Lessons for Korea
Two Decades of German Unification
Korea Resources
Global
Classroom
Workshops
made possible
by:
THE
NORCLIFFE
FOUNDATION
Images from: http://www.pachd.com/free-images/korea.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Demilitarized_Zone
A Resource Packet for Educators
And World
Affairs Council
Members
RESOURCES COMPILED BY:
Eileen Hynes, Ismaila Maidadi,
Tese Wintz Neighbor, Nathan Sharpe
WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
September 13, 2011
LESSONS FOR KOREA:
TWO DECADES OF GERMAN UNIFICATION
Table of Contents – Korea
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF KOREA ......................... 2
Information Sheet: North Korea at a Glance .................2
Information Sheet: South Korea at a Glance.................2
Maps of Korea ..............................................................4
A DIVIDED PENINSULA AT A GLANCE .............................. 5
Resources on a Divided Peninsula................................. 5
North and South Korea Relations .................................6
Lesson Plans & Activities .............................................. 7
SOCIETY AND CULTURE .................................................. 9
North Korea Society & Culture Today...........................9
South Korea Society & Culture Today ..........................9
Articles & Resources ................................................... 10
Lesson Plans & Activities ............................................ 13
NUCLEAR MATTERS ...................................................... 14
Articles & Resources ................................................... 14
Lesson Plans & Activities ............................................ 15
ECONOMIC AND HUMANITARIAN ISSUES ...................... 17
North Korea Economic and Humanitarian Issues ........ 17
South Korea Economic and Humanitarian Issues........ 18
Articles and Resources................................................20
BOOKS/ FILMS/ NEWS AND LOCAL RESOURCES............. 22
News Sources .............................................................22
Books ......................................................................... 23
Books About Korea for Younger Readers ................... 27
Documentary Films ....................................................28
Feature Films .............................................................. 30
Documentaries Available at the UW Library ............... 32
Local Resources About Korea ..................................... 32
INTEGRATING STEM TOPICS INTO YOUR TEACHING ...... 34
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
Using This Resource Guide
Packet published: 09/13/2011
Websites checked: 5/10/2011
Please note: many descriptions
were excerpted directly from
the websites.
Recommended Resources
Maps
Audio
Video / PowerPoint /
Photos
Charts and Graphs
Educational Games
Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math
Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans /
Educational Resources
1
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF KOREA
INFORMATION SHEET: NORTH KOREA AT A GLANCE
An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following
the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II,
Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist control. After failing in the
Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the U.S.-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North
Korea (DPRK), under its founder President Kim il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic
"self-reliance" as a check against outside influence.
The DPRK demonized the U.S. as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and
molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of
Korea under Pyongyang's control. Kim's son, the current ruler Kim Jong il, was officially designated as his father's
successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder Kim's death in 1994.
After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied
heavily on international aid to feed its population. North Korea's history of regional military provocations,
proliferation of military-related items, long-range missile development, WMD programs including nuclear
weapons test in 2006 and 2009, and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international
community.
CIA – Country Profile World Factbook: North Korea
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html
INFORMATION SHEET: SOUTH KOREA AT A GLANCE
An independent Korean state or collection of states has existed almost continuously for several millennia.
Between its initial unification in the 7th century - from three predecessor Korean states - until the 20th century,
Korea existed as a single independent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War, Korea became a
protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it was annexed as a colony. Korea regained its independence following
Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II, a Republic of Korea (ROK) was set up in the
southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north (the DPRK).
During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend
South Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. An armistice was signed in 1953,
splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel.
Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the
level of North Korea. In 1993, KIM Young-sam became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years of
military rule. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. President LEE Myung-bak has pursued
a policy of global engagement since taking office in February 2008, highlighted by Seoul's hosting of the G-20
summit in November 2010. Serious tensions with North Korea have punctuated inter-Korean relations in recent
years, including the North's sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March 2010 and its artillery attack on
South Korean soldiers and citizens in November 2010.
CIA – Country Profile World Factbook: South Korea
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
COUNTRY PROFILES
BBC NEWS – COUNTRY PROFILE NORTH KOREA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1131421.stm
A brief overview of North Korea, its economy, people, and government.
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
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HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF KOREA
BBC NEWS—COUNTRY PROFILES SOUTH KOREA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1123668.stm
North Korea’s Official Website
http://www.korea-dpr.com/
The official website of North Korea. This site is in English and helps to promote North Korean interest to
foreigners.
SOUTH KOREA’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE
http://www.korea.net/index.do
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE “BACKGROUND NOTES: NORTH KOREA”
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE “BACKGROUND NOTES: SOUTH KOREA”
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800.htm
These notes include facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign
relations.
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
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http://english.freemap.jp/blankmap_dl.php?area=asia_e&country=korea&file_name=2.gif
On this page, you can download this map of Korea. These maps are free of charge.
For a blank map, use the link below:
http://english.freemap.jp/blankmap_dl.php?area=asia_e&country=korea&file_name=2.gif
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
4
A DIVIDED PENINSULA AT A GLANCE
INFORMATION SHEET: RESOURCES ON A DIVIDED PENINSULA
North Korea's relationship with the South has determined much of its post-World War II history and still
undergirds much of its foreign policy. North and South Korea have had a difficult and acrimonious relationship
from the Korean War. In recent years, North Korea has pursued a mixed policy--seeking to develop economic
relations with South Korea and to win the support of the South Korean public for greater North-South
engagement while at the same time continuing to denounce the R.O.K.'s security relationship with the United
States and maintaining a threatening conventional force posture on the DMZ and in adjacent waters.
The military demarcation line (MDL) of separation between the belligerent sides at the close of the Korean War
divides North Korea from South Korea. A demilitarized zone (DMZ) extends for 2,000 meters (just over 1 mile) on
either side of the MDL. Both the North and South Korean governments hold that the MDL is only a temporary
administrative line, not a permanent border.
During the postwar period, both Korean governments have repeatedly affirmed their desire to reunify the Korean
Peninsula, but until 1971 the two governments had no direct, official communications or other contact.
North-South Economic Ties Two-way trade between North and South Korea, legalized in 1988, had risen to
more than $1.8 billion in 2007, much of it related to out-processing or assembly work undertaken by South Korean
firms in the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC). A significant portion of the total also includes donated goods
provided to the North as humanitarian assistance or as part of inter-Korean cooperation projects. Although
business-based and processing-on-commission transactions continued to grow, the bulk of South Korean exports
to North Korea remains non-commercial. Most of the goods exported from KIC are sold in South Korea; a small
quantity, about 20% of the KIC products, is exported to foreign markets. Ground was broken on the complex in
June 2003, and the first products were shipped from the KIC in December 2004. Plans envision 250 firms
employing 350,000 workers by 2012.
As of December 2008, 93 South Korean firms were manufacturing goods in the KIC, employing more than 38,000
North Korean workers. However, because of South Korean NGO leafleting, North Korea has restricted the
number of South Korean businesspeople crossing to and from KIC, but factories employing the 38,000 North
Koreans continue to operate.
Since the June 2000 North-South summit, North and South Korea have reconnected their east and west coast
railroads and roads where they cross the DMZ and are working to improve these transportation routes. North and
South Korea conducted tests of the east and west coast railroads on May 17, 2007 and began cross-border freight
service between Kaesong in the D.P.R.K. and Munsan in the R.O.K. in December 2007. Much of the work done in
North Korea has been funded by South Korea. The west coast rail and road are complete as far north as the KIC
(six miles north of the DMZ), but little work is being done north of Kaesong. On the east coast, the road is
complete but the rail line is far from operational. Since 2003, tour groups have been using the east coast road to
travel from South Korea to Mt. Kumgang in North Korea, where cruise ship-based tours had been permitted since
1998.
R.O.K.-organized tours to Mt. Kumgang in North Korea began in 1998. Since then, more than a million visitors
have traveled to Mt. Kumgang. However, the R.O.K. suspended tours to Mt. Kumgang in July 2008 following the
shooting death of a South Korean tourist at the resort by a D.P.R.K. soldier.
In August 2009, Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun met with Kim Jong-il and obtained the release of a
South Korean worker who had been detained in the D.P.R.K. since March. As part of those discussions, the
D.P.R.K. expressed a willingness to resume tourist links and family reunions with the South and continue talks
regarding the Kaesong Industrial Complex.
From U.S. State Dept Background Notes: North Korea http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
5
A DIVIDED PENINSULA AT A GLANCE
NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA RELATIONS
LEE DISCUSSES N. KOREA WITH LEADERS OF GERMAN UNIFICATION (05/10/2011)
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110510000302
President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday met with four leaders of the 1990 German reunification in Berlin to share
their experiences and advice in preparing for South Korea’s reunification with North Korea.
“PROSPECTS FOR KOREAN UNIFICATION” (FALL 2003)
http://www.brookings.edu/articles/2003/fall_northkorea_oh.aspx
KOREA: SEEKING AN END TO WAR
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/07/27/korea.anniv.divided/index.html
CNN looks deep into the issues surrounding the separation of the two Koreas. It contains country profiles, leader
profiles, timelines, maps, photos, and quizzes.
FUTURE TECH AND PUPPY LOVE IN SOUTH KOREA (2007)
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/10/01/eosk.futuretech/
With its anonymous skyline and mind-numbing traffic, Seoul may not seem like a sci-fi city. And yet it's blazing
one very high-tech trail. It's where hardcore online gamers get paid as professionals. It's where social networking,
in the form of the incredibly successful Cyworld, has been abuzz since 1999 -- predating both Facebook and
MySpace.
