Session 8a - 1/23/10 - Jung-Kim - Korea to 1945

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Hi everyone,

Please reply to this message and share your thoughts about our January 23 morning session on Korea to 1945 by Professor Jennifer Jung-Kim.

-Miranda

[Anonymous]

I have really enjoyed Professor Kim's lecture about Korea during this time period. The three Kingdom is really four Kingdoms -- Shilla, Paekjae, Koguryo, and Kaya. It is the last kingdom that doesn't get much recognition, although a lot of artifacts from this time period is worth mentioning.

The whole notion of examination/testing is interesting because initially, the focus was more about literary/art/confucian ethical knowledge--not so much on route memorization. The eventual bureaucratization and evolution of testing is interesting. I, sometimes wonder, how effective standardized testing is in terms of assessing student's understanding? On the flip side, what is an effective way to measure student performance without compromising content--how do we account for students who are not good at test taking but do demonstrate a solid knowledge base in other ways (i.e. projects/presentation)?

[Anonymous]

I greatly appreciated the lecture(s) by Jennifer Jung-Kim about Korea. In the first session I was struck by the Taft-Katsura Agreement of 1905 which basically stated an agreement in which the Japanese could colonize Korea without US interference, as long as Japan maintained a "hands-off" towards the Philippines, ushering in a period of Japanese colonial rule over Korea that lasted until the end of World War II.

[Anonymous]

Jung-Kim substituted for my Korean Basic A Class in the fall of 2009 and I was pleased
to hear about how knowledgable she was about Korea.

During her presentation, I was especially intrigued by the continued military dictatorships which plagued S. Korea after Japanese colonialism and how the concerted effort of the populace democratized S. Korea.

However, with all of S. Korea's moderization, technology, national pride and high educational standards, (as one participant asked) why do so many S. Koreans flock to the United States?

Our educational system promotes differentiated learning, which many S. Koreans
prefer to S. Korea's rote learning.

[Anonymous]

I thought that it was really interesting that Professor Jung-Kim down played the Chinese influence in early Korea. I do understand however, since one of her main theses was that Koreans are really proud of their heritage and history.

I'm still trying to get AP WH under my belt and last week I had to discuss the early years of Korea to my students (from Ancient Korea until the Yi Dynasty in the 1300's) and I was hoping that she would elaborate on some of the more Chinese aspects of Korean culture historically.

I wish she had gone into the fact that China and Korea today disagree about the historical aspects of Korea. Korea believes their empire begins with the Choson in 2333 BC whereas China maintains that the Kogyuro Dynasty of the 1st century BC was the first.

I also find it interesting that Korea was dominated by the Han Dynasty and later by the Yuan Dynasty and the effects of the Koreans were minimalized. I have read that under the Mongols the Koreans suffered greatly because of Khubilai Khan's desire to attack Japan from Korea.

I did find the discussion of Colonial Korea to be most helpful. Like Professor Pitelka, she went into great detail about all of the unfair treaties, the world's reaction to Korea and what they did within it's borders (like the 1st Sino-Japanese War).

The resources that she gave to us are amazing! If you picked up the "Korean Cultural Insights" or "Korea for Kids" you need to flip through them! I'm sad that I already started ancient Korea and couldn't use these in conjunction with my lecture and discussion. I guess I'll have to wait until we get to Colonial Korea to use this to review with them!

[Anonymous]

I appreciated Dr. Kim's lecture on Early Korea up until 1945. She had a lot to cover and she did it beautifully. I was very interested to learn more about the Comfort Women, especially that some who are still alive are brave enough to protest weekly at the Japanese Consulate in S. Korea. I hope that they get recognized and at least apologized to by the Japanese gov't in their lifetime.

[Anonymous]

"When My Name was Keoko" is a good short story to use for all levels
of my students when I teach abou the Japanese occupation of Korea.

"Lost Names" personalizes the experiences of young Korean's during the time
of the Japanese occupation.

Korean short stories, as told by individuals, serve as a good introduction (or warm up)
to the larger context of war and its effect on individuals.

I am looking forward to using these in my class this semester.

[Anonymous]

The article entitled, "Multicultural Korea: Celebration or Challenge of Multiethnic
Shift in Contemporary Korea?"

South Korea's industrial success have made it an economic beacon to nearby
Asian countries whose economies are faltering. Just as America attracted
immigrants from Europe and Asia, now Korea attracts migrants
looking for a better life and foreign residents looking for money making opportunities
in modernized, democratized Asia.

Korea's insular, single ethnic society has become a melting pot of foreign residents
and foreign migrants. The result is demographic and cutlural changes as well.

Non-Korean food, clothing, and music exposed Koreans to other ethnicities.

In effect, Korea is becoming multiethnicized.

However, middle or upper class professional migrants experience better
treatment than lower-class migrants.

