Two Koreas: Problems and Prospects

Spring 2023

Department of East Asian Studies

National Taiwan Normal University

Course Syllabus

Instructor:                       Dr. Hieyeon Keum (琴喜淵)

                                        Visiting Professor

                                        Department of East Asian Studies

Time and Place:              Tuesdays 1:20 PM – 4:20 PM, 撲 306

Office Hours:                 By appointments at 綜 711

Email:                             hykeum@ntnu.edu.tw

Course Description:

This course deals with the politics, socioeconomic, and foreign policies of the two Koreas. Beginning with an introduction to the legacies of Japanese rule, we will examine the domestic and international process resulting in a war that divided the nation and will discuss the emergence of the two Koreas; Republic of Korea (ROK) and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as competing regimes within the global context of the Cold War. Closer attention will be put on different path to the nation building and state building. In addition, ideological, socio-economic, and cultural differences separating these regimes will be examined and the unexpected similarities experienced by the people of these mutually antagonistic nation-states will be discussed as well.

Topics include political democratic transition from an authoritarianism in the South, while “Kim’s Empire” continues in the North. This course will also cover the rise of North Korea as one of the “Axis of Evil” and its efforts to become “NUKE.” Issues related to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, illicit activities, and the human rights, as well as dialogue, sanctions, and the possibility of reunification will also be covered.

Since this course will incorporate both lectures and seminar formats, students’ active participation in discussions will be emphasized.

Course Objectives:

The main goal of this course is to introduce students to the complexities of “Korean Issue” which has been characterized as the fluctuation between conflicts and cooperation and the nature of evolving inter-Korea relations. Secondly, the objective is to provide students with basic understanding of the main trends in the field of government, economy, society, and foreign relations of the two Koreas. Thirdly, this course also is to examine scholarly viewpoints on key issues of Korean history and division; articulate key factors that shape US and regional policy toward North Korea; distinguish between different sources of information on the two Koreas; and interpret regional developments based on knowledge of Korean issues. Topics include the “Hermit Kingdom” myth; liberation from Japanese colonial rule, division, and war; the economic miracle; North Korean leadership; South and North Korean foreign relations; North Korea as a nuclear threat; and prospects for a unified Korea. Special emphasis will be put on developing a stronger understanding of the two Koreas for practical and professional application.

Throughout this course, students will

• Articulate an in-depth understanding of historical developments on the Korean Peninsula since 1945 and understand a variety of aspects of historical change on the Korean Peninsula, including social change, demography, culture, politics, and economy of North and South Korea.
• Be able to understand the differences in political systems, ideology, political and socioeconomic structure and policies, foreign policies, and core national interests between the North and South Korea.
• To elaborate the complicated military security configuration of regional order of Northeast Asia and be able to evaluate the historical trajectories of North and South Korea and the challenges of reunification.
• Analyze political institutions, recent history, and policy processes in the two Koreas by grasping general knowledge of North Korean politics, society, ideology, and nature of “Kim’s Empire” and international relations as well.
• Understand the strategy of military provocations of North Korea and to account for the determinants that drive North Korea to develop nuclear program and missile technology.
• Develop an abiding interest in the future of the Korean Peninsula and to analyze the prospect of regional and international order centered around Korean peninsula and responses of surrounding countries.

Course Requirements & Evaluation:

1. Students are supposed to attend all the classes, but absence (s) are excused only in case of emergency with necessary proof or documents. Students must read the reading materials and be prepared for the class discussion. Students’ active participation is strongly recommended.
2. Students need to write 2 writing assignments. The assignments should be written in English. All the writing assignment or exams should be turned in on time. 20% of points will be deducted for the late submission. All the writing assignments should be proofread. Students are strongly “required” to have the writing assignments proofread before submission.
3. Students are supposed to make a team project for Class Presentation. 2-3 members will make a team, depending on the final enrollment. Presentation topics are provided by an instructor. Structure, design, contents with most updated data and statistics along with speaking style and preparation will be taken into consideration for grading. Each presentation should not exceed 20 minutes. Further evaluation instruction will be noticed.
4. Periodically Pop-up quizzes on assigned readings and lectures will be administered at the beginning of the class to ensure that students are adequately preparing for class discussion. Time and Dates are given without prior notice.
5. Course grade will be based on the followings,

Midterm Exam                                           25 %

Final Exam                                                 25%

Writing Assignment                                    10 %

Class Presentation                                       25%

Attendance                                                  5%

Participation and Pop-up Quizzes              10%

                                                                    100%

The exams may consist of short identifications, fill the blanks, true/false, multiple choice, and essay questions. No makeup exams will be given. Adequate class preparation and active participation in class discussions are strongly required.

Texts and Recommended Readings:

 Major Text: No need to purchase. Chapters will be posted or provided.

1. Don Oberdorfer and Robert Carlin. Revised and Updated 3rd Edition. The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History. NY: Basic Books, 2014.
2. Andre Schmid. Korea Between Empires. NY: Columbia University Press, 2002.
3. Michael J. Seth. A Concise History of Korea. 2nd Edition. Lanham: Rawman & Littlefield. 2016.