SOUTH KOREAN MINISTRY OF UNIFICATION
http://eng.unikorea.go.kr/eng/default.jsp?pgname=ENGhome
This is a site from South Korea, but can be read in English through clicking “English” on the upper navigation bar.
There are recent press releases, major speeches by the ministry of unification, and news about major
developments in unification.
COMMEMORATING THE KOREAN WAR
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/koreanwar/index.html
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICIAL WEB SITE FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONCLUSION OF THE KOREAN
WAR.
WHY IS KOREA DIVIDED?
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/korea/kdivided.html
Short summary on the division of Korea.
A COMMON FUTURE FOR THE KOREAN PENINSULA (9/4/2008)
http://www.asiasociety.org/policy-politics/international-relations/intra-asia/a-common-futurekorean-peninsula
On September 24, 2008 the Asia Society and Citi Foundation hosted the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea,
Han Seung-soo, who presented his vision for common prosperity on the Korean peninsula. Observing that "peace
and security almost always flow from economic stability," Han promoted his vision for a new "Korean Economic
Community" to advance cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure and education, aiming to raise the living
standards of those in the North. Han emphasized, however, that economic development alone will not secure
sustainable peace without the accompanied denuclearization of the North.
According to Han, his government's overarching present challenges lie in sharing the South's prosperity
and preparing the foundation for reunification based on cooperation and universal values. Recognizing
5,000 years of shared Korean history, Han stressed that "in the end, South
Korea is the neighbor whom the North can truly trust and rely on the most," adding "we hope that the North will
realize this and make a wise choice."
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
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A DIVIDED PENINSULA AT A GLANCE
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: DANGEROUS DIVIDE
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/features/world/asia/north-korea/dmz-text.html
LIFE ALONG THE DMZ THROUGH THE EYES OF A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC JOURNALIST.
INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS: RIVALRY, RECONCILIATION, AND REUNIFICATION (2010)
http://spice.stanford.edu/catalog/interkorean_relations_rivalry_reconciliation_and_reunification
The drama of inter-Korean relations is a fascinating and instructive story of world affairs at large. The experiences
of the two Koreas illustrate how conflict and the pursuit of peace are two dominant themes behind history. To
underscore that fundamental fact, this curriculum approaches inter-Korean relations from the themes of rivalry,
reconciliation, and reunification. This curriculum unit, published by SPICE, provides high school students with a
multifaceted view of inter-Korean relations. NOTE: this curriculum unit costs $49.95.
LESSON PLANS & ACTIVITIES
ON A DIVIDED PENINSULA – NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA RELATIONS
PBS - DIVIDED PENINSULA: SIX DECADES OF MILITARY AND POLITICAL TENSION IN KOREA
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/1660/preview/
Students hear about global issues every day through a variety of media. Understanding those issues though is
often a difficult and complicated task. This lesson provides a framework for discussion of Korea to help students
understand the history of a divided nation and become
more knowledgeable in their analysis of current news issues. Through the use of Web sites,
streamed video, and print resources, students will develop an understanding of Korea's history, describe the
causes and results of its division, and grow aware of current political issues.
A VISIT TO THE DMZ: A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA
http://www.aasianst.org/EAA/dmz.htm
A virtual tour with photographs of the DMZ area. Accompanies John Frank’s article in Education about Asia,
Volume 10, Number 2, Fall 2005.
WHY IS NORTH KOREA GOING IT ALONE?
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/world/nkorea_10-14.html
Students will study the creation of the divide between North and South Korea, the ideological differences
between them, the tensions that have resulted, and the concerns that the world has over North Korea's
possession of nuclear weapons.
“POLICE ACTION”: KOREAN WAR 1950-1953
http://www.lessonplanet.com/directory/Social_Studies/History/Korean_War
Students investigate facts about the war in Korea in the 1950's and attempt to classify American foreign policy as
a triumph or a failure. Why the U.S. became involved and the unpopularity of the war in America forms the focus
of this lesson.
NORTH AND SOUTH KOREANS MEET ON A MOUNTAIN PATH (2/16/2000)
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20000216wednesday.html
This lesson looks into the reunification efforts through tourism and personal contacts between the North and the
South. This also questions the causes of division and possible solutions.
ON THE BRINK: TEACHING ABOUT TENSION IN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/on-the-brink-teaching-about-tension-in-north-and-south-korea/
Skirmishes between North Korea and South Korea have been far from rare in recent years, but the shots
exchanged last week brought a new level of tension between the two nations — and to world diplomacy. Key
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
7
A DIVIDED PENINSULA AT A GLANCE
Questions comparing the Koreas: How is each country governed? Who are the leaders of North Korea and South
Korea? How did they come to power? How would you characterize their leadership?
NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA CLASH
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/north-and-south-korea-clash/
More Resources on This Topic:
 The North Korean Challenge is an interactive timeline from 1993 to the present that shows how “North
Korea, a dictatorship armed to the teeth but unable to feed its own people without foreign aid, has
specialized in provoking the international community for survival. As it has wrangled invitations to talks
and extracted fresh aid, it has never given up its trump card, its nuclear weapons program.”
 Our 2006 lesson plan Intolerable Acts invites students to examine the implications of North Korea’s
nuclear testing.
TH
THE KOREAN WAR ON ITS 60 ANNIVERSARY
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/the-korean-war-on-its-60th-an
June 25, 2010, marks the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Here are some resources for teaching
and learning about “the Forgotten War” and looking at how The New York Times has reported on it, then and now.
You might also use the Times Topics collection to consider where North and South Korea stood 10 years ago, on
the 50th anniversary of the start of the war, and what their relations are like today.
CAN KOREA BE REUNITED? (12/13/2010)
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3755359
South Korea’s President says his country could soon rejoin North Korea.
KOREAN LESSON PLAN
http://ncta.osu.edu/lessons/korea/history/mcclure-korea.pdf
This lesson will explore the history of Korea, with an emphasis on the events that
both directly and indirectly led to the Korean War.
RISING SON (12/13/2010)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BUE/is_7_143/ai_n56630455/?tag=mantle_skin;content
For 16 years, Kim Jong II has ruled Noah Korea with an iron fist and very bizarre behavior: He almost always
appears in public in a khaki jumpsuit, oversize sunglasses, and platform shoes; he rarely smiles, and has a taste for
caviar and Rambo movies. Yet this man--who inherited his job from his equally autocratic father--has managed to
make North Korea a nuclear power and a constant threat to its neighbors and the world. Now, with Kim in poor
health after a stroke in 2008, it looks like he's poised to hand power to his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, who the
world knows very little about. This article includes an extensive lesson plan.
LESSONSNIPS: THE KOREAN WAR
http://www.lessonsnips.com/lesson/koreanwar
This is an introductory lesson about the Korean War. The lesson objectives are to describe and discuss the history
behind the Korean War and to introduce the names of significant leaders involved in the Korean War.
EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENT: KOREAN ENIGMA
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/korea/kdivided.html
This site contains a summary of the split from Korea, includes teacher pages, glossary, and other information on
Korea’s history.
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
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SOCIETY AND CULTURE
INFORMATION SHEET: NORTH KOREA SOCIETY & CULTURE TODAY
The Korean Peninsula was first populated by peoples of a Tungusic branch of the Ural-Altaic language family, who
migrated from the northwestern regions of Asia. Some of these peoples also populated parts of northeast China
(Manchuria); Koreans and Manchurians still show physical similarities. Koreans are racially and linguistically
homogeneous. Although there are no indigenous minorities in North Korea, there is a small Chinese community
(about 50,000) and some 1,800 Japanese wives who accompanied the roughly 93,000 Koreans returning to the
North from Japan between 1959 and 1962. Although dialects exist, the Korean spoken throughout the peninsula is
mutually comprehensible. In North Korea, the Korean alphabet (hangul) is used exclusively.
Korea's traditional religions are Buddhism and Shamanism. Christian missionaries arrived as early as the 16th
century, but it was not until the 19th century that major missionary activity began. Pyongyang was a center of
missionary activity, and there was a relatively large Christian population in the north before 1945. Although
religious groups exist in North Korea today, the government severely restricts religious activity.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Korean(s).
Population (July 2011 est., CIA World Factbook): 25.5 million.
Annual population growth rate: About +0.42%.
Ethnic groups: Korean; small ethnic Chinese and Japanese populations.
Religions: Autonomous religious activities have been virtually nonexistent since 1945. Buddhism, Confucianism,
Shamanism, Chongdogyo, and Christianity existed previously and have influenced the country.
Language: Korean.
Education: Years compulsory--11. Attendance--3 million (primary, 1.5 million; secondary, 1.2 million; tertiary, 0.3
million). Literacy--99%.
Health (1998): Medical treatment is free; one doctor for every 700 inhabitants; one hospital bed for every 350;
there are severe shortages of medicines and medical equipment. Infant mortality rate--47/1,000 (2010 est., UN
Population Fund--UNFPA). Life expectancy--males 65.5 yrs., females 69.7 yrs. (2010 est., UNFPA).
