Mike Breen, author of The Koreans, has an op-ed in the Korea Times about the difference between nationalism and patriotism in Korean schools:

For the record, I have no argument with patriotism. Love of country is a good thing. But the education I’m taking issue with is not patriotic. It’s nationalistic. And nationalism is not about love of country. It’s about power. The nationalist does not share international values. That’s why he can go crazy over Dokdo but be unmoved by human rights violations in North Korea.

Some aspects of nationalist education are extremely nasty. For example, in a year or two, today’s 1st graders will be taught to be proud that Koreans are racially ``pure.’’ Hands up, children, if this reminds you of a World War.