Weekly Class Schedule     

** Weekly class schedule is subject to change according to the level of background understanding and the final enrollment.

Week One (February 21): “Introduction: End of Chinese Dominance and Changes in Asian Order”

             Introduction: Images and Stereotypes of North and South Korea

                               Uniqueness of Inter-Korean Relations

             Fall of Qing and the End of Chinese Suzerainty over Korea and Taiwan

             Tributary Systems and Rise of New Japan

Week Two (February 28): Peace Memorial Day

            No Class

Week Three (March 7): “Why Does Korea Matter?: Korean Peninsula from the International Security Perspectives”

            Lecture: “Security Perspectives from the Major neighboring states: US, China, Japan, and Russia”

Week Four (March 14): “Modernization of Korea under Japanese Rule: Colonial Development or Exploitation Development”

             Lecture: Japanese Colonial Policy in Korea and Taiwan

             Student Presentation 1:

             Student Presentation 2:

Week Five (March 21): “From Division to a War: Emergence of Two Koreas and the Origins of the Korean Conflict”

             Lecture: “Division and War after the End of Colonial Rule”

             Liberation from Japanese Rule

             Foundation or Two Koreas: ROK and DPRK

             Cold War and Division of Korean Peninsula: Role of the US and USSR

             Student Presentation 3:

             Student Presentation 4:

Week Six (March 28): “Inter-Korea Relations: Ups and Downs”

             Lecture: “Trajectory of Cooperation and Conflicts between the two Koreas”

             From Park Chung Hee to Park Keun Hye

             Fluctuation between Confrontation and Cooperation

             Dilemma of Moon Jae In’s “Moonlight Policy”

             Student Presentation 5:

             Student Presentation 6:

Week Seven (April 4): Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day)

             No Class

Week Eight (April 11): “Mid-Term Exam”

             2 Hours (Further details will be provided)

Week Nine (April 18): “Understanding of DPRK”

             Lecture: “Emergence of Kim Il Sung: “How One-Man Dictatorship Came to North Korea?”

             Watching Video (I): “Inside North Korea’s Dynasty, Part 1: Kingdome of the Kims”

             Student Presentation 7:

             Student Presentation 8:

Week Ten (April 25): “Understanding North Korean Regime: Political System”

             Lecture: Political System and Leadership of North Korea”

             Foundation of a “Partisan Family State”

             From Kim Il Sung to Kim Jung Un

             Family Succession of “Kim’s Empire”

             Watching Video (II): “Inside North Korea’s Dynasty, Part 2: Son of God”

             Student Presentation 9:

             Student Presentation 10:

Week Eleven (May 2: “North Korea under Kim Jung Il”

             Lecture: “North Korea under Great Leader Kim Jung Il”

             End of Cold War and Changes in International Order       

             From “Juche Thoughts” to “Policy of Military First”

             Development of nuclear weapon and missile program

             Watching Video (III): “Inside North Korea’s Dynasty, Part 3: Nuclear Family”

             Student Presentation 11:

             Student Presentation 12:

Week Twelve (May 9): “North Korea under Kim Jung Un”

             Lecture: “North Korea under Kim Jung Eun”

             Economic, Military and Foreign and Defense Policies

             From “Military First Policy” to “Parallel Policy”

            Watching Video (IV): “Inside North Korea’s Dynasty, Part 4: Rocket Man”

             Student Presentation 13:

             Student Presentation 14:

Week Thirteen (May 16): “Nuclear Crisis in the Korean Peninsula”

             Lecture: Origin and Development of North Korea’s “NUKE” Policy

             How Does the South Korea Think of North Korea? : “Provocation” or “Engagement?

             Student Presentation 15:

             Student Presentation 16:

Week Fourteen (May 23): “North Korea’s NUKE and Major Powers”

             Lecture: “Same Bed Different Dreams”: Strategies and Goals of Major Powers”

             North Korea and China: “Bloody Ally” vs. “Fed Up”

             North Korea and the U.S.: “Sanction vs. Engagement?”

             North Korea Towards Japan and Russia

             Student Presentation 17:

             Student Presentation 18:

Week Fifteen (May 30): “The Two Koreas: Reunification?”

             Lecture: “Peaceful Reunification? Unified by the South or the North?

             How the Neighboring States View the “Unified Korea?”

             Student Presentation 19:

             Student Presentation 20:

Week Sixteen (June 6): “Final Exam”

             2 Hours (Further details will be provided)
教學進度與主題附件

1. Don Oberdorfer and Robert Carlin. Revised and Updated 3rd Edition. The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History. NY: Basic Books, 2014.
2. Andre Schmid. Korea Between Empires. NY: Columbia University Press, 2002.
3. Michael J. Seth. A Concise History of Korea. 2nd Edition. Lanham: Rawman & Littlefield. 2016.