Principal Party and Government Officials
Kim Jong-il--General Secretary of the KWP; Supreme Commander of the People's Armed Forces; Chairman of the
NDC; son of North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung
Kim Yong-nam--President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly; titular head of state
Han Song-ryol--Ambassador to the D.P.R.K. Permanent Mission to the UN
Pak Ui-chun--Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kim Jong-un--General of the People’s Armed Forces, Vice-Chairman Central Military Commission; son of Kim
Jong-Il
Human Rights
Due to its isolationist nature, North Korea’s human rights record is difficult to evaluate. However, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, and defectors continue to report that North Korea maintains a
record of consistent, severe human rights violations, stemming from the government’s total control over all
activity. Reported human rights abuses include arbitrary and lengthy imprisonment, torture and degrading
treatment, poor prison conditions (including cases of starvation), forced labor, public executions, prohibitions or
severe restrictions on freedom of speech, the press, movement, assembly, religion, and privacy, denial of the right
of citizens to change their government, and suppression of workers’ rights. Cases of starvation have been
repeatedly documented. All sources of media, such as radio, television, and news organizations, are controlled by
the government and heavily censored. Correspondence is strictly monitored and Internet use is limited to the
political elite. Cellular phone access is limited to an internal network; international calls are deemed illegal except
for the political elite. North Korea is ranked second to last on the World Press Freedom Index.
From U.S. State Dept Background Notes: North Korea http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
9
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
INFORMATION SHEET: SOUTH KOREA SOCIETY & CULTURE TODAY
Population
Korea's population is one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogenous in the world. Except for a small
Chinese community (about 20,000), virtually all Koreans share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. With
48.6 million people inhabiting an area roughly the size of Indiana, South Korea has one of the world's highest
population densities. Major population centers are located in the northwest, southeast, and in the plains south of
the Seoul-Incheon area.
Korea has experienced one of the largest rates of emigration, with ethnic Koreans residing primarily in China (2.4
million), the United States (2.1 million), Japan (600,000), and the countries of the former Soviet Union (532,000).
Language
The Korean language is related to Japanese and Mongolian. Although it differs grammatically from Chinese and
does not use tones, a large number of Chinese cognates exist in Korean. Chinese ideograms are believed to have
been brought into Korea sometime before the second century BC. The learned class spoke Korean, but read and
wrote Chinese. A phonetic writing system ("hangul") was invented in the 15th century by King Sejong to provide a
writing system for commoners who could not read classical Chinese. Modern Korean uses hangul almost
exclusively with Chinese characters in limited use for word clarification. Approximately 1,300 Chinese characters
are used in modern Korean. English is taught as a second language in most primary and secondary schools.
Chinese and Japanese are also widely taught at secondary schools.
Religion
Freedom of religion is protected under South Korea’s constitution. Roughly half of the South Korean population
actively practice some form of religion. Most religious believers in South Korea follow Christianity (29.2% of the
population) and Buddhism (22.8%). Although only 0.2% of South Koreans identify themselves as Confucianists,
Korean society remains highly imbued with Confucian values and beliefs. A small minority of South Koreans
practice Islam, Shamanism (traditional spirit worship), and Chondogyo ("Heavenly Way"); 46.5% of South Koreans
practice no religion.
Government and Political Conditions
The Republic of Korea (commonly known as "South Korea") is a republic with powers nominally shared among the
presidency, the legislature, and the judiciary, but traditionally dominated by the president. The president is chief
of state and is elected for a single term of 5 years. The 299 members of the unicameral National Assembly are
elected to 4-year terms; elections for the assembly were held on April 9, 2008. South Korea's judicial system
comprises a Supreme Court, appellate courts, and a Constitutional Court. The judiciary is independent under the
constitution. The country has nine provinces and seven administratively separate cities--the capital of Seoul,
along with Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Incheon and Ulsan. Political parties include the Grand National
Party (GNP), Democratic Party (DP), Liberty Forward Party (LFP), New Progressive Party (NPP), Pro-Park Alliance
(PPA), and Renewal Korea Party (RKP). Suffrage is universal at age 19 (lowered from 20 in 2005).
Principal Government Officials
President--Lee Myung-bak
Prime Minister--Kim Hwang-sik
From U.S. State Dept Background Notes: South Korea http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800.htm
ARTICLES AND RESOURCES ON NORTH KOREA AND SOUTH KOREA SOCIETY & CULTURE
TODAY
ST
“TOP TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT KOREA IN THE 21 CENTURY”
http://www.asian-studies.org/EAA/EAA-7-3.htm
Four-page article by Professor Edward Schultz.
THE KOREA SOCIETY
http://www.koreasociety.org/
THE KOREA SOCIETY IS A U.S. BASED ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES THE HISTORY, CULTURE, ART, SOCIETY, AND ISSUES
OF KOREA. THE SITE CONTAINS INFORMATION ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, LESSON PLANS,
EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, AND TEACHER RESOURCES.
World Affairs Council Resource Packet Lessons for Korea: Two Decades of German Unification
September 13, 2011
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SOCIETY AND CULTURE
ASIA SOCIETY
http://www.asiasociety.org
Asia Society is the leading global and pan-Asian organization working to strengthen relationships and promote
understanding among the people, leaders, and institutions of the United States and Asia. We seek to increase
knowledge and enhance dialogue, encourage creative expression, and generate new ideas across the fields of arts
and culture, policy and business, and education.
ARTS AND CULTURE OF NORTH KOREA
http://www.123independenceday.com/north-korea/art-and-culture.html
"Culture is not just an ornament; it is the expression of a nation's character, and at the same time it is a powerful
instrument to mould character. The end of culture is right living." These words by the famous playwright William
Somerset Maugham well define the significance of culture in reshaping the destiny of a country. Likewise the art
and culture of North Korea too represents the rich heritage of the country which has been an intrinsic part of its
growing national identity. The last few years saw an influx of foreign population into the country which has
tremendously influenced its ethnic diversity. One of the major aspects of North Korean art and culture is the
adherence to the traditional folklore of the country well represented through various dance forms and songs.
ARTS AND CULTURE OF SOUTH KOREA
http://www.123independenceday.com/south-korea/art-and-culture.html
The arts and culture of South Korea is rich and vibrant having a history of creative innovation in the field of
painting, sculpture, music, dance, drama and literature. The contemporary South Korean culture derives much
from the traditional Korean culture. However, since the division of Korea in 1948, South Koreans have developed
a culture of their own which is different from North Korean culture. The arts and culture of South Korea has been
greatly inspired by Confucianism and Buddhism which is evident in the style of architecture, housing, costumes,
and beliefs. Koreans are very open to change and are fast catching up with international trends.
LIFE IN KOREA: CULTURAL SPOTLIGHTS
http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/spotlight.cfm
LIFE IN KOREA TAKES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF KOREAN CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND CUSTOMS. HERE YOU
CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT KOREA AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE KOREAN PEOPLE.
NORTH KOREA-SOCIETY
http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/north-korea/SOCIETY.html
This article covers the environment, population, values, social structure, education, and culture within North
Korea.
SOUTH KOREA-SOCIETY
http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/south-korea/SOCIETY.html
Few societies have changed as rapidly or as dramatically since the end of World War II as that of the Republic of
Korea (South Korea). This article covers population, values, social structure, education, and culture within South
Korea.
WWW VIRTUAL LIBRARY: KOREA
HTTP://WWW.SKAS.ORG/
Society of Korean-American Scholars (SKAS) is a private, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization dedicated to
engendering intellectual exchanges in the global Korean community
with a view to enlighten and empower individual members of the community. It promotes scholarship and
fellowship among its members and seeks to foster leadership among young Korean-Americans.
PBS: HIDDEN KOREA
http://www.pbs.org/hiddenkorea/geography.htm
This site contains information on the geography, history, culture, religion, and food of Korea. PBS also features a
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video that you can order.
NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS BEWILDERED BY THE SOUTH (4/12/2009)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/11/AR2009041100766.html
This article from The Washington Post depicts the experience of newly arrived defectors from the north. As part of
the newest wave in a decade-old flow of defectors from the north, they arrive stunted from malnutrition and
struggling to read.
TESTIMONIES OF NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS
http://fas.org/irp/world/rok/nis-docs/hwang5.htm
The North Korean population has been conditioned from a very young age to accept the words and deeds of the
elder and junior Kims to be absolute truth. The greatest meaning in life lies in becoming "bullets and bombs" in
defense of Kim Jong-Il.
NORTH KOREA CULTURE
http://www.mapsofworld.com/north-korea/culture/
Article on North Korea Culture helps the readers to know about the North Korean lifestyle. North Korea is
enriched with various cultural issues and events. The lifestyle of North Korean People is full of festivities and
holidays. The colorful events make North Korea an interesting land for the outskirt travelers to visit and explore in
excitement.
SOUTH KOREA CULTURE
http://www.mapsofworld.com/south-korea/culture/
South Korea Culture has a rich tradition for over 5,000 years. The historical sites prove at every instant the cultural
tradition of South Korea. That the South Korea culture heralds a rich tradition can be traced from the respect the
contemporary South Korea shows for the past.
COUNTRY PROFILE: NORTH KOREA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1131421.stm
For decades North Korea has been one of the world's most secretive societies. It is one of the few countries still
under communist rule.
COUNTRY PROFILE: SOUTH KOREA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1123668.stm
South Korea has developed into one of Asia's most affluent countries since partition in 1948.
THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC LIVE FROM NORTH KOREA
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/the-new-york-philharmonic-live-from-north-korea/introduction/157/
The network has had rare access inside the closed society of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, where
contact with the outside world is completely forbidden to citizens. The Philharmonic visit marks the first by
American artists there. “I have always felt that music is a powerful language,” says Maestro Maazel, “in which
those of us who are humane and intelligent can speak to each other, in defiance of political and cultural
boundaries.” The concert is the centerpiece of a 48-hour visit to Pyongyang by the Philharmonic.
