The objective of the course is to introduce students to the politics, society and culture of South Korea and its neighbouring countries in East Asia. In doing so, it will enable students to understand the importance of history on current affairs, to study the relevance of culture for politics and society, and to study the interplay between domestic and international affairs.

In the wider context of their study programme, the course will enable students to identify the similarities and particularities of the politics and culture of East Asian societies, as compared to those of Europe or ‘the West’. Beyond acquiring factual knowledge about these issues, the course will help students develop important skills such as critical thinking, analysis, implementing academic research and presentation skills. In order to achieve these aims the course will make use of a range of teaching methods including student-led classroom discussion and/or enquiry-based learning and presentation. In addition, students also learn how to cooperate, negotiate, confront and compromise in the discussion during the group work process. Knowledge and understanding: The student - by participating in the lectures and practical activities of the course - will have developed the ability to understand the cultures and politics in Korea and broadly in East Asia including partial knowledge of Japan, China, and Central Asia. Applying knowledge and understanding: The student - acquiring the correct tools and method - will be able to explore and understand the political challenges, compromises and interactions in the region. At the end of the course there will be an oral and/or exam representing 60% of the final mark. Moreover, the students will be evaluated based on group presentations (20%) and of the group research paper (20%). Making judgements: The student, through the use of the methodologies acquired during the course, will have acquired problem analysis skills and the ability to identify the information necessary for their solution. In particular, they will be able to critically assess the political and historical evidence in the early 20th century and have better understanding of the contemporary political debate in the region. Specifically, critical thinking, problem solving, self-management, teamwork, relationship and communication skills will be adequately developed, which enhance and make the disciplinary skills more usable. Communication skills: At the end of the course the student will be able to use the political, cultural and technical vocabulary of culture and politics in East Asia. Through the various activities that will take place during the course – lessons with discussion, case studies, group project – the student will be able to put these communication skills into practice in various contexts, by adapting the terms used to the interlocutor in the specific case, thus gaining advanced rhetorical skills necessary for his/her professional career. Learning skills: The student will develop a solid knowledge of the fundamental aspects of the subject ranging from modern history of East Asia to Korea in particular. These academic and practical tools will be useful to assess future development in the region.

This course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of contemporary Korean society, culture and politics in the context of a globalising world. Following a discussion of the historical foundations of modern Korea, the impact of the Korean War and the division of the peninsula, the course focuses on three key aspects of contemporary South Korea: first, the process of democratisation and the functioning of the political system, second ROK’s the foreign policy vis-à-vis key powers and the developing world, third, how ROK could achieve the rapid economic development so the country could change from the one of the poorest country in 1950’s to the 12th largest economy in 2020’s in the world. Lastly, we review the success of the Korean cultural product and the business today. Throughout the course attention will be paid to the interaction between developments in South Korea, in the East Asia and in international affairs more generally, demonstrating the way in which Korea is influenced by, but also has an impact on, the wider world. It will be complemented by 4 classes on the neighboring Central Asian region, its Asian environment, links with China, Afghanistan and India, as well as the politics and societies of Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan).

1. Cumings, B. (2005), Korea’s Place in the Sun, Norton & Company, Inc., New York 2. Han, JoengHun et al (2021), The Oxford Handbook of South Korean Politics (ed), Oxford University Press, UK 3. Lim, Sojin & Alsford, Niki (2021), Routledge Handbook of Contemporary South Korea, Routledge, UK 4. Jin, Dal Yong (2023), Understanding the Korean Wave - Transnational Korean Pop Culture and Digital Technologies, Routledge, UK 5. Marlene Laruelle (2021),Central Peripheries. Nationhood in Central Asia. London: London University College, available in Open Access. A few academic journal articles will be identified during the course.

Lectures including active students’ discussion Group projects and the project consultations through the course Presentations

Group project 1 (Research proposal) 20% Group project 2 (Presentation) 20% Written and/or Oral final exam: 60 % (this exam can be divided into two sets of exams: mid-term & final exam)

Interview Non-attending student is only accepted with a valid reason.