Prehistoric and Gojoseon Period

Education in the prehistoric times mostly consisted of hunting, fishing, toolmaking, and combat. Through those lessons, people were taught to be members of society. Since the prehistoric education was based on protection from nature, it was unorganized. Such education eventually led to the first religious beliefs. In Korea, the ideas lead to the development of the idea of Samsin (Korea: 삼신, Hanja:三神, English: Three Gods) along with the Korean versions of animism and shamanism. However, there was no particular religion involved and the education relied on anecdotal teachings.

In the Gojoseon Period (?-108 BC), many of the factors in the prehistoric education still remained, but an earlier frame of society was established, along with social morality. The earliest traces of education can be seen in Samguk Yusa. Passages of the book show evidence of agriculture, punishment, morality, and medicine. Korea's first educational slogan is Hongik Ingan (홍익인간; 弘益人間). It means to 'live and work for the benefit of all mankind”.' The first system of law is written in the Book of Han. In this period, the education was made to benefit the society as a whole.