NORTH KOREA’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE
http://www.korea-dpr.com/
This site is put out by the Democratic People’s North Korea. Listen to an MP3 version of the Korean Friendship
Association’s SONG OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, read a North Korean history of the Korean War, or see photos of
Great Leader Kim Il Sung and Dear Leader Kim Jong Il.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA’S EMBASSY
http://www.koreaembassyusa.org/
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This site leads to an english language site called Dynamic Korea, the official site of the Korean Embassy in the
United States with updated information on politics, culture, IT, the economy, and heritage.
NAUTILUS INSTITUTE FOR SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
http://www.nautilus.org/
Produced by the Nautilus Institute in Berkeley, California, with an office in Seoul and includes press roundup
Monday through Friday. “We hold that it is possible to build peace, create security, and restore sustainability for
all people in our time.”
KERNBEISSER’S FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM
A collection of photographs of life in North and South Korea.
North Korea: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser/collections/72157603652581080/
Pyongyang: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser/collections/72157603652517132/
South Korea: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser/collections/72157600159990835/
Seoul: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser/collections/72157603968415583/
ERIC LAFFORGUE PHOTOGRAPHY
http://www.ericlafforgue.com/dprk.htm
Excellent photographs taken by Eric Lafforgue in the Democratic People’s North Korea.
LESSON PLANS & ACTIVITIES ON KOREA’S SOCIETY & CULTURE
EDUCATION ABOUT ASIA: FAMOUS KOREANS, SIX PORTRAITS
http://www.aasianst.org/EAA/connor.htm
The purpose of the lesson is to provide an opportunity for students to learn about famous Koreans through
readings and/or dramatizations. It is primarily designed to introduce students to famous people who have helped
shape Korean history. In the process of studying the six portraits, students will not only learn about influential
Koreans, but they will also become familiar with some of the distinctive elements of Korean culture. It is hoped
that the lesson will stimulate interest, provoke questions, and encourage further study. In the process of
classroom readings and/or dramatic performances, students will learn about tumultuous events that impacted the
life of Koreans in the twentieth century, and they will become aware of conflicting views north and south of the
38th parallel. Finally, there will be opportunities to draw conclusions about leadership styles. From: Education
about Asia from Volume 6, Number 2, Fall 2001
ROLL OVER, GODZILLA: KOREA RULES (6/29/2005)
http://nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20050629wednesday.html
This lesson plan highlights the development of Korean culture and pop culture that has captivated audiences all
over Asia and the world. The lesson focuses on pop culture phenomenon and how it has helped the Korean
economy.
UNDERCOVER THE SECRET STATE
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=north+korea&rating=3
Students examine the current conditions in North Korea. They view and analyze a CNN documentary, research a
dissident, answer and discuss questions about the documentary on conditions in North Korea, and identify the
technology used by dissidents
NORTH KOREA’S POWER PLAY
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=north+korea&rating=3
Students research a number of websites to see how North Korea's leaders have shaped the country. They
investigate Korea's ancient history and culture.
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KOREA: READING LOST NAMES BY RICHARD KIM
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=north+korea&media=lesson&page=2&rating=3
Students explore the history and culture of Korea. They randomly pick a new name from appropriate male or
female containers. They discuss proper pronunciation and their feelings about having to accept new names.
SOUTH KOREA: ELECTIONS (AND BEYOND)
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=south+korea&media=lesson
Students locate North and South Korea on map of Asia, describe relations between North and South Korea during
the course of their history, analyze common concerns between the two peninsular nations, and evaluate the role
of the United States, Russia, Japan and China in the history of these two nations through a mock summit
SOUTH KOREA: ONLINE GAMING INDUSTRY
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=south+korea&media=lesson
Students locate South Korea on a world map and describe the development of the online gaming industry. They
compare and contrast their development with that of the United States. They make predictions about the future
of online gaming.
ON THE BRINK OF A MOUNTAIN
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=north+korea&media=lesson&page=2&rating=3
Students explore the political, social and economic effects of the division of North and South Korea.
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AROUND THE WORLD
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=north+korea&media=lesson&page=2&rating=3
Students research press freedoms in various countries such as Iran and North Korea. They create a freedom of the
press report card for the countries examined.
ASIA SOCIETY
http://asiasociety.org/
Asia Society is the leading global and pan-Asian organization working to strengthen relationships and promote
understanding among the people, leaders, and institutions of the United States and Asia. We seek to increase
knowledge and enhance dialogue, encourage creative expression, and generate new ideas across the fields of arts
and culture, policy and business, and education.
See http://www.askasia.org/teachers/search.php
Access to 13 Lesson Plans, 19 background essays, 4 maps, and 30 images on the subject of Korea.
ASIA KIDS
http://kids.asiasociety.org/
Stories, games, language lessons and lesson plans just for kids
NUCLEAR MATTERS
ARTICLES & RESOURCES
THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/npp/index.cfm?fa=view&nppID=1000090
The Carnegie Endowment is a source of information relating to national security issues. There are several
featured articles here on the nuclear program, nuclear talks, Congressional Research Service documents, and
many other resources. This website contains declassified information on North Korea and their nuclear weapons
program from FOIA documents.
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NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE – NORTH KOREA
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB87/
This site contains declassified information for North Korea including: “North Korea and the United States:
Declassified Documents from the Bush I and Clinton Administrations.” These documents were made available
through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVE: NORTH KOREA PROFILE
http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/NK/index.html
This extensive site contains information on the weapons of mass destruction programs of North Korea, including
maps, reports, treaties, policy papers, and publications.
CENTER FOR NONPROLIFERATION STUDIES
http://cns.miis.edu/north_korea/index.htm
The Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) strives to combat the spread of weapons of mass destruction by
training the next generation of nonproliferation specialists and disseminating timely information and analysis.
CNS at the Monterey Institute of International Studies is the largest nongovernmental organization in the United
States devoted exclusively to research and training on nonproliferation issues. This site takes you to all CNS
nonproliferation content related to North Korea, including its ongoing nuclear crisis.
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaDprk/
The IAEA is the world’s center of cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up as the world’s "Atoms for Peace"
organization in 1957 within the United Nations family. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple
partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies. News updates and with regard to
current work of the IAEA and North Korea.
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS – NORTH KOREA (12/27/09)
http://www.cfr.org/region/276/north_korea.html
Carolyn Leddy examines the international community's options for disrupting North Korea's illicit activities. She
writes that the recent seizure of 35 tons of North Korean-made weapons by the Thai government is being hailed
as a victory for United Nations sanctions. But the confiscation of this arms cache will be meaningless if the
international community fails to impose consequences on North Korea and other parties involved for violating
U.N. prohibitions. Moreover, the international community must maintain pressure on Pyongyang through
continued sanctions enforcement.
LESSON PLANS & ACTIVITIES
THE CHOICES PROGRAM: A NUCLEAR NORTH KOREA
http://www.choices.edu/resources/twtn_northkorea2009.php
Choices is a program of the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. The Choices Program
was established in 1988 as a national education program that seeks to engage students at the secondary level in
consideration of international issues and contribute to a renewal of civic engagement among young people in the
United States. On May 25, 2009 North Korea conducted an underground test of a nuclear weapon. This was its
second nuclear test in the last three years. Later that same day, the United Nations Security Council unanimously
passed a resolution condemning the test, claiming it was a “clear violation” of an earlier agreement in which North
Korea promised to disable its nuclear facilities. U.S. President Obama has stated that the action is a threat to
international peace. Experts believe that North Korea has not yet developed the capacity to launch a nuclear
weapon via missile, but this test has increased fears that North Korea is closer to becoming a full-fledged nuclear
state. In this free online lesson students view four two-minute-long video from Choice’s Scholars Online video
library and think critically about the issues surrounding North Korea and nuclear weapons.
This site contains Choices Scholars Online videos (and discussion questions):
What problems do we face from nuclear weapons? [Thomas Nichols - 1:57]
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Why would countries like North Korea and Iran want nuclear weapons? [J. Cirincione - 1:56]
What are the issues around North Korea’s nuclear weapons program? [J. Cirincione - 1:29]
What are the consequences in Asia of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program? [JC (2:01]
PBS: NORTH KOREA: NUCLEAR STANDOFF
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/asia/northkorea/index.html
Includes recent news in North Korea and access to reports and lesson plans on North Korea.
FRONTLINE/WORLD – FACE-OFF: U.S. FOREIGN POLICY WITH NORTH KOREA (2003)
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/educators/politics_northkorea.html
Help students examine the results of U.S. foreign policy with North Korea by identifying any actions taken by the
United States against North Korea and both the short-term and long-term results of those actions. Which actions
were the most effective? The least effective? How might North Korea’s geographic position have influenced U.S.
policy? Moving forward, what should the United States do to ease tensions with North Korea? How should North
Korea’s nuclear weapons capabilities influence U.S. foreign policy strategies? As a final step, students could
synthesize the class recommendations in a letter to the president of the United States.
