LAS124 Politics, Economy and Society in Korea

Overview

This module explores what it means to study Korea at university level, and considers how `area studies' research on Korea fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary Korea: including how Korean society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic:  in 2024-2025 we will cover colonial history in the Korean peninsula to understand how the Korean people experienced modernity under Japanese colonial rule.

Topics Covered

• Colonial History

• Colonialism and Nationalism

• Modernity and Gender

• Colonialism, Gender and Class

Skills Development

• Academic writing

• Communication skills

• Critical ability

• Cultural agility

• Independent learning

• Knowledge

Study Hours

The University recommends that you spend 200 hours working on a 20 credit module. This will include:

• Lecture: 10 hours

• Seminar: 10 hours

• Independent study: 180 hours

Assessment

• Essay 100%