Dr. Jennifer Jung-Kim: Korea

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

The most useful information that I am taking away from Dr Jung-Kim's lecture in these past days is the obvious disparity between the standard of living of those in North Korea compared to those in the South. I was amazed at how high-tech South Korea is today compared to how they were just a few decades ago. The United States does not even compare favorably in terms of infant mortality rate, life expectancy, and level of technology available to the average citizen. I feel that I have erred in explaining the differences between the North and the South as a product of their political systems. That explanation, I have come to believe, is too simplistic. It is time for me to look deeper into Korean history so that I can teach my students to look more critically at these Eastern societies that have been in the news a lot recently and will likely be making the news for a long time to come.

[Anonymous]

The information I have received from Prof. Kim will be useful in my AP and U.S. History class. I can't wait to share with the 11th graders a little pre-history of Korea before dealing with the Korean War! My past interpretations of the events were, as Mark mentioned, purely political. Seen from a Korean history perspective, knowing more about the Japanese colonization and "dark period", the outcome of the war and modern Korea can be better understood and explained.

A big thanks to Prof. Kim for the book on Korea. The short stories, like the origin myth and the Korean Hangeul written language page can be used for interesting activities in class!

Her more thematic approach Wednesday was great. The focus on women, education and past Presidents was very easy to track. How South Korea has invested so heavily in North Korea was something I didn't know! It was an eye opening experience!

Keepers:

There are costs, but also some benefits during colonial rule (Korean land rights gained under J. occupation).

Korea became "rice basket" of Japan (during occupation)

Small shops (take shoes off to enter), Big department store (shoes on)

"Dark Period" in Korea - 1910 - 1919. No free speech or press.

"New Women" - term given by west to modern Asian women.

Bunka Seiji - 1919 cultural movement when Koreans given more social freedoms.

Comfort Women - Korean military sex slaves often recruited under false pretenses by Japanese beginning during Russo/Japanese War.

Tri grams - Old chinese I-Ching symbols - can be seen on South Korean flag.

Korean War - A Civil, international and proxy war.

Seoul destroyed 3 times during conflict.

Last 2 years of Korean war fought just North of Seoul in sparsely populated mountain and hill country.

Korean Airlines started during Korean War as transport company.

Until 1970's, North Korean economy stronger than South.

Anti-American feelings begin in S. Korea in 1980 when U.S. will not support student uprising against Chun Doo Hwan.

"Another protest? When there are tears, there must be tear gas"

Today, many wives make more $$ than their husbands

Sunshine Policy - Created by Kin Dae Jung (pres. 98-03) - Cooperation and reconciliation with North.

Colonial legacy in Korea - 1. Strong govt/business ties. 2. Export oriented industrialization focus.

Korea/U.S. Free Trade Agreement - still not ratified * watch this.

"Korean Wave" -pop culture - Starcraft, Wonder Girls, movie/music stars.

Cult of Kim Il Sung - Deification, Confucian Communism, Communist Monarchy.

Kaesong factory complex - In N. Korea built and used by S. Korea to outsource production.

Vision 3000 - North Korean GDP raised to $3000

6 Party Talks = N. Korea, S. Korea, U.S., China, Russia, Great Britain.

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[Anonymous]

The Korean history after 1945 was a period I had prior knowledge of due to a focus upon the Korean War which is taught in both World and U.S. History. I gained a new perspective by seeing the Korean War as a civil war, a war of liberation, a international war and a proxy war.
The years after the Korean War was a period I had limited knowledge of. It was interesting to see the struggle South Korea faced in going from a dictatorship to a democracy in 1987. The economic growth of South Korea and the introduction of the Sunshine Policy were also attention-grabbing topics. I wonder about the likelihood of reunification for North and South Korea. With the health of Kim Il Sung in question, I wonder if opportunity for a united Korea grows. Certainly, the political climate in both the United States and South Korea will have an impact on this process as well. Rob

[clay dube]

Mark notes the great disparities between north and south Korea and suggests there's something more than different political systems at work. This is definitely true, though that's a big factor. Two quick explanations for some of the difference: the north is more mountainous and the south had access to the US and the West for educational opportunities and exports. The North was tied to the much less prosperous Chinese and Soviet economies.