FRONTLINE – KIM’S NUCLEAR GAMBLE (2003)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/kim/
The overall objective of this guide is to have students use negotiating strategies to explore the issues separating
North Korea and the United States. The following activities are designed to give them background and prepare
them to negotiate. In “Kim’s Nuclear Gamble,” FRONTLINE traces the delicate maneuvers and clumsy turns that
have brought the world to the brink of a nuclear showdown in East Asia. Through interviews with key insiders –
including former cabinet secretaries, U.S. ambassadors, diplomats, and negotiators – the one-hour documentary
examines the highly unstable relationship between America and North Korea and the question of what to do
about North Korea’s determination to develop nuclear weapons.
TEACHING WITH DOCUMENTS: THE UNITED STATES ENTERS THE KOREAN CONFLICT
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/korean-conflict/
Examine the U.S. response to the Chinese Revolution and its impact on the Cold War; analyze the causes of the
Korean War and how a divided Korea remained a source of international tension.
PBS: WHY IS NORTH KOREA GOING IT ALONE? BACKGROUND, ACTIVITIES, AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/world/nkorea_10-14.html
Students will study the creation of the divide between North and South Korea, the ideological differences
between them, the tensions that have resulted, and the concerns that the world has over North Korea's
possession of nuclear weapons. Developed for grades 9-12.
PBS: NEW ROLE AS CHIEF DIPLOMAT, SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON TOURS ASIA (2/20/2009)
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/us/jan-june09/clinton_02-20.html
Promising to usher in a new era of American diplomacy, Hillary Clinton is touring Asia on her first trip abroad as
secretary of state, amid growing concerns over North Korea’s nuclear
program and Japan's sinking economy. This feature includes a short lesson on how to use this story in the
classroom.
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INFORMATION SHEET: NORTH KOREA ECONOMIC AND HUMANITARIAN ISSUES
North Korea's economy declined sharply in the 1990s with the end of communism in Eastern Europe, the
disintegration of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of bloc-trading with the countries of the former socialist
bloc. Gross national income per capita is estimated to have fallen by about one-third between 1990 and 2002. The
economy has since stabilized and shown some modest growth in recent years, which may be reflective of
increased inter-Korean economic cooperation. Output and living standards, however, remain far below 1990
levels.
Other centrally-planned economies in similar situations opted for domestic economic reform and liberalization of
trade and investment. North Korea formalized some modest wage and price reforms in 2002, and has increasingly
tolerated markets and a small private sector as the state-run distribution system has deteriorated. The regime,
however, seems determined to maintain control. In October 2005, emboldened by an improved harvest and
increased food donations from South Korea, the North Korean Government banned private grain sales and
announced a return to centralized food rationing. Reports indicate this effort to reassert state control and to
control inflation has been largely ineffective. Another factor contributing to the economy's poor performance is
the disproportionately large share of GDP (thought to be about one-fourth) that North Korea devotes to its
military.
North Korean industry is operating at only a small fraction of capacity due to lack of fuel, spare parts, and other
inputs. Agriculture is now 23% of GDP, even though agricultural output has not recovered to early 1990 levels. The
infrastructure is generally poor and outdated, and the energy sector has collapsed. About 80% of North Korea's
terrain consists of moderately high mountain ranges and partially forested mountains and hills separated by deep,
narrow valleys and small, cultivated plains. The most rugged areas are the north and east coasts. Good harbors
are found on the eastern coast. Pyongyang, the capital, near the country's west coast, is located on the Taedong
River.
North Korea experienced a severe famine following record floods in the summer of 1995 and continues to suffer
from chronic food shortages and malnutrition. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) provided
substantial emergency food assistance beginning in 1995 (2 million tons of which came from the United States),
but the North Korean Government suspended the WFP emergency program at the end of 2005 and permitted
only a greatly reduced WFP program through a protracted relief and recovery operation. While China and the
R.O.K. had provided most of the D.P.R.K.'s food aid in the past, the D.P.R.K. has refused to accept food aid from
the R.O.K. since Lee Myung-bak's inauguration.
The United States resumed the provision of food assistance to the D.P.R.K. in June 2008 after establishing a
strong framework to ensure that the food will reach those most in need. The United States was prepared to
provide up to 400,000 tons of food through WFP and 100,000 tons through U.S. non-governmental organizations
(NGOs). In March 2009, the D.P.R.K. stated that it no longer wished to receive U.S. food assistance and requested
that personnel monitoring U.S. food distributions depart the D.P.R.K. From May 2008 to March 2009, the United
States provided approximately 170,000 metric tons of U.S. food to the D.P.R.K.
The United States also assisted U.S. NGOs in providing aid to fight the outbreak of infectious diseases following
August 2007 floods, and is working with U.S. NGOs to improve the supply of
electricity at provincial hospitals in North Korea.
Development Policy
In 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and termination of subsidized trade arrangements with Russia,
other former Communist states, and China, North Korea announced the creation of a Special Economic Zone
(SEZ) in the northeast regions of Najin (sometime rendered "Rajin"), Chongjin, and Sonbong. Problems with
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infrastructure, bureaucracy, and uncertainties about investment security and viability have hindered growth and
development of this SEZ. The government announced in 2002 plans to establish a Special Administrative Region
(SAR) in Sinuiju, at the western end of the North Korea-China border. However, the government has taken few
concrete steps to establish the Sinuiju SAR, and its future is uncertain. In addition, North Korea and South Korea
have established a special economic zone near the city of Kaesong, where about 93 South Korean small and
medium sized companies operate manufacturing facilities employing North Korean workers (see further
information under North-South Economic Ties).
North Korea implemented limited micro- and macroeconomic reforms in 2002, including increases in prices and
wages, changes in foreign investment laws, steep currency devaluation, and reforms in industry and
management. Though the changes have failed to stimulate recovery of the industrial sector, there are reports of
changed economic behavior at the enterprise and individual level. One unintended consequence of the 2002
changes has been severe inflation. An increasing number of North Koreans now try to work in the informal sector
to cope with growing hardship and reduced government support.
From U.S. State Dept Background Notes: North Korea http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm
INFORMATION SHEET: SOUTH KOREA ECONOMIC AND HUMANITARIAN ISSUES
Economy
Over the past several decades, the Republic of Korea has achieved a remarkably high level of economic growth,
which has allowed the country to rise from the rubble of the Korean War into the ranks of the Organization for
Cooperation and Development (OECD). Today, South Korea is the United States' seventh-largest trading partner
and is the 15th-largest economy in the world.
In the early 1960s, the government of Park Chung Hee instituted sweeping economic policy changes emphasizing
exports and labor-intensive light industries, leading to rapid debt-financed industrial expansion. The government
carried out a currency reform, strengthened financial institutions, and introduced flexible economic planning. In
the 1970s Korea began directing fiscal and financial policies toward promoting heavy and chemical industries,
consumer electronics, and automobiles. Manufacturing continued to grow rapidly in the 1980s and early 1990s.
In recent years, Korea's economy moved away from the centrally planned, government-directed investment
model toward a more market-oriented one. South Korea bounced back from the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis
with assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but its recovery was based largely on extensive
financial reforms that restored stability to markets. These economic reforms, pushed by President Kim Dae-jung,
helped Korea return to growth, with growth rates of 10% in 1999 and 9% in 2000. The slowing global economy
and falling exports slowed growth to 3.3% in 2001, prompting consumer stimulus measures that led to 7.0%
growth in 2002. Consumer over-shopping and rising household debt, along with external factors, slowed growth
to near 3% again in 2003. Economic performance in 2004 improved to 4.6% due to an increase in exports, and
remained at or above 4% in 2005, 2006, and 2007. With the onset of the global financial and economic crisis in the
third quarter of 2008, annual GDP growth slowed to 2.3% in 2008 and just 0.2% in 2009.
Economists are concerned that South Korea's economic growth potential has fallen because of a rapidly aging
population and structural problems that are becoming increasingly apparent. Foremost among these structural
concerns are the rigidity of South Korea's labor regulations, the need for more constructive relations between
management and workers, the country's underdeveloped financial markets, and a general lack of regulatory
transparency. Korean policy makers are increasingly worried about diversion of corporate investment to China
and other lower wage countries, and by Korea's falling foreign direct investment (FDI). President Lee Myung-bak
was elected in December 2007 on a platform that promised to boost Korea's economic growth rate through
deregulation, tax reform, increased FDI, labor reform, and free trade agreements (FTAs) with major markets.
President Lee’s economic agenda necessarily shifted in the final months of 2008 to dealing with the global
economic crisis. In 2009, the economy responded well to a robust fiscal stimulus package and low interest rates.
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North-South Economic Ties
Two-way trade between North and South Korea, which was first legalized in 1988, rose to almost $1.82 billion in
2008 before declining sharply thereafter. Until recently, South Korea was North Korea's second-largest trading
partner after China. Much of this trade was related to out-processing or assembly work undertaken by South
Korean firms in the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC). Much of the work done in North Korea has been funded by
South Korea, but this assistance was halted in 2008 except for energy aid (heavy fuel oil) authorized under the SixParty Talks. Many of these economic ties have become important symbols of hope for the eventual reunification
of the peninsula. For example, after the June 2000 North-South summit, the two Koreas have reconnected their
east and west coast railroads and roads where they cross the DMZ and have improved these transportation
routes. South Korean tour groups have used the east coast road to travel from South Korea to Mt. Geumgang in
North Korea since 2003, although the R.O.K. suspended tours to Mt. Geumgang in July 2008 following the
shooting death of a South Korean tourist by a D.P.R.K. soldier. Unfortunately, these North-South economic ties
were seriously damaged by escalating tensions following North Korea’s torpedoing of the South Korean warship
Cheonan in March 2010. In September 2010, South Korea suspended all inter-Korean trade with the exception of
the Kaesong Industrial Complex. As of mid-November 2010, economic ties had not seen signs of revival.
