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Jasmine WeeksI would appreciate a certificate of completion please.
Jasmine WeeksWhen I first started teaching at the High School, with my Asian face, students started asking me questions about K-Pop even though I am not Korean descent. Unfortunately at that time, I knew nothing about K-wave and didn't really know how to navigate myself to joining the conversation. This "Two Koreas" seminar not only has helped me to better understand the two Koreas' history and the roles of the U.S. and China in it, but also revealed to me the current Korean culture in relation to K-Pop and K drama that has attracted worldwide attention.
I intend to draw my students' attention into Korea through their interest in the Korean artists. From there, we can compare the two Korean cultures and evaluate how the two very different cultures resulted from a mere 70 years of separation and political system. In the process, we would discuss communism, capitalism, the Korean War and the Cold War in relation to Korean history, popular topics that students will encounter in their Global and U.S history studies.
Since my students are English Learners, my main responsibility is to provide the necessary background knowledge, which are the essential details for students to be able to grasp the highlight of the major events in order for them to participate meaningfully in discussion and further evaluation. Another aspect of support is to allow students to use the essential vocabulary in multiple ways to familiarize with the meaning and usage of the vocabulary words. In these lessons, students get to revisit communism, capitalism, the Cold War and the Korean War, and utilize them in listening, speaking, reading and writing them from different perspectives and topics.
In this seminar the greatest surprise I got is how different the two modern Koreans societies are. Often, the only news we get related to North Korea is about their nuclear weaponry. Little we do know about the North Korean society and people within, how are living such different lives compared to the South Koreans. Another interesting point is although K-Pop and K-drama share the popularity and live issue as Hollywood in the U.S., a lot of the fundamental cultural values are still very closely linked to the Chinese Confucious teaching, which explains both the Chinese and American influence in that region. Reunification seems to be the dream of the two Koreas, at least with the citizens. The questions I have after this is, are the superpowers involvements really helpful to resolve their differences to promote the reunification?
Jasmine WeeksNo, I actually have not. I would love to have someone explain that to me. I just gathered form the movie that there seems to be some difficulty for the villagers and the Seri to communicate but not obvious enough to me. But the villagers kept saying "she is from the South". that must be very obvious.
Jasmine Weekshttps://www.koreanclass101.com/cart/signup_8/email_verify.php?member_id=2222095&signup_layout=2475
After learning about the two Koreas, I am interested to learn some Korean for myself. I recommend Koreanclass101 because it incorporates all the four modalities in sucessful language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
For novice like me, it is important to be able to listen to the pronunciation of vocabulary words from a native speaker. Korean101 has the vocabulary words introduced for each lesson broken down into syllabus, explained the meaning, repeated and used in contacts. Students may repeat after the teacher several time and even play back the video to lsiten again. Repetition and usage is a good reinforcement of language learning.
Although there is no direct teaching of reading and wriitng, espcially the grammer, the newly inroduced vocbulary words are found at the end each lesson in a written conversation. Students may choose to listen and read over and over again the entire conversation in Korean, English or romanized words. So, motivated learners may choose to copy the vocabulary words. Writng has been proven to reinforce memory and thus aid in words recognition down the road. As mentioned above, altough there is no direct teaching of grammar in the video, there is, howwver, grammer points presented at the end of the page to further explain how and when the vocabulary words are used appropriately in the culture. This is essential since we know that language and culture are closely tied to one another and knowing how and what to say in circumstances display respect and acculturation.
Korean101 also has other paid programs that would allow learners to receive more material for avid learning. There is also a free "word -of-the-day" feature to remind you to push on if you forget to put in the learning time.
I recommend this website for starters and motivated learners. You do need to have access to a reliable computer to access the website.
Jasmine WeeksSeeing a Korean movie for the first time didn't give me the impression of how 'bad' North Korea could be, or at least to me it didn't reflect the image portrayed in the news. Like any other movie, it shows good guys and bad guys in the country. I wonder there truly are sincere officials who are just not part of the corrupted system. Also, the other theme that comes through to me the message and desire for reunification. I was devastated to find out that there is still not a way for families on both sies of the Korea to be united, probably more reluctant on North Korea side, as it showed in the movie too.