[Anonymous]

I was amazed to see the satellite picture of North and South Korea - the darkness of the North compared to all the lights of the South. I didn't realize that South Korea is so advanced. It's impressive how quickly they progressed. I really like the children's book we received and I'm putting on the bookshelf in my classroom for my students to enjoy.
Suzanne Lopez

[Anonymous]

I knew nothing about North Korea. I always wonder why I met lots of foreign students from South Korea and never saw one from North Korea. After the seminar, I understand there is no tie in between US and North Korea. I also learned from Dr. Jung-Kim that there is such a big gap in between their living standard. My daughter will be so jealous that 90% of people from South Korea have the cell phone. I agree with Mark that we should prepare students to look deeper into Korean history, so when they watch the news, they can understand and relate.

[Anonymous]

Korea has a highly educated and skilled workforce and has become world leader in information technology. It has served as a role model for many countries. I think some of their leaders really had great vision to develop their country. It is very impressive that they can become a world economic leader in such short period of time after war.

[Anonymous]

Even though Japan and China have dominated most of East Asian history, I find Korea to be a very interesting place. Though it has had a history of colonization prior to 1950, it's importance during the Cold War as well as South Korea's recent economic and technological advances are incredible and have really made the region relevant on the world stage. I found it amazing that while my calls in El Centro often fall into "dead zones," South Korea has invested heavily in its cellular coverage, internet speed, and online accessibility. As soon as I got home, the first place I told him about was South Korea. Even though the kid is nine, he has the recent Android phone and I often check his internet search history to find him researching recent technological developments. I feel that the world is headed in an increasingly "techy" direction and I want to be sure I can keep up and my kid is prepared to further advancement, if possible.

Below is an article hi-lighting the controversy of kids having cell phones.

How Young is too young for a Cell Phone

[Anonymous]

From these lectures along with the selections from the reader, I would most be able to demonstrate the disparities in North Korea and South Korea as well as using South Korea as a model of a country shifting to a democratic country. Ideally I would like to have a round table with students coming up with ideas of how the situation would be alleviated and remedied from within these countries and through outside parties. Students would have round table discussions and present their ideas.

Dr. Jung Kim truly gave me some ideas as far as my teaching practice goes. She was able to capture attention through discourse, through entertainment, and demonstrating the link between the past and the present conditions in both North Korea and South Korea. I think it could have been simply the way in which she seemed very relaxed but interested in her subject and laughed along with us allowed me to be more engaged.

[Anonymous]

Fellow Colleagues, Dr.Jung-Kim's persona and knowledge had me mesmerized. I liked how she introduced us all to Korea with Ed Shultz's "Top 10 Things to Know About Korea in the 21st century" Although I read it previous to her lecture, she really made that piece come to life. Her ancedotal (sp)stories and personal connections to them kept me on the edge of my seat.
Here depiction of the Korean War and of a divided country & now progressing to a reunification really cleared some of my personal misunderstandings of early Korean history and the people of Korea as well. I never realized how sophisticated Korea is in the area of shipbuilding and construction... I would've never guessed that Koreans were responsible for the design and building of that massive undertaking in Dubai.
On Sunday I was watching Making The Grade, a documentary on MSNBC. The documentary was addressing failures in the American system of education but from time to time it made comparisons with other countries. One piece of data that stood out was that in South Korea to become a teacher you have to be ranked in the top 5% academically(no surprise there)... and that in America there is no standard rank. That was something to chew on. Later in the show it showed that 51% of Mothers of Asians in America have a bachelors degree compared with whites at 36%, Blacks 17%, American Indians/Alaska Natives 16%, and Hispanic 11%...that says a lot.
One last comment. As Dr.Jennifer Jung-Kim and I were walking out I shared with her that in my hometown of Philadelphia there is a large Korean population and then said"most are in the medical profession" I then stopped myself and apologize for being so stereotypical. She began to giggle and then said "I have a cousin in Philadelphia, who is a surgeon" We both laughed together.
T.W.C.
Rand

