction of Korean language and culture was revealed, and more systematic management of the program was demanded. As to the contents of the program, supplement of Korean language instruction and need for understanding Korean culture via the presentation of Korean society, law, religion, sightseeing, and food. As to the instruction method, in addition to lectures, more field study and more interesting and dynamic instruction were demanded. Additionally, the program contents instruction method found in this paper should be adopted in the program in the future.