Jasmine WeeksHi Meghann,
I like the way you use many different ways to describe North Koreans. Indeed, we do not necessary have the luxurius opportunities of hearing the stories from the North Koreans themselves except from the defectors/refugees, or at best guesstimation from the various media, which again is lookign through looking someone's lens and bias. Although kept within North Korean with much restrictions and ignorance of the outside world, I wonder what are some of those more succesful and happier stories would look. it might not be ideal from the eyes of the outside world but I am sure they are people who are contended and accepting their 'fate' as it is. On the other hand, because there seems to be not so much open discussions about personal choice of career but we see a dfferent variety of artistic and talented skills emerged from time to time. It is difficult to imagine that people can still perform well if all they ever receive is "oppression". I can't wait to learn more.
Jasmine WeeksI don’t really know the extent of totalitarian regimes in the former Soviet Union or other communist governments, but from the readings this week I gather that In North Korea, the pressure to conform to the states’ ideal is pretty heavily enforced upon its citizens from day 1. From the reading “The Girl With Seven Names”, the “brainwashing” started in elementary school where students have to practice the unison chants praising their leaders everyday. High school students have to spend a lot of time practicing exhausting mass marches to perform during national events such as the supreme leader’s birthday, Liberation Day, Party Foundation Day etc., all to reinforce the glory of their leader and his effort in building the socialist society. Those performances were highly stressful because a small mistake would ruin the display and so the practices were drilled to perfection (Lee & John, 51). On the other hand, the school textbooks are designed to blend values of communism, Confucianism, and Kim’s ideology, giving credits to no other than their supreme leaders. Propaganda infiltrated into every subject, downplaying their counterparts China, the U.S. and even Russia to portray that “there is no place better than North Korea”. Lee also learned from her Mom that the history book got changed to suit the agenda!
Such an ideal environment with absolute piety pay to Kim and his shrines comes with a great cost. Stories from defector Kim Hyuck eluded that any form of opinion conflicting or downplaying the regime is deemed punishable through labor camp or “enlightenment center” (Demick, 175). Kim witnessed people in the village were just “disappeared in the middle of the night” never to be heard of again. His personal experience as a prisoner had confirmed that many were sentenced to penal servitude for petty offense such as food stealing. One such offender continued to be denied the privilege of receiving food and visit from his family until he died. Although there was execution and physical punishment, most prisoners died of starvation. Under such a fear stricken environment, no wonder those who try to have a different life or even just to survive would have to do things illegally and eventually flee the country. However, patrols were sent on the borders to prevent anyone going across or trading at the border to China and South Korea (Demick,181) Under Kim Jong Ii’s rule, even the homeless were not spared; shelters which run more like prisons were set up to make sure everyone is under control and scrutiny.
The reality of such totalitarianism within North Korea provided by their defectors is difficult to be confirmed. Unlike the performances within North Korea that often “focus on praising the young leader, contain anti-American lyrics and and revolutionary rhetoric, and celebrating recent missile test” (Mixler) , such nationalistic propaganda was not observed by during the performance by North Korean Samjiyon Orchestra at the night before Winter Olympic in 2018 that was attended by over 150,000.. However, it was noted throughout that visit, the Samjiyon Orchestra group was under tight control of the Northern delegation and totally excluded from exposure to South Korea culture and people (Qin, North Korea Orchestra). Other “music diplomacy” used as soft power to send the message “reconciliation” were: in 2000, North Korea’s State Symphony Orchestra held a joint concert with the South’s Korean Broadcasting System Philharmonic in Seoul; in 2008,North Korea hosted the New York Philharmonic; in 2012, North’s Unhasu Orchestra performed alongside the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, in Paris. Ironically, North Korea showed no sign of slowing down its military power after each of such cultural exchanges.
