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Juana EvinkKorean culture has been crossing boundaries for years now, referrred as the Korean Wave. The most representative aspect of Korean pop culture and soft power is K-pop, films, drama and food. I have known about K-pop for a while, it's cute, but I'm not a fan partly because I'm not a teen anymore. I found it specillay interesting how in the video and in the discussion today, it was mentioned that African-American music and culture has infleunce K-pop. That was shocking to me, I'm not familiar with the lirycs or the K-pop bands. In the video, Preofessor Kim mentions that K-pop is starting to speak up about how their artists are being infleunced by black culture. Also, how Netflix has played a huge role in the spread and popularity of Korean dramas. I can say that I'm now a fan of Korean drama, I loved Crash Landing on You. I started watching to fullfill a requirement for the clas, and ended up love it.
Another thing that I found interesting in today's discussion was how Korea promotes soft power through K-pop, promoting their food as healthy, and dramas. Yet, it's still really difficult for foreigners to obtain a green card or become naturalize. I would image they would welcome people who wan to be Koreans citizens.
Juana EvinkIn the reading, "Asia and the New World," discuss how goods lke porcelain were imported from China to the Americas. Besides, goods, ideas and globalization cross boundaries. I founded it interesting how, artisans in the Americas copied and created Asian style porcelain designs, and large-folding screen from Japan. This exhange of goods between Asia, Japan, and China crossed boundaries that have lasting consequences and led to globalization due to the blending of exotic styles with local materials and local artists' techniques. It shows how Asia was a partner in the development of the Americas' culture after the European conquest.
Juana EvinkHi everyone,
My name is Juana Evink, I have 2 kids and I'm 3 months pregnant with my third(& last) child. I teach 6th Social Studies at John Muir MS in South LA. I have participated in multiple USC-China Institutes seminars, and I love them. I'm looking forward to learning more about Asia's pop culture, economics, Buddhism and more.
Juana EvinkBased on the video for today and the different documentaries portayed North Korea as reclusive, outdated, restrictive, different from South Korea, yet not so different. Outsiders views on North Korea depend on what type of information they have access to and where does that information comes from. North Korea's regime is really restrictive from what we can see in documentaries and readings. One of the readings, "Nothing to Envy," portrayes life in North Korea as harsh and deadly for people who challange the regime. The reading mentions that there are many different words for jail, and depending on the type of "crime" the type of labor camp the prisoner would be sent to and the lenght of time they are requiered to serve. Yet, North Korea also has an orchestra, and female groups who sing pronational songs. It seems that outsiders view of North Korea are that it's that of a controling regime that limits what people can do and think. On the video it mentions that there are some people who are willing to risk their lives to get information in and out of North Korea.
Juana EvinkAfter watching the video by professor Kim, I'm fascinated by South Korea's society. I have been aware of the Korean wave for years, specially K-pop and Korean dramas. Currently, South Korea's society and culture are very modern and technological advanced, people from all over the world are watching Korean movies, dramas, and listening to BTS and Blackpink groups. Also, plastic surgery in Korea is prevalent, in man who want to obatin the "flower boy look," and beauty products emphasize Korean beauty. Many American companies like Starbucks and McDonald's have increased their presence, yet they have adapted to South Korea's culture. It's fascinating how it has modernized and still has a cultural pride. However, they still have low fertility problems,and foreign brides who marry older Korean man.
Juana EvinkDuring the discussion, Professor Kim mentioned that very little is known about Kim Jong Un and his wife and kids, I'm wondering could this be due to him wanting to maintain a dynasty with him as the leader for as long as possible. Why doesn't him allow his wife to make public statments, or show his kids? is he afraid they might be hurt, becasue of him?
Juana EvinkHi Heather, you brought up a very interesting point, what about the average Korean people are doing during this pandemic. A country with high levels of poverty, censorship, and nuclear weapons the wrold has reason to be worried.
Juana EvinkBased on the video by Professor Kim, Kim Jong Un has forged his own path to a dynasty through violence, intimidation, and hope. When he first came to power people were afraid but also hopeful since he had studied abroad and was young. He comes a cross like a smart, but ruthless leader who would do anything to remain in power. He had his aunt husband kiled,a nd his brother. During his meeting with Trump, he promised less missiles testing, but didn't keep his word. Kim has mnade it clear that North Korea is a nuclear state and wants recognition for it, but in order to maintain his power he wants to focus on economic growth.
I think we should be worried about North Korea since it's a nuclear power, whose realtonship with the United States are unstable. North Korea wants the U.S. military out of the DMZ, and China is their main trading partner. Noth Korea has enagged in human rights abuses, for exampole in 2016 an American student who traveled there was arrested and later died. A country that is a nuclear power is dangerous, especially with a ruthless and unstable leader. In the reading, "The historic Kim-Moon meeting," Kim threaten to strike the residence of the South Korea's president, changed his mind, later they were holding hands and taking pictures in the DMZ.
