Song Jaeik This article examines education, schools, subject-matter, and subject-matter education, and discusses the direction that Korean language education should take. Education is not an activity that is compulsory, but rather one in which both teachers and learners participate voluntarily. Education is the process of developing individual’s potential through teaching and learning. However, many educational activities in schools are not directly related to education. Schools are not just places for education; they also serve many other functions. For this reason, even in the curriculum taught in schools, there are contents that are not related to education. Therefore, rather than considering the achievement of subjects as the essence or primary purpose of education, subjects should be considered as resources or means of education. In the Korean language curriculum and subject-matter, it is necessary to distinguish between what is relevant to education and what is not. If Korean language education goes beyond the level of Korean language subject instruction or classroom teaching, it must move toward realizing the true purpose of education. Rather than using education as a means of teaching Korean language subject-matter, it is more appropriate to use Korean language subject-matter as a means of education. If Korean language education is confined to schools, it will not develop into desirable Korean language education.