Foreign Relations
South Korea joined the United Nations in August 1991 along with North Korea and is active in most UN
specialized agencies and many international forums. The Republic of Korea has also hosted major international
events such as the 1988 Summer Olympics, the 2002 World Cup Soccer Tournament (co-hosted with Japan), and
the 2002 Second Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies. In 2010, South Korea hosted the
R.O.K.-Japan-China Trilateral Summit as well as the G-20 Seoul Summit.
Economic considerations have a high priority in Korean foreign policy. The R.O.K. seeks to build on its economic
accomplishments to increase its regional and global role. It is a founding member of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum and chaired the organization in 2005.
The Republic of Korea maintains diplomatic relations with more than 170 countries and a broad network of
trading relationships. The United States and Korea are allied by the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty. Korea and Japan
coordinate closely on numerous issues. This includes consultations with the United States on North Korea policy.
Korean Peninsula: Reunification Efforts
For almost 20 years after the 1950-53 Korean War, relations between North and South Korea were minimal and
very strained. Official contact did not occur until 1971, beginning with Red Cross contacts and family reunification
projects. In the early 1990s, relations between the two countries improved with the 1991 “Agreement on
Reconciliation, Nonaggression and Exchanges and Cooperation between the South and the North,” since known
as the “Basic Agreement,” which acknowledged that reunification was the goal of both governments, and the
1992 “Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” However, divergent positions on the
process of reunification and North Korean weapons programs, compounded by South Korea's tumultuous
domestic politics and the 1994 death of North Korean leader Kim Il-sung, contributed to a cycle of warming and
cooling of relations.
Relations improved again following the 1997 election of Kim Dae-jung. His "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with
the D.P.R.K. set the stage for the historic June 2000 inter-Korean summit between President Kim and North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il. President Kim was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for the policy, but the prize
was somewhat tarnished by revelations of a $500 million dollar "payoff" to North Korea that immediately
preceded the summit. Engagement continued during Roh Moo-hyun’s presidency, but declined following the
inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak in February 2008.
From U.S. State Dept Background Notes: South Korea http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800.htm
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ARTICLES & RESOURCES: ECONOMIC & HUMANITARIAN ISSUES
NORTH KOREA’S CURRENCY DENOMINATION: A TIPPING POINT? (12/3/2009) http://www.usip.org/resources/northkorea-s-currency-revaluation-tipping-point#revaluation
In November 2009, the North Korean government redenominated the country's currency, the won, and imposed
restrictions on the quantity of old bills that people could convert for the new ones. Pyongyang's redenomination
means that 100 won is now worth 1 won. This sudden government action raises many questions about the impact
of the redenomination on the North Korean people and the regime. What are the main explanations among North
Korea watchers regarding the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) government's rationale for
implementing this redenomination? How will this redenomination impact the DPRK people? How will this
redenomination impact the DPRK regime? What is your net assessment of this move?
NORTH KOREA, INC.: GAINING INSIGHTS INTO NORTH KOREAN REGIME STABILITY FROM RECENT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
(5/2009)
http://www.usip.org/resources/north-korea-inc-gaining-insights-north-korean-regime-stability-recentcommercial-activitie
Assessing regime stability in North Korea continues to be a major challenge for analysts. By examining how North
Korea, Inc. — the web of state trading companies affiliated to the Korean Workers’ Party, the Korean People’s
Army, and the Cabinet — operates, we can develop a new framework for gauging regime stability. As interviews
with defectors who previously worked in these state trading companies indicate, the regime is able to derive
funds from North Korea, Inc. to maintain the loyalty of the North Korean elites and to provide a mechanism
through which different branches of the North Korean state can generate funds for operating budgets. During
periods when North Korea's international isolation deepens as a result of its brinkmanship activities, North Korea,
Inc. constitutes an effective coping mechanism for the Kim Jong Il regime. (41-page Working Paper by John S.
Park, USIP)
NORTH KOREA INSIDE OUT: THE CASE FOR ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT (10/22/2009)
http://www.asiasociety.org/policy-politics/international-relations/us-asia/north-korea-inside-out
This 28-page report written by an Asia Society/U.C.-Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation Task Force
focuses on economic engagement with North Korea as a peaceful means of inducing change in the DPRK. As the
likelihood of some form of US-DPRK talks increases, this report proposes a fundamental rethinking of
Washington’s approach toward the DPRK. Economic engagement, properly integrated into a system of sanctions,
can transform North Korea into a country that can better provide for its people’s welfare and engage with other
countries in a non-hostile manner. As the report shows, North Korea’s history of experiments with reform is
limited, and domestic resistance to transition is formidable. But recent trends and tentative past efforts suggest
some impulse toward reform and opening from within. North Korea should be actively engaged from the inside to
encourage change in its domestic and foreign policy.
FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW: PYONGYANG FREELY PLIES THE SEAS (11/6/2009)
http://www.feer.com/essays/2009/november51/pyongyang-freely-plies-the-seas
In the wake of North Korea's October 2006 nuclear test, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution
1718, which bans Pyongyang from exporting any nuclear, chemical and biological material, ballistic missiles and
any other components of weapons of mass destruction. WMD-related sanctions were tightened under Resolution
1874 passed in June 2009 following North Korea's second nuclear test in May. Before sanctions were introduced,
United States defense sources estimated that 40% of North Korea's foreign-exchange earnings came from
weapons sales, of which missile exports were a major part.
CRS REPORT FOR CONGRESS: U.S. AID TO NORTH KOREA
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS21834.pdf
This is a helpful report identifying the problems and history of U.S. aid to North Korea.
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CRS REPORT FOR CONGRESS: THE PROPOSED U.S.-SOUTH KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (KORUS FTA): PROVISIONS
AND IMPLICATIONS
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34330.pdf
Various studies conclude that the agreement would increase bilateral trade and investment flows. The final text of
the proposed KORUS FTA covers a wide range of trade and investment issues and, therefore, could have
substantial economic implications for both the United States and South Korea. The agreement will not enter into
force unless Congress approves implementation legislation.
RELIEF WEB ON THE COMPLEX EMERGENCY IN THE DPRK
http://reliefweb.int/taxonomy/term/74
This is the section of the official UN Emergency site devoted to the DPRK (North Korea). It is probably the best
single source of information about the food and medical situation in North Korea. It includes documents
published by the World Food Programme, Unicef, other UN agencies, private voluntary organizations, some
government press releases, and a few articles from wire services and newspapers.
WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME – NORTH KOREA
http://www.wfp.org/countries/korea-democratic-peoples-republic-dprk
The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. In
emergencies, they get food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural
disasters. After the cause of an emergency has passed, the food is used to help communities rebuild their
shattered lives. WFP is part of the United Nations system.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL – NORTH KOREA
http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/north-korea
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human
rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we
work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. This site includes up-to-date
information regarding human rights in Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
DEMYSTIFYING OUR WORK IN NORTH KOREA (10/20/2010)
http://www.mercycorps.org/countries/northkorea
Years of flooding, drought, extensive deforestation and fuel shortages have led to the collapse of North Korea's
agricultural system and several consecutive years of disastrous food shortages. Severe malnutrition and diseases
threaten families. Since 1996, Mercy Corps has worked with vulnerable families and communities to ensure health
and nutritional needs are met, and working to find long-term solutions. This site includes articles on North Korea.
FEEDING MINDS. FIGHTING HUNGER
http://www.feedingminds.org/fmfh/home/en/
An international classroom for exploring the problems of hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity. Feeding
Minds Fighting Hunger is designed to help equip and encourage teachers, students and young people all over the
world to actively participate in creating a world free from hunger.
FREE RICE (WFP)
http://www.freerice.com
This WFP program game, where by answering trivia questions on art, geography, math, science, English, and
other languages online, kids can actually become part of the solution and provide rice to needy families. This site
offers statistics Information on the activities of the WFP in North Korea.
U.S COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN NORTH KOREA
http://www.hrnk.org/
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This site is dedicated to human rights in North Korea.
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41646.htm
This is the state department report on human rights in North Korea.
NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACT OF 2004
http://www.northkoreanrefugees.com/hr4011.pdf
This is a copy of the U.S. congressional bill H.R. 4011, the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004. This
legislation has received a lot of press and attention as a sign of the policy position of the U.S.
FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/issue.php?issue_id=34
The following is a list of congressional actions related to North Korea.
BOOKS/ FILMS/ NEWS AND LOCAL RESOURCES
NEWS SOURCES: NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA FROM OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
CHOSUN ILBO
http://www.english.chosun.com
The Chosun Ilbo is a popular newspaper in South Korea. This site is in English and contains South Korean news
from sports, politics, society, and North Korea.
KOREA TIMES
http://times.hankooki.com/
This is another popular Korean newspaper site where one can see the type of news and current situation in South
Korea.
KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY
http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm
Site in Japan that carries news dispatches from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of the DPRK (North
Korea), a useful source for official North Korean information. Also carries The People’s Korea, a semi-monthly
“Tokyo-based unofficial mouthpiece of the DPRK Government.”
JOONGANG DAILY
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/
South Korean English-language newspaper.
KOREA HERALD
http://www.koreaherald.com/
South Korean English-language newspaper.
