The goal of this course is to introduce students to modern South Korea through an examination of the various aspects and issues shaping its history, culture, and society. Economically, culturally, and politically, South Korea has come to occupy an increasingly important place in the community of nations and in the modern world. This course aims to introduce students to a wide range of historical and cultural texts of Korea from the end of the nineteenth century to the present: literature, art, film, television drama, and music. We will focus on the following questions: Why South Korea? And why modern South Korea? In what ways have South Koreans written one of the most unexpected stories of nation-building and modernization of the last century? In what ways has South Korea responded to – and continues to respond to – change? How do South Koreans imagine themselves, their country, and the world? How do nationalism and internationalism intersect in Korean cultural and social discourse?

How will studying about South Korea per se, beyond the conventional Cold War-era focus on the North/South divide, help students better understand Asia and the modern world? In thinking of such questions, we will combine broader historical inquiry with close analyses of texts. This course does not require any prior knowledge of Korea or Korean language skills; all class materials will be in English translation or subtitles.