Finally, analysis by Meredith Shaw reveals that North Korean propaganda truly has infiltrated every sector of the media, which includes: state-sponsored Chosun Central TV broadcasts, state-produced films, revolutionary operas and ballads, and the regime’s state-produced fiction, published in monthly literary journals and distributed by the ruling Korean Workers’ Party to select schools and offices around the country. (Shaw, Texas Politics). I am appalled by Shaw's observation that “No other autocratic regime today has such a well-developed stable of artists and writers producing works aligned with the party’s ideological needs. The ruling Korean Workers’ Party has an extensive bureaucracy in charge of training talent, defining standards and commissioning projects in literature and other branches of the arts.The well-planned literature and arts build consistency and reinforce the regime’s ideology.” (Shaw, Reading between the lines at North Korea’s fiction factory”) Kim’s dynasty has achieved his utopian through both military and soft power.
North Korea may be a pariah state due to the military power that it holds tightly, recent movies analysed by Dr, Jung-Kim reflect the nostalgia of the progressive modern Korean may lean towards reunification of the two Koreas as the start of Sunshine Policy in 2000, especially since the American military presence in South Korea is causing some hostility (119).
Jasmine WeeksHi Maria,
That is a good point you brought up about elected Jasmine Lee, a Phillipines -born but naturalized person to eb a lawmaker in SK. I wonder like the point brought up by Jennifer that foereigners are expected to learn the Korean language and culture, if Jasmine Lee an epitome of Korean acculturation so much so that thye trusted her to be prat of their lawmaking. On the other, we see examples also brought by Jennifer that those who did adjust well to the culture face diffcult to the point of outcas. Such phenomena agan is not unique to Korean culture. There is a certian degree of expectation for any culture to expect some acculturation once someone settles down. The Korean born half Nigerian Han Hyun-Min is another example. He finally rises to fame because of his Korean "nature" even though grwoingup, he was discriminated based on his skin color.
Jasmine WeeksHi KImberly,
Nice post that strikes a lot of provoking thoughts. I totally agree with you that the sex scandal, differenr gender pay grade, abandaoned elderly, and discrimination against people of colors are not SK issues alone. We seems to see these issues proliferating at our home front. I lived five different countries and although speakign different languages and culture, I tend to see similar struggles of moral issues in all the places I have been. Perhaps the arguements always go back to what different people see as "right" and "wrong".
Jasmine WeeksHi Meghann,
I too had the same question about the need of South Korean men to import foreign wives. When I looked it up, I found this article: https://www.economist.com/asia/2014/05/24/farmed-out which explains that the rural men who are farmers and fishermen are the ones who have diffuclties finding local wives since most of them leave to the city in seahc of a "better' life. I remember reading about Chinese men who are not as wealthy are haivng difficulty to fidn a wife since there are more men than women in China, girls have a lot more choices than boys. Thus, the less well-to-do men have to "import" wives as well.
Jasmine WeeksContinuing on the topic of focusing on the ourward apprearances through costomology and plastic surgery, I tend to think that in the U.s.,it is more common among the wealthy and the celebrities. Whereas in the Asian countries, although it is still an afluent expense, spending on 'beautification" is somewhat commonand has a higher priority in the budget because of the importance of the public image and presentability of a wife to her husband. Although coming form a middle class, family, my mother and aunts had regular facial appintment to try to get a unblemish look. One doctor I spoke with in Malaysia quit his job as a medical doctor and switched to business in skin laser clinic because it's more lucrative that way. Although it is not South Korea company asking for photos and data and weight and height, I remember a friend who tried to apply to become air stewardess with Singapore Airline, although she is somewhat pretty, there is this test that she has to dress up in swimsuit to walk in front of some judges. Apparently she did not pass and did not get the job.
Jasmine WeeksWhat are society and culture like in South Korea today?
McCurry was right when he said that K-Pop is metonymy to South Korea due to its fame and influence around the world. K-Pop, being the third highest industry in South Korea and bringing in over $3.5 billion or revenue annually ( 4) has majorly challenged cultural norms and caused societal reform within the last two decades. For one, K-Pop reshapes some of the images of masculinity in Korean Culture, with K-Pop male stars being cute and gentle as opposed to the traditional physically stout and stern-looking images. Female K-Pop stars on the other hand often portray beauty with slender figures with heavy makeup that not only greatly benefits the cosmetic industry, but also creates a standard of female beauty in the society so much so that the term ‘making it’ is equivalent to a makeover (Kuhn, 7). In fact, it puts so much pressure on females to conform to that image and the obsession of it seems to have been backfired with a new generation rejecting that notion with the slogan “Escape the Corset” and the short-hair, loose clothing image with no makeup image to redefine the standard of female beauty, “seeking approval to love and be loved as who they are” (Kuhn,2).