(NORTH) KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY
http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm
ASIA TIMES ONLINE
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea.html
Asia Times Online is an Internet-only publication that reports and examines geopolitical, political, economic, and
business issues from an Asian perspective.
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KOREA WINDOW
http://www.kocis.go.kr/en/web/kocis_activity/kocis_activity_view.asp?page=1&nm=&view_idx=48
Provides articles about Korean culture, economics, and politics as well as directory access to resources on
arts/culture, business/economy, cities/provinces, computer/internet, education, government, news/media,
science/technology, society/life, sports/recreation and travel. A section entitled, “Learn about Korea,” has
information on language and culture, geography and people, history, national symbols, and links to publications
available from the Korean government. Includes links to different government sites and Korean newspapers.
AL JAZEERA’S ASIA-PACIFIC HOMEPAGE
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/
Recent articles about North Korea provide links to other Al Jazeera resources on the topic, including additional
articles, a timeline, and videos.
BOOKS
Book description and information found at www.amazon.com unless otherwise indicated.
Note: some of these books are available for loan at the East Asia Resource Center.
KOREA: DIVISION, REUNIFICATION, AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY- MARTIN HART-LANDSBERG
http://www.monthlyreview.org/books/excerpts/korea2.php
Excerpt Chapter 8: The Challenge and Promise of Reunification
The division of Korea, one of the defining features of both the North and South Korean
experience, has kept millions of Koreans separated from family members and provided
justification for denying millions more their democratic rights. The tensions associated
with this division still have the potential to trigger a new and more devastating Korean
war. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a majority of Koreans strongly support
reunification. What perhaps is surprising is the fact that the governments of North and
South Korea, although creations of division, proclaim reunification as their goal. Even the
U.S. government, whose policies caused and have prolonged division, advertises its
support for Korean reunification.
KOREA ENDGAME – SELIG HARRISON (2002)
http://www.amazon.com/Korean-Endgame-Reunification-DisengagementFoundation/dp/0691116261/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1306259267&sr=1-2
Selig Harrison is one of the leading experts on North Korea. He has traveled many times to the country and has
visited their leaders. He supports engagement with North Korea and provides an alternate perspective to the
situation. This book also contains possible reunification scenarios.
NORTH KOREA THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – KONGDAN OH (2002)
http://www.amazon.com/North-Korea-through-LookingGlass/dp/0815764359/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306259381&sr=1-2
These two authors provide an academic look into North Korea’s ideology, society, culture, and politics. This book
is recommended for those who are interested in a thorough overview of North Korea from their juche ideology to
its economy and people.
KIM II-SONG’S NORTH KOREA – HELEN-LOUISE HUNTER (1999)
http://www.amazon.com/Il-songs-North-Korea-Helen-LouiseHunter/dp/0275962962/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261435675&sr=8-1
Hunter provides a glimpse inside North Korean society, detailing the everyday life of people living in the most
isolated, secretive society of the 20th century. In this declassified CIA study, she describes the world's most
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extreme cult society under the charismatic totalitarian leader, Kim Il-song, who ruled his people for 45 years-longer than any other leader of the 20th century.
THE CLEANEST RACE: HOW KOREANS SEE THEMSELVES AND WHY IT MATTERS - B.R. MYERS, MELVILLE HOUSE (2010)
http://www.amazon.com/Cleanest-Race-Koreans-Themselves-Matters/dp/1933633913
Brian Myers takes a fresh approach. He largely ignores what the regime tells the outside world about itself, but
concentrates instead on what North Koreans themselves are supposed to believe, paying special attention to the
North Korean narratives and mass culture, including movies and television shows.
NORTH OF THE DMZ: ESSAYS ON DAILY LIFE IN NORTH KOREA - LANKOV, ANDREI (2007)
http://www.amazon.com/North-Dmz-Essays-DailyKorea/dp/0786428392/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1306880496&sr=1-1
Opening chapters introduce the political system and the extent to which it permeates citizens' daily lives, from
the personal status badges they wear to the nationalized distribution of the food they eat. Chapters discussing the
schools, the economic system, and family life dispel the myth of the workers' paradise that North Korea attempts
to perpetuate.
THIS IS MY PARADISE: MY NORTH KOREAN CHILDHOOD - KANG, HYOK (2007)
http://www.amazon.com/This-Paradise-North-KoreanChildhood/dp/0349118655/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1306259688&sr=1-1
Hyok kang's story of a childhood spent in North Korea during the repressive regime of Kim Jong Il provides a rare
window into the "most closed state in the world." Thirteen when he and his parents escaped to China in 1998,
Hyok paints a mind-boggling picture of long school days followed by hours of farm work, routine executions
viewed by hundreds, and the "nocturnal disappearances" of friends and neighbors--the "unfaithful" who were sent
away to penal colonies.
THE HIDDEN PEOPLE OF NORTH KOREA: EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE HERMIT KINGDOM -RALPH HASSIG (2009)
http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-People-North-KoreaEveryday/dp/0742567184/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1306259769&sr=1-1
This unique book provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of life in North Korea today. Drawing on
decades of insider knowledge and experience, noted experts Ralph Hassig and Kongdan Oh explore a world few
outsiders can imagine.
THE LIVING REED - PEARL S. BUCK (1963)
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Reed-Pearl-SBuck/dp/1559210222/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306259843&sr=1-1
This historical novel by Pearl S Buck covers life in Korea from the latter part of the nineteenth century to the end
of the World War II. It follows the lives of a prominent family through four generations.
LOST NAME: SCENES FROM A KOREAN BOYHOOD -RICHARD E. KIM (1998)
http://www.aasianst.org/EAA/lostname.htm
Lost Names is a useful, rare, and wonderful book for several reasons. The book’s title reflects the Japanese Pacific
War policy of forcing Koreans to replace their own names with Japanese ones. Lost Names is the story, as
recounted by a young boy, of one Korean family’s experience during the war years. Although Lost Names is
technically a novel, according to author Richard Kim, "all the characters and events described in the book are real,
but everything else is fiction."
MY FREEDOM TRIP - FRANCES PARK AND GINGER PARK, BOYDS MILLS PRESS (1998)
http://www.amazon.com/My-Freedom-Trip-Frances-Park/dp/1563974681
As the Korean War approached, Soo's father escaped from the north into South Korea. He sent a guide for Soo,
along with a promise that one would follow for her mother. Preparing to depart, the girl's mother held her close
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and cried, "Be brave, Soo." These words carried the child through the difficult journey and near capture by a North
Korean soldier until she was reunited with her father. The war began and Soo never saw her mother again. The
story is lyrically told in the first person, with graceful similes that flow naturally from one page to the next.
A SINGLE SHARD - LINDA SUE PARK (2001)
http://eduscapes.com/newbery/02a.htm
Set in 12th century Korea, this is the story of Tree-ear who lives under a bridge with his disabled older friend
Crane-man. Tree-ear becomes fascinated with the potter's craft and longs to create celadon ceramics. However
pottery is a trade passed on from father to son and Tree-ear is an orphan. He works long and hard hoping to
become an apprentice. Newbery Medal 2002
WHEN MY NAME WAS KEOKO - LINDA SUE PARK (2002)
http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-when.html
The voices of ten year old Sun-hee and her older brother Tae-yul tell the story of their Korean family during the
Japanese occupation of the 1940s. As they struggle to maintain their identity and dignity, they are forced to give
up many of their customs. They cannot even use their Korean names. Difficult conditions become even harder as
the impact of World War II forces each of them to make tough decisions. See this Oregon State Library site for
discussion questions.
STILL LIFE WITH RICE - HELIE LEE (1997)
http://www.amazon.com/Still-Life-Rice-Helie-Lee/dp/0684827115
Lee traveled from California to Korea to recapture the life of her grandmother. Hongyong Baek (b. 1912) grew up
in northern Korea, the daughter of wealthy parents, and at 22 entered into an arranged marriage and began a life
of servitude to her husband. Drawing on interviews with her grandmother and writing in her voice, Lee
dramatically describes the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea, which forced Baek, her husband (with
whom she ultimately fell in love) and their children to flee to China in 1939, where they supported themselves by
selling opium.
IN THE ABSENCE OF THE SUN: A KOREAN AMERICAN WOMAN'S PROMISE TO REUNITE THREE LOST GENERATIONS OF HER
FAMILY - HELIE LEE (2002)
http://www.amazon.com/Absence-Sun-American-PromiseGenerations/dp/1400081386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1306260394&sr=1-1
A sequel to Still Life With Rice, this book documents the authors efforts to reunite her family. After Helie Lee’s
grandmother becomes ill, she becomes determined to reunite her with her elder son, who was lost decades
before in the family’s escape from North Korea. There is also tension because the author realizes that her first
book, Still Life With Rice, might have angered the North Korean government and put her uncle in danger. The
book can be paired with the video The Crossing (ABC, 1998) which tells of a South Korean family’s daring rescue of
lost relatives in North Korea.
FAMINE IN NORTH KOREA: MARKETS, AID, AND REFORM - STEPHAN HAGGARD AND MARCUS NOLAND (2007)
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/features/readinglists/what-to-read-on-north-korean-politics
Hundreds of thousands of people -- perhaps as many as a million -- perished from famine in the DPRK in the
1990s. The North Korean famine is a singular catastrophe; no other literate and urbanized society in history has
ever suffered famine during peacetime. This rigorous study by Stephan Haggard and Marcus Noland provides an
unflinching analytical autopsy of the tragedy.
