This course will introduce students to the history of Korea from 1800 to the present with an emphasis on modernity, family, social hierarchy, imperialism, and capitalism. Using primary sources, literary works, and video resources, we will explore such topics as: the birth of modern Korea amidst imperialism in the 19th century; culture, society, and family during the period of Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945); the origins of national division and the Korean War (1950-53); economic and cultural developments, as well as state-led and resistance politics, in the 1970s and 80s in South Korea; democratisation and its expansive impact in South Korea; and recent developments in the two Koreas. This course will give students a thorough grounding in modern change on the Korean peninsula and introduce them to major interpretative currents in the study of Korean history.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Analyse core social and historical issues in modern Korean history.
2. Critically evaluate major historical events in Korea's modern history. 
3. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of key historical themes as they relate to modern Korean history.
4. Critically assess contemporary debates on the state of modern Korea and its role in the region and the world.
5. Read and analyse primary sources that either have been translated or originally were written in English, such as visitors’ accounts.

Required Resources

A History of Korea (3rd Edition)

Author: Kyung Moon Hwang

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Available as an e-book on the US Amazon site.

Recommended Resources

Except for the course textbook assignments, all class readings for each week are available on Wattle.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Who lived in premodern Korea?
2	What was the problem in the 19th Century?
3	Why and how did modern Korea Begin?
4	How did Korea fall?
5	How did gender and nationhood shape identities in colonial Korea?
6	How should the experience of wartime mobilisation affect views on the colonial period as a whole?
7	How do dramatisations and monuments affect understandings of the Korean War?
8	How did Dictatorship and Development function together to make North Korea?
9	Which was more central to South Korea's early history, (Anti-)Dictatorship or Development?
10	When did South Korea's democratisation start, and how long did it last?
11	How did gender and popular culture shape South Korea at the turn of the 21st century?
12	Why and how did historical reckoning take place in the 2010-2020 decade?

Tutorial Registration

N/A

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Participation	10 %	24/02/2025	30/04/2025	1,2,3,4
Source introductions	10 %	24/02/2025	30/04/2025	1,2,3,4
Class presentation on Korean democracy and dictatorship	5 %	24/02/2025	30/04/2025	1,2,3,4
Quizzes	10 %	24/02/2025	30/04/2025	1,2
Mid-term Examination (in-class)	30 %	26/03/2025	15/04/2025	1,2,3,4
Final project	35 %	30/04/2025	18/05/2025	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Class discussion.

Examination(s)

Midterm examination in-class.

Assessment Task 1

Participation

Discussion of the week's theme, based mostly on the reading assignments, will be central to each class session. Thorough preparation and active participation are expected from each student. A daily numerical mark will be given to each student, and this will be averaged for the semester mark. Unexcused absences will be given a zero.

Assessment Task 2

Source introductions

Various supplementary 'Sources' (other primary sources, scholarly articles, web sites, films) will be listed for each class session. Beginning with Week 2, every student must sign up to read/view at least one of these sources through the online scheduler (Google Docs), and come prepared to introduce in class the content, historical significance, and connection to the week's theme and required readings, as well as to answer questions.

Assessment Task 3

Class presentation on Korean democracy and dictatorship

A thoughtful, creative (with minimal text) 5-minute slide presentation that helps the audience understand this semester's main question: What were the origins, development, and continuation of both democracy and dictatorship in Korea? More specifically, how can one explain the d'etat of 2025 December 3 and its continuing repercussions through our course's coverage of Korea's modern history? The presentation would offer a firm answer to the question, based on class readings, lectures, and/or discussions, and through evidence and reasoning. Bookings for the presentations, which will begin in Week 3 (Wednesday class), will be through our Wattle site.

Assessment Task 4

Quizzes

2 % map quiz, 8% pop quizzes on the readings taken at the start of a class session.

Assessment Task 5

Mid-term Examination (in-class)

Taken during the Wednesday meeting of Week 6. Paper and pen only. Essay format in response to a single, comprehensive question covering the first half of the course.

Assessment Task 6

Final project

An individual research project, submitted as either an essay or a slide presentation, on a topic finalised through consultation with the instructor. Due in final examination period.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students