Teaching about Modern Korea

Teaching about Modern Korea: 

Teaching about Modern Korea A question of Identity

A great site for lesson plans on all aspects of Korea: 

A great site for lesson plans on all aspects of Korea http://www.koreak12.org/

Categories: 

Categories Identity separate from China and Japan (Japanese invasion’s) How do you borrow many aspects of culture from a much larger neighbor and still retain your own identity? How do you 'fend off’ neighbors who want to control you without war?

Struggle for independence in 19th century : 

Struggle for independence in 19th century Opening to West and to Japan Queen Min and the balancing act The Sino-Japanese War fought over Korea The East Learning movement-revise national philosophy

Korea as Japanese colony: 

Korea as Japanese colony Lost Names Comfort women Korea as colony for the benefit of Japan Korea as expression of the 'Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere' Japanese migration to Korea

Korea in WWII and the division into North and South: 

Korea in WWII and the division into North and South Who can serve in the Japanese Army? Comfort women—who and why? Propaganda during the War Defeat and its aftermath Why division North and South Refugees: Japanese and Korean

All Asia Perspective: 

All Asia Perspective World War II completed the end of Imperialism—are their positive effects to Japanese colonialism? Role of revolutionary leaders during the Anti-Japanese War: Mao Zedong, Ho Chi-Minh, Kim Il Song What their communism meant? Why did they become anti-US? Compare US in China: 1945-1949; US in Korea (1950-today); US in Vietnam (1954-1975)

The Korean War: 

The Korean War War against Communism or Civil War? What is it like to have war on your territory? Comparison of US Civil War and Korean Korean perspectives: Then and Now Korea is still in a state of war Why many Koreans don’t like US military bases in Korea –anti military demonstrations

South Korea: Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy: 

South Korea: Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy Can a nation be a dictatorship and be a good US Ally? How did the cold War shape US support of Syngman Rhee How does a dictatorship transform into a democracy? The role of students, economic development, political pressure

North Korea: How can we understand it?: 

North Korea: How can we understand it? Why is it so poor? Why has the leadership solidified? Look at Kim Il Sung as the people’s leader during the anti-Japanese struggle and his transformation into the Great Leader What is Juche and why did it develop? What do the North Korean’s Wan? Is isolation the correct policy? Did it work anywhere else? (look at post communist China and Vietnam)

Asserting Identity today: 

Asserting Identity today Pop Music and new importance of classical music Dress Food—a healthy diet and the meaning of Western food Pride in past history (inventions, cultural symbols) Economic progress-transforming from a 'little Tiger' to a 'big Tiger' Education—what and for whom?