Juana EvinkHow did South Korea’s Sunshine Policy change international relations?
In the video Professor Kim, discuss the Sunhine Policy with North Korea from 1997-2207 and other international economic relations. The Sunshienpolicy, was a policy of engagement with North Korea, some South Korean companies set up in North Korea since labor was cheaper than in the South. Companies like Hyundai which establish Kaesong industrial comples set up tourist resorts on Nrth Korea for South Korea. I assumed it was to foster positive relations between the two Koreas that will result in economic profits. Also, some constructions companies built the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and at one point President Bill Clinton was scheduled to travel to South Korea, but cancel his trip in 2000, not sure why, or what happened. The Sunhine policy helped South Korea financially, companies engage in shpibuilding, electronics, and building automobiles resulting in the Korean wave in 2000s, and 2010s.
Juana EvinkHow did Kim Jong Il ensure regime survival?
Professor Kim discuss in the video some of the factors that helped Km Jong II ensure regime survival. She mentions that his father name dhim heir apparent, then he became CHairman of the National Defense Commisson, General Secretary of Jorean Worker's Party, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. Kim Jong II gradually increased the military's power.
In the reading, " North Korea-The Politics of Regime Survival," goes into furtehr details as to how Kim Jong II ensure the survical of the regime. He consolidated his power in a way that the military became the supreme commaner of the state, the party, society,, thus turning North Korea into a military garriosn state. He replaced the Korean Workers' Party with the military, was able to avoid uphevals, and elevated younger generation to positions of power to ensure teh contributions of his leadership. Kim Jong II replaced old cadres in the party, government, with younger generation of military leaders. He seems to have cultivate dthe loyalty of the military thus enruring the survival of the regime.
Juana EvinkProfessor Kim's discuss how Kim II Sung was able to establish a Communist Monarchy in North Korea. He had been a guerilla fighter in Manchuria and belonged to the Chinese Communist party. Yet he later was receiving aid from the Soviet Union. Kim II Sung became the supreme commander of the Korean People army. Also, he made him self love by the Korean people, he would go visit people at work and in their farms, to offer guidance. Sung and his family were revere in North Korea like the sun, he maintain Confucianism ideas in his communist monarchy. Like most communists leaders he was against capitalism and Anti-American. Kim II Sung was able to establish a communist monarchy and be loved by the Korean people.
The Korean war and the Cold War shape the 2 Koreas differently. North Korea was occupied by the Soviet Union and received aid from them for years. They favored the priviledge elite, their economy was better off than South Korea's until 1970. Whereas South Korea was occupied and received aid from the United States, it was also tuled by dictators like Syngman Rhee and underwent to 6 constitutions. South Korea's had students protests demanding reunification withn the north and went to a road to democratization. Their economy took off after 1970, with the export of steel during the Vietnam war.
Juana EvinkOne of the reading for the first session is extremely difficult to process, its titled, "U.S. Policy and Korea: A Korea Policy..." yet it's very informative. When I think of the Korean War, I usually thought of the soldiers involved in both sides of the war, I hardly thought of the devastation it caused to familes and the land. War is a horrible thing, that has lasting consequences, the Korean war still affecting people today. The Korean war, destroyed villages, separated families, millions of civilians dead, millions of soldiers dead and may million became refugess. A quote from the reading, "Virtually every Korean is either part of a separated family or knows someone who is...," express the devastation of the Korean war and its lasting consequences,
Juana EvinkI enjoyed this very informational video on the history of the 2 Koreas. I founded interesting how Korea has had its current border since 1392 and how big in size it actually is. Also, how much freedom and economic power have Korean women enjoyed through its history. Women decide what to do with the family money, they can be prime minister, and president of the country. It's remarkable, since that is not the case in the U.S., were we still haven't have a woman president. Korea has a long and interesting history.
Juana EvinkHello, everyone.
I'm currently teaching 6th Grade Social Studies at John Muir MS in South LA. I have taken about 4-5 USC Seminars on Asia and I have learned and truly enjoyed all of them. I'm looking forward to this seminar on the Two Koreas, to expand my knowledge of Korea and Asia. I have always being fascinated by Asian culture and civilizations. As an ancient civilizations teacher, I teach a unit of Japan and China, with minimum mention of Korea on the Standards. I want to include more information on Korea, becuase it's an amazing civilization.
Juana EvinkChinese Americans like most immigrants to the U.S. have faced discrimination. The government passess laws all the time that restrict a certain group of people. Currently, the immigration situation is complex and scary for some peole. It is scary to think that what happen in the past, can happen again.
