This course is designed to give students an overview of contemporary South Korean society and culture in the period from the1960s to the present. The course reviews the recent social changes in Korea which have occurred under the influence of the so-called 'miracle on the Han river', and analyses the diverse social problems in modern Korean society from sociological and historical perspectives. In weeks 1-5 the students will be introduced to the major structural changes in Korean society over the last 40 years and in weeks 6-12 they will explore the development of various aspects of South Korean daily and social life under the influence of these changes. Upon successful completion of this unit, students will have gained an understanding of how contemporary South Korean society works and a broad knowledge of the major features of its everyday life and culture. During the tutorials the students will be given an opportunity to discuss in depth some pressing social issues in Korean society, seek parallels in other Asian and Western societies and consider possible solutions to these problems at structural, institutional and behavioral levels. Along with the course North Korean Society which has been announced for second semester 2006, Contemporary Korean Society will present a comprehensive picture of what is occurring on the Korean peninsula.

Essay (2000 words)  30%; Tutorial: Attendance / participation / presentation (20%); Seminar project (1500 words)  20%; Examination (2 hours)  30%

6 University Courses (36 units)

No preliminary reading required. Students will be provided with handouts and a Reading Brick which contains photocopied materials including extracts from topical articles and books as well as relevant statistics, and a list of recommended literature. The lectures will also be supplemented with various video and photographic materials.