[Anonymous]

Dr. Jung-Kim's lectures spark my curiosity and interest in South Korea and its society. I am impressed and yet inquisitive about the educational system and the intensity in which it is emphasized on students. How do students cope if they do not rise to the top? How are they perceived in society? What kinds of career choices do they have if they are not admitted to the top universities? Does the government help subsidize the cost of education at the university or is it solely dependent upon family's contribution? Are there alternative education or vocational schools available to people? While I marvel at the progression and advancement South Korea has achieved, I am also concerned about the population that does not "make it" to to the top. The few South Koreans that I do have in my class are often sent to the U.S. and either living with a relative or living with a host family which really means they are on their own. They tell me that it's because they are not the top students in their schools in South Korea and in order to get a better career opportunity, they need to attend a good university in America and then upon returning will have a better chance to land a job. Perhaps, some of you will be able to turn that "light bulb" in me with your knowledge on South Korea.

[Anonymous]

The most honest reply I can give to the erudite Dr. Jung-Kim is that I was totally ignorant about Korea. The terrain I thought resembled those winter picture from the 1950 war. I truly believed that Korea was on the order of a third world country.I did not know that their technical manufacturing industry was so advanced. After all you see LG products everywhere. I have read students in the past titles A SINGLE SHARD by Linda Sue Park. IT is the story of a 12 year old orphan in the 12th centurywho becomes an apprentice to a master potter. You's think I would have known. And the book about Korea is wonderful.

[Anonymous]

RE: Dr. Jung-Kim. . . My daughter gave me an excellent book entitled PYONGYANG by a graphic novelist by the name of Guy Delisle. In this book he artfull conveys the desolation of the north. He observes women whitewashing stones around planted trees and is told they are vlolunteers. Eveything is off in the city and the artwork helps to support that vision. He sees the streets are too clean. In it's way it is a very funny book. But is is also tragic, like most good comedy.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Jennifer Jung-Kim

There is so much that i do not know about Korea. I loved that she made learning about Korea easy to understand and follow. If she explained everything over my head, I would have never been able to transfer the information to my students. Learning about the history of the Korean people was new to me. The comfort women, I found interesting, although i will not be going over this in my six grade class, but to learn about these women and what they endured, touched my heart. Something i will be using in my class is the writings of Richard Kim, "Lost Names", my students will love reading through this and it will provide lots of discussion. I will be using this second semester, being able to apply it to other subjects...

[Anonymous]

Professor Jung-Kim,
There was so little I knew about Korea prior to your lectures. Admittedly, my knowledge of Korea started from the period of 20th century pre-WWII Japanese occupation of the peninsula with the bulk of my knowledge of Korea grounded in The Cold War and Post Cold War periods. I’m sure this is not uncommon. After you left, perhaps the next day, I made the comment to my colleagues that the colorful children’s book about Korea taught more than I already knew, and that is not too far from the truth. I got just enough from the condensed lecture to pique my curiosity. If we one more day it would have been that much better. I still have so many questions. I will bring Korean culture (and not just the litany of unending military posturing!) to my students in the future. Guest speakers, internet activities, art, etc.

Point’s of note:
Korea’s Top 10 or 11? ---This works well for all historical topics!
The desire of the Korean people for eventual reunification, the complexity of the current reality and the example of Germany’s reunification; problems and possibilities. In 1988, I never imagined that Germany would reunite and I followed the new and was interested!
Approaching the divided penninsula’s dilemma from different points of view; What will move all of Korea forward? What is strictly political rhetoric?
Instead of dismissing the “Sunshine Policy” as an aberrant bit of political naivete, look at what has worked--families reunited, leaders meeting, further non-bellicose interaction.
Kelly
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