KORE 300: Korean Culture and Society

KORE 300-K01: Walking Through Korean History
(Fall 2023)

01:00 PM to 03:40 PM F

Mason Korea (119 Songdomunhwa-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Korea) G208

Section Information for Fall 2023

This experimental course explores Korean history and culture while visiting various historical places. While the course aims to give a general overview of Korean history from the history of Chosŏn, the Open Ports period, the Japanese colonial period, to the Korean War, it will focus on specific topics related to the field trips as well as each historical period, including how to read Korean cultural inheritances like palaces, temples, treaty ports, etc. There is no prerequisite for this course. Students do not need to have knowledge of Korean history to take the course but are strongly encouraged to read the recommended readings if this is the first time exposed to Korean history. 

The course includes six field trips to the historical sites in Seoul and Incheon area. Students will learn about the historical periods related to the field trip the week before the field trip and will do an investigation themselves to understand the historical significance of each historical site. As students walk the space where history happened, touch the buildings, and gain a spatial understanding of historical locations, students will gain new perspectives to understand Korean history as a lived experience of people, not just as what happened in the past. Also, students will learn how to read Korean cultural inheritances. As a final project, students will make a history guidebook introducing the class field trip sites to the general English-speaking audience. 

Both the classes and field trips are scheduled on Fridays. Students should make sure that Fridays for this semester are reserved for this class, as the field trip may take the whole day including the travel time depending on the sites. The field trip dates and sites may change depending on the weather, disaster, or other serious issues.  

This course has excursions on Fridays. Please make sure to register for this course only when you do not have other classes on Friday.

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Provides a broad overview of Korean people, society, and culture, mainly focusing on basic culture codes. Starting from the ways of Korean people's interaction, the course explores distinctive features of expression such as joy, excitement, sadness, frustration, and anger. Various authentic materials and course books will offer the framework for students to understand unique Korean cultural phenomena and their sociohistorical background. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies, Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.