In 2009, the suicide commmited by famous actress Jang Ja-Yeon at age 26, because she was forced into sexual relationship with influential men within the country, began to unreel the sexual abuse within K-Pop culture (McCurry, 2). Other scandals involving top K-Pop stars being the ring leaders in the prostitution business or selling unsolicited sexual images by using spy cameras at hotels. The corruption clean-up is slow due to the involvement of high officials and police force in the scandals. Also according to Kasulis, “the South Korea's court system is notorious for the lenient sentences given to convicted sex offenders”. Most of the offenders are men. It’s very rare to see someone get a maximum sentence; they usually get off with a “suspended sentence or a fine”. Recognizing the importance of K-Pop image on the international market and the lucrative income it brings, President Moon Jae-in vowed to clean-up the misconduct. It was also suggested that young K-Pop stars need education in stress management and equipment to deal with the social environment outside the studio (McCurry, 5)
Perhaps the exposure of these female harassments gives rise to the feminist movement to fight against sexual abuse in school and at work place. In the traditional, male dominant Korean society where teachers are highly respected, it is difficult to challenge male teachers who are influential in determining who gets into college after high school (Kim, 5). The #MeTooMovement initiated by victimized students started to speak up against male coaches and classroom teachers through marches and reporting to the UN. Another discrimination against women is at the work place where female applicants were considered for a position based on their appearances and required to “supply photos and information about their height and weight” during the applications (Kuhn,10).
Another phenomenon in the current South Korean society is that they are facing an aging and declining population due to low birth rate, approximately 1 % since the 1960s. As a result, there is an influx of foreign workers and mixed marriages between Korean men and foreign brides, contributing to the increased multiculturalism in the Korean society (Palmer & Park). In schools especially, teachers are trained to address the bullying of mixed race children. Society is beginning to embrace multiculturalism by posting pictures of mixed-race families and even elected Jasmine Lee, its country’s first foreign-born lawmaker in 2012. On the other hand, Gibson reported the insufficient planning and fund have let 44% of elderly who live alone in poverty.
It was suggested that integrating more females in the workforce would not only make up the declining populations, but also resolve inequality issues at the workplace. To achieve this, South Korea has to fix the large pay gap between male and female workers, increase child care, allow longer paternity leave, and reduce the weekly work hours (Stangarone).
Jasmine WeeksAt the end of episode 9 during the farewell conversation, when the translator hyphenated the phrase "date men", it makes us think of how messages in one language do not always get a direct translation in another language. This example is a good bject lesson for my bilingual studetns who may often think in their native language but then rely on translation which may be helpful for more common ideas/objects. It is impoartat for ENl students to know when it comes to express abstract ideas and object, one has to delve into the deeper message the original language carries and yet to find a suitable word, or more often a phrase to fully express the concept. In order to do that, we have to "get more language to use language", which is why reading a variety of writing is such an important habit and tool.
Jasmine WeeksHi Jane,
I read more about the Six Party Talks via this link : https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/6partytalks. I agree that getting NK to coorperate takes more than just the U.S.. It's a shame that NK refuse to join the Six Party Talks after 2009 round. However, our relationship with China will facilitate geeting Nk on boar since China is just as concerned about the nuclearization in NK and China has a better rapport with Nk than the U.S.
Jasmine WeeksHi Jane,
I agree with you that staging a coup right now from grass root seems to be pretty bleak considering the amount of control and power Kim and his cabinet have. I wonder though as more and more defectors arise and go back to "save" their families, and the knowledge of the outside as well as the longing to live 'differently" would in due time help the ground up effort. The arsenal is definite hard to beat, howwver, there are also a lot more non-elites that those who are. Having probably some of those elites who also have been educated overseas to help intiate the revolutionary effort would be ideal.
