KOREAN 120 Korean Society and Culture - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

An introduction to Korean society and culture, focusing on the development of the nation. The course covers the colonial legacy, national division, and cultural, social, economic and political changes in the two Koreas. No knowledge of Korean language required.

Course Overview

Why are there two Koreas today? Why are North and South Korea so different from each other? How has K-pop become such a global phenomenon? These are some of the most common questions asked about Korea. To understand the country’s division, the different roads that the two Koreas have taken, and the rise of K-pop it is important to get deep insights into Korea’s history of nation-building, culture, society, politics and economy.

Today South Korea is characterised by its dynamic culture, vibrant society and captivating popular cultural products. South Korea is the world’s eleventh largest economy and its experiences of rapid economic development and political democratisation serve as a model for many other developing countries in Asia and beyond. South Korean society, which used to be one of the most homogeneous societies in the world, has become much more multicultural after the 1990s with increasing number of migrant workers, migrant brides, and international students. Meanwhile, South Korean population has been rapidly aging and the country records one of the lowest birth rates in the world, which has become a serious concern of the country.

On the other hand, North Korea, which has been competing with the South for political legitimacy and hegemony, has followed a development path which is totally different from that of the South. The country has been ruled with the principles of socialism and "self-reliance" (juche), and it tried to unify the two Koreas by launching the tragic Korean War in 1950. North Korea’s economy seriously declined after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the end of 1991. Nevertheless, it has maintained a strong military with nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. The year 2018 saw dramatic changes in the relationship between the two Koreas and also between North Korea and the US. Though the Hanoi Summit (February 2019) between the US and North Korea ended without any result, the drama is still unfolding itself.

What will happen to the two Koreas as the conventional power balance in Northeast Asia is changing with the rise of China and relative decline of Japan?

Taking a topical and comparative approach, this course will focus on:

(1) How the modern Korean nation developed and how the nation was divided into the North and South;

(2) Korea’s relationship with its neighbors, China, Japan, Russia and the US in terms of politics, culture, and economy;

(3) Korea’s religious and philosophical traditions and values and their changes in modern times;

(4) The economic, political, social and cultural changes of South and North Korea (1950s - 2000s);

(5) North Korea’s nation-building and its leadership changes;

(6) Inter-Korean relationship and future of the Korean Peninsula

To help understand Korean culture, society and history in a broader regional and global context, the two Koreas will be compared with China, Japan and Taiwan where such comparisons are useful. At the end of the semester students are expected to have gained a solid knowledge of the key features and issues on the South and North Korean history, society, culture, economy, politics and international relations.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Understand development of the modern Korean nation (Capability 1.1, 2.2, 4.2 and 5.2)
Understand the division of the Korean nation and its impacts on the Korean people and the world (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.2, 3.2 and 4.2)
Understand the two Koreas and their international political surroundings (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.2 and 4.2)
Understand the cultural values and religious traditions and changes in Korea (Capability 2.2)
Understand the political, economic, social, and cultural changes of the two Koreas (1950s-2000s) (Capability 1.3, 2.3 and 4.1)
Understand Development of the North Korean regime within the regional and global political environment (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 3.2 and 4.1)
Evaluate the unification efforts of the two Koreas within the changing inter Korean and international environment (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Review Essay	10%	Individual Coursework
Presentation	10%	Individual Coursework
Research Essay	30%	Individual Coursework
Final Exam	50%	Individual Examination
4 types	100%

Next offered

Semester 2, 2021

Learning Resources

Required reading list as indicated in the Weekly Schedule

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week on each 15 point course that they are enrolled in, including class time and personal study and assignment preparation.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity

KOREAN 120 : Korean Society and Culture

Arts

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)