Although preferred treatment based on socio-economic status is not unique to Korea,
the "margizens" quest for fair treatment is taken through different channels than the "denizens."

With regard to discourse on multiculturalism, civic organizations, mass media, and the government all remain at similar levels, but the Korean Sociological Association launched a
systematic discussion in 2006 to analyze the future of Korean society toward a multiethnic
and multicultural state.

Overall, I think that Korea may have a harder time assimilating foreigners
into Korean society since Korea has lived a ethnically homogeneous existence
for generations (not withstanding its colonialization by Japan).
By contrast, America's immigration was tulmultuous, however, some groups
did learn to live together as part of their Americanization.

If there is agreement among Korean society to accept foreigners
who want to live in Korea, their multicultural converstion/ conversation may be one that America can learn from.

[Anonymous]

There was a brief discussion of the “Comfort Women” during the lecture. I did a research paper when I was a Junior in college about the subject, which left me with a horrible impression on Japanese colonialism in the Pacific, especially in Korea.

For those who are not quite familiar with the “Comfort Women,” the Japanese Imperial army systematically kidnapped, conscripted, and tricked approximately 250,000 young women from Korea, China, Philippines, Burma, and all over the Pacific, ages mostly teens from 13 to 20, before and during WWII, to use them as sex slaves at their army camps. Each woman was raped on an average 20-30 times a day, from morning to night, by different soldiers lining up in front of their small “captive stalls” taking turns. Cruel soldiers compared the Comfort Women to “public bathrooms” and laughed as they raped them. Anyone who resisted would be tortured and killed. Many preferred to die and attempted to suicide. Most girls died within 3-6 months from the repeated rapes, beating, starvation, torture, and all kinds of venereal diseases, and their bodies dumped in the ditches and rivers like pieces of wood. If anyone became pregnant, the military doctors forced abortions on them (some were used for human experiments, like they did in Unit 731). Many women became insane.

When I started this research paper, I knew the topic wasn’t an easy subject to discuss, but the more I found out about the Japanese atrocities against these poor, defenseless women, I couldn’t help but wonder how Japan could have gotten away with these horrific war crimes. As a woman, and being an Asian woman, especially, I am so horrified, and shocked that to this day, there has not been an official apology from the Japanese government to the comfort women survivors. Worst of all, Japan still denies it ever happened!

[Anonymous]

I also enjoyed Dr. Kim’s lecture on Korea. Some of the key points that caught my interest were North Korea and President of South Korea from 1998 to 2003 Kim Dae-jung.

It was interesting to hear that North Korea was actually more financially stable than the South after the war. The policies of Kim Jong-il and his father have devastated the country and its people.

I was unaware of the great contributions of Kim Dae-jung who has been called the "Nelson Mandela of Asia" for his long-standing opposition to authoritarian rule. This Nobel Peace Prize winning statesman help bring up South Korea's economic recovery, brought in a new era of economic transparency and fostered a greater role of South Korea in the world; a truly amazing individual.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed her presentation, and being a UCLA grad, well, enough said.
But I found it a little confusing to have a run through of highlights and then a return to specific information. I dunno, maybe just a style thing that I had to adjust to. I learned a tremendous amount about Korea, and having taught ELD to primarily Koreans, helped me understand how little I knew about their culture. That being said, it was well worth the time spent.

[Anonymous]

Koreans immigate to the United States for the freedom and opportunities we are fortunate to have living here. Foreigners continue to view America as the land of opportunities, any culture who comes here with a goal/dream, they end up successful. They know it takes hard work and sacrifice to get somewhere in life.
Many Koreans come to America determined to make a better life for themselves and their family; their work ethics allow them to be very successful.
I know of a Korean woman who came to the U.S. with her two daugthers and worked hard, became a very successful business owner.
Importing goods from Korea at one time was very cost effective, especially in the late 70's and 80's.
Since the economy of Korea has improved, today it cost more to export goods from Korea.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was ironic to see that Korean men are looking to Vietnam for a bride, as Japanese men are finding a shortage of brides in Japan as well. Since women in these countries are becoming educated and independent, they no longer desire to fulfill the traditional roles of a wife and mother ,as their mothers and counter parts once did.

[Anonymous]

Professor Jung-Kim shared much interesting highlights on the modernization of Korea. For parents to sacrifice the whole traditional family unit for their children to have a better education, is admirable. To acknowledge the importance of globalized education instead of traditional education is very admirable. Their dedication and sacrifice exemplifies why the Asian countries continue to prosper.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was ironic to see that Korean men are looking to Vietnam for a bride, as Japanese men are finding a shortage of brides in Japan as well. Since women in these countries are becoming educated and independent, they no longer desire to fulfill the traditional roles of a wife and mother ,as their mothers and counter parts once did.

Adding on to this message... If Japaneses men are finding a shortage of brides are they also going and looking in other countries or do they still want to keep a same marriage?

[Author]

Posts