About this course: This course will select six most outstanding issues in contemporary Korean politics and will engage in an in-depth, interactive inquiry of those issue. They include Korean politics in history, institutional setting of Korean politics, and dynamics of political culture in Korea, profiles of political leadership, myth and reality of the developmental state and the Korean economic miracle, and debates on Korean unification. The course will expose students to contending theories and empirical reality at first hand. After completing this course, learners will be able to 1. Grasp the most salient and timely aspects of Korean politics.. 2. Place South Korean politics in comparative perspectives. 3. Digest a delicate mix of theory and practice regarding Korean politics. 4. Come up with new interpretations of political development in South Korea. 5. Most importantly renew their genuine interests in Korea and Korean politics.
Who is this class for: This course is aimed for learners who have general interest in Korea and who want to get knowledge on East Asian politics.
Taught by: Chung-in Moon, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Department of Political Science
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 6 weeks of study, 2-2.5 hours/week |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Spanish, Chinese (Simplified) |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
- Video: 1.1 Why Korean Politics?
- Video: 1.2 Korean Politics-Past History
- Video: 1.3 The First and Second Republic(1948-1961)
- Video: 1.4 Military Coup, Park Chung-Hee, and the Yushine Regime
- Video: 1.5 The 5th Republic, Chun Doo-Hwan, and Democratic Transition
- Reading: Reading Materials
- Discussion Prompt: Yushin Regime
- Video: 2.1 Legacies of the Past and Transition to Democracy
- Video: 2.2 Understanding Democratic Transition and Consolidation
- Video: 2.3 Authoritarian Past and Transition Dynamics
- Video: 2.4 Determinants of Democratic Transition in South Korea
- Video: 2.5 Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in South Korea
- Discussion Prompt: Is democracy incompatible with economic growth?
- Reading: Reading Materials
- Video: 3.1 Understanding Political Institutions
- Video: 3.2 Constitutional Foundation and Its Evolution
- Video: 3.3 Korean Government
- Video: 3.4 Why persistent Imperial President?
- Video: 3.5 Conclusion: Debates on New Constitutional Amendment
- Discussion Prompt: Constitutional amendment
- Reading: Reading Materials
- Video: 4.1 Understanding Political Leadership
- Video: 4.2 Evaluating Political Leadership
- Video: 4.3 Assessing Rhee Syngman
- Video: 4.4 Evaluating Park Chung-hee
- Video: 4.5 Evaluating Kim Dae-jung
- Video: 4.6 Conclusion: some puzzles for discussion
- Discussion Prompt: Park Chung-hee- Assets and Liabilities
- Reading: Reading Materials
- Video: 5.1 The Korean Economic Miracle: Empirical Check
- Video: 5.2 Understanding the South Korean Economic Miracle ( I )
- Video: 5.3 Understanding the South Korean Economic Miracle ( II )
- Video: 5.4 Dark-side of the Developmental State and Policy Networks
- Video: 5.5 Limits to the Developmental State and the Future of the South Korean Economy
- Discussion Prompt: Was Japanese colonial rule beneficial to South Korea’s economic development?
- Reading: Reading Materials
- Video: 6.1 Overview of Korean Division and Inter-Korean Relations
- Video: 6.2 Understanding towards Korean Unification
- Video: 6.3 The Sunshine Policy and Korean Unification
- Video: 6.4 The Sunshine Policy - Its Limits and Constraints
- Video: 6.5 The Future of Inter-Korean Relations and Unification
- Discussion Prompt: North Korean nuclear problem
- Reading: Reading Materials
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
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| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
A very insightful and unbiased course, opening up a new understanding of today's Korea. The explanations of contemporary's Korea's politics in relation to history are profound and easy to follow.
What I also like, is that you're given the opportunity to write a short comment on a selected topic concerning the respective week's syllabus. Together with the tests, which are, unfortunately, not available for grading unless you upgrade your course, they allow you to consolidate your newly attained knowledge.
Excellent learning experience. Comprehensive coverage of topics from past until present, objective and double-sided insights, very easy to follow chronologically and entertaining at the same time with Prof. Moon's casual English. The course is content heavy but does not bore. Only downside is that the weekly quiz cannot be taken unless we upgrade to receiving a certificate!
Great course!!!
I learned a lot
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The professor has explained the politics in Korea in a historic context. There are some thoeries implanted in the course, but the prof always illustrates them with concrete examples. The course is not biased, considering the perspectives of the conservative and the progressive. What I love the most is the case study after the introduction of professional terms and theories. It leads to a better and deep understanding of Korean politics. I enjoy the course pretty much. What I would expect is that the prof would give an extra part about the impeachment and its impact on the Korean politics and also the impact of Chaebol on Korean politics. Although I sign up for the certificate, I still believe opening the graded quiz to those who are paying makes the course more accessible.