Complicating Korean History: Topics and Issues

Catalog description

Korea is known for its musicians, serene palaces, and North Korea. Under these ubiquitous stereotypes, however, it has an even more fascinating culture and history, punctuated by numerous invasions, colonialism, and division. In this inter-disciplinary survey course, we explore various facets of Korea North and South, from foundation myths to contemporary life and address Korean history broadly, examining key debates around origins, colonialism, and division. We move chronologically through major cultural, political, economic moments that inform Korean identity, arriving at the particulars of North and South Korea today, from daily life, gender, the diaspora, to KPop, and consider peninsular futurity.