The aim of this study is to examine the directions of Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) programs in Korea through the historical changes of each one PETE institute in England and Korea from the 1970s to 2010s based on academicisation. Document analysis and grounded theory were used to analyse historical sources and interviews. I identify four findings. First, the amounts of hours in curricula in both PETE courses have been reduced. Second, discipline knowledge in England was a first priority in the 1970s but has urgently reduced since the 1980s because of the growth and adoption of sport pedagogy. In Korea, discipline knowledge has still kept as a first priority for 40 years. However, professional knowledge in Korea has increased to enhance PETE since the middle of 2000s. Third, teaching experiences in England has increased by nearly double from 15 weeks to 32 weeks. In Korea, student have, and continue to participate in only four weeks of teaching experience. Fourth, education studies in England abolished in the 1990s. In Korea, they urgently increased in 2009. I conclude by confirming the need to study a structure and content of units of discipline knowledge and professional knowledge. I propose a system for selection of majors in the Department of Physical Education.
