LAS226 Contemporary Korean Society

Spring 2025/26

20 credits

Module Organiser: Dr Kahee Jo (k.jo@sheffield.ac.uk)

Overview

Since the end of World War II, South Korea has undergone rapid modernisation and radical social transformations that have created both opportunities and challenges. Through the disciplines of political economy and other social science and anthropology, this module examines major social, political, and cultural issues, events and conflicts in contemporary Korea, regarding the development and industrialisation, democratisation and social movement, inequality, gender, migration and social diversity, and Korea’s place in the global community. This module aims to contribute to the development of students’ capacity to go beyond observing and describing phenomena they may encounter when engaging with Korea, towards exercising an informed and nuanced understanding of the underlying forces that shape Korean politics, culture, business and society today. Classes are in the format of lectures, videos and readings, followed by a series of seminars during which students will engage in research sessions and skills-focused tasks to discuss the experiences of one of Asia’s most dynamic nations. The module is assessed with a portfolio of tasks designed to practice skills and deploy knowledge developed through engagement with the module’s content and activities.

Topics Covered Include

• Authoritarian Development State

• Industrialisation and Development

• Industrial Shift and Global Competition

• Political Participation and Democracy

• Generational Conflict

• Class and Polarisation 

• Gender Inequality

• Feminist Movement

• Migration and Multicultural Society

• More Issues on Social Minority

Skills Development

• Critical thinking

• translate knowledge 

• Academic writing 

• communication skills

• knowledge 

• Teamwork and presentation skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Digital technologies 

• Solve problems and exchange knowledge

• Independent Learning and study skills 

Study Hours

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

• Lectures 11 hours

• Seminars 11 hours

• 178 hours of independent study including readings, videos, seminar preparation and portfolio tasks. 

Assessment

• 100% portfolio of 6 short-answer tasks practising short essay writing skills, discourse analysis, rapid research, visual artefact analysis and self-reflection.

If you want to get ahead, you could watch...

If you have a Netflix account, watch Parasite or Squid Game (warning, it is quite a violent production so there is no expectation you will have seen it!). You might also consider reading Korea: The Impossible Country, by Daniel Tudor.