NOTHING TO ENVY: ORDINARY LIVES IN NORTH - BARBARA DEMICK (2009)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122282495
The book chronicles the accounts of North Koreans who defected to the South and told their stories to Demick, a
Los Angeles Times reporter. They describe a country that was relatively developed until the 1980s, but then
plunged into desperation when famine struck in the 1990s after the death of President Kim Il Sung. That
desperation forced people to eat weeds, grass, bark, frogs and peoples’ pets.
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INSIDE NORTH KOREA – MARK EDWARD HARRIS (2007)
http://www.amazon.com/Inside-North-Korea-EdwardHarris/dp/B0030ILWOW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306260472&sr=1-1
All but closed to outside visitors and influence, its public posture guarded and combative, we see almost nothing
from inside North Korea. Award-winning photographer Mark Edward Harris has had rare access to this reclusive
country, traveling within its borders as well as documenting life along its northern border with China and the
highly militarized DMZ dividing North and South Korea. His images are amazing.
WITNESS TO TRANSFORMATION: REFUGEE INSIGHTS INTO NORTH KOREA –MARCUS NOLAND & STEPHAN HAGGARD (2011)
http://www.amazon.com/Witness-Transformation-Refugee-InsightsNorth/dp/0881324388/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306261759&sr=1-1
Despite its nuclear capability, in certain respects North Korea resembles a failed state sitting uneasily atop a
shifting internal foundation. This instability is due in part to the devastating famine of the 1990s, and the state's
inability to fulfill the economic obligations that it had assumed--which forced institutions, enterprises, and
households to cope with the ensuing challenges of maintaining stability with limited cooperation between the
Korean government and the international community.
CRISIS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA – CHRISTOPHER BLUTH (2011)
http://www.amazon.com/Crisis-Korean-Peninsula-ChristophBluth/dp/1574888870/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306262876&sr=1-2
For many in the West, North Korea is a secretive, reclusive, and enigmatic country, a rogue state that threatens
the world with its nuclear program and ballistic missiles. Confronted with its numerous provocations involving
nuclear tests and missile launches, however, the international community still has not formulated a coherent
response.
TOWARDS KOREAN RECONCILIATION: SOCIO-CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND COOPERATION – GABRIEL JONSSON (2006)
http://www.amazon.com/Towards-Korean-Reconciliation-Socio-culturalCooperation/dp/0754648648/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306262876&sr=1-10
Despite historic summits and spectacular acts of reconciliation between the rival neighbors, promises of improved
cross-border relations between North and South Korea have been slow to materialize. In this insightful book,
Gabriel Jonsson examines the impact that increased levels of diplomatic contact has had on inter-Korean
relations, what concrete results have been achieved and how such contact has contributed to closer relations and
offer the prospect of reconciliation.
KOREA IN THE CROSS CURRENTS: A CENTURY OF STRUGGLE AND THE CRISIS OF REUNIFICATION -ROBERT J. MYERS (2001)
http://www.amazon.com/Korea-Cross-Currents-StruggleReunification/dp/0312238150/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306262876&sr=1-12
The Korean peninsula underwent a continuous number of earth-shaking events in the 20th century. North and
South Korea are situated among China, Japan, and Russia; they are also profoundly influenced by the United
States because of the circumstances of the Korean War (1950-1953). Issues of war and peace, left over from the
Korean war, remain unresolved; two separate states are the residue of the Cold War.
NORTH KOREA: ANOTHER COUNTRY – BRUCE CUMINGS (2004)
http://www.amazon.com/North-Korea-Another-BruceCumings/dp/156584940X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308865350&sr=8-1
Few books of political commentary are as insightful, outspoken, and even personable as this one. The author feels
no obligation to keep his opinions private. "I have no sympathy for the North, which is the author of most of its
own troubles," he writes at one point, although he does allude to the "significant responsibility that all Americans
share for the garrison state that emerged on the ashes of our truly terrible destruction of the North half a century
ago." He also asserts, flatly contradicting the prevailing wisdom, that the Korean War, whose armistice was signed
50 years ago, is still the defining event of modern-day North Korea. The book is full of assertions that will
challenge readers to reconsider several of their conceptions of contemporary history.
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BOOKS ABOUT KOREA FOR YOUNGER READERS
K IS FOR KOREA - HYECHONG CHEUNG (2008)
http://www.amazon.com/Korea-World-Alphabets-HyechongCheung/dp/1847801331/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304446852&sr=1-1
This attractive book presents several aspects of Korea: its culture, traditional practices, national treasures,
wildlife, food, and dress. Nicely designed pages showcase the excellent color photos. The book’s alphabetical
arrangement does not lend itself to the logical organization of information. However, each of the book’s vivid
photos offers a glimpse of Korea, and an accompanying paragraph of text clearly explains what is shown in the
picture.
THIS ITEM: BEE-BIM BOP! - LINDA SUE PARK (2008)
http://www.amazon.com/Bee-Bim-Bop-Linda-Sue-Park/dp/0547076711/ref=pd_cp_b_1
A little girl is thrilled about what's for dinner--the Korean dish Bee-bim Bop--and she excitedly helps her mother
select groceries and prepare the meal before Papa, the baby, and Grandmother gather for a short prayer and,
finally, dinner. Park's brief, bouncy, rhyming text, with the refrain, "Hungry hungry hungry / for some BEE-BIM
BOP!" perfectly echoes the frenzied speed of shopping and cooking, as well as the gleeful anticipation of a
favorite meal, which most kids will recognize.
KOREAN CHILDREN'S FAVORITE STORIES - KIM SO-UN (2004)
http://www.amazon.com/Korean-Childrens-Favorite-Stories-Kim/dp/0804835918/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b
This collection of 13 Korean folktales was originally published in 1955 as The Story Bag. Kyoung-Sim's new
watercolor illustrations, filled with animals, demons, and resourceful folk, make this edition much more attractive,
and the short, straightforward retellings are well suited for independent reading as well as for reading aloud.
LAND OF MORNING CALM: KOREAN CULTURE THEN AND NOW - JOHN STICKLER (2003)
http://www.amazon.com/Land-Morning-Calm-KoreanCulture/dp/1885008228/ref=pd_sim_b_4
Traditional and modern culture is explored in this attractively illustrated picture book for older readers. Beginning
with a brief introduction to the history and politics of the country, Stickler then devotes one or two pages to
various traditions and beliefs.
SOUTH KOREA (NEW TRUE BOOKS: GEOGRAPHY) -TARA WALTERS (2008)
http://www.amazon.com/South-Korea-New-True-Books/dp/0531207293/ref=pd_sim_b_6
NORTH KOREA (NEW TRUE BOOKS: GEOGRAPHY) TARA WALTERS (2008)
http://www.amazon.com/North-Korea-New-TrueBooks/dp/0531207285/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304448793&sr=1-1
Which is the only country to have competed in every World Cup tournament? Where would you go to check out
the Mongolian Cow Yogurt Super Girl Contest? Put the countries of the world at readers' fingertips with these
books for young globe-trotters.
TALES OF A KOREAN GRANDMOTHER: 32 TRADITIONAL TALES FROM KOREA - FRANCES CARPENTER (1989)
http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Korean-Grandmother-TraditionalBooks/dp/0804810435/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304449113&sr=1-5
In her best-selling book for young readers, Frances Carpenter collects thirty-two classic stories from the land of
Korea: the woodcutter and the old men of the mountain; the puppy who saved his village from a tiger; the singing
girl who danced the Japanese General into the deep river; why the dog and cat are not friends; and even a more
familiar tale of the clever rabbit who outsmarted the tortoise.
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SOUTH KOREA (COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD) - LUCILE DAVIS (1999)
http://www.amazon.com/South-Korea-Countries-WorldLucile/dp/0736883843/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304449113&sr=1-7
No camera or fanny pack needed for this trip! We're traveling to faraway lands with the turn of a page! Children
will discover similarities and differences of each country's culture, landscape, geography, economics, and more!
SORI'S HARVEST MOON DAY : A STORY OF KOREA - UK-BAE LEE (1999)
http://www.amazon.com/Soris-Harvest-Moon-DayStory/dp/156899687X/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304449113&sr=1-8
Charming story book gives a real feeling for the holiday when city dwellers return to their native villages and
celebrate family relationships as well as give thanks for the harvest. The authentically-dressed doll would be a
treasured start (or addition) to an international doll collection. Together, they are lovely way for children to
appreciate other cultures.
THE TRIP BACK HOME - JANET S. WONG (2000)
http://www.amazon.com/Trip-Back-Home-JanetWong/dp/0152007849/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304449113&sr=1-9
Recalling her childhood trip to rural Korea with her mother to visit her grandparents and aunt, Wong measures her
words to reflect the simple pleasures of the reunion. The pages reveal the farmers' way of life.
THE RABBIT'S TAIL: A STORY FROM KOREA - SUZANNE CROWDER HAN (1999)
http://www.amazon.com/Rabbits-Tail-StoryKorea/dp/0805045805/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304449113&sr=1-10
Inside a house on the edge of a village, a mother playfully tries to quiet her crying baby with a threat: "the tiger
will get you." Meanwhile, a hungry tiger lurks outside. When the child finally stops crying with the offer of a dried
persimmon, the tiger, who can only hear the exchange, assumes she has called on a creature scarier than he is.
LET'S VISIT KOREA - HEUNG-GI HAN (2006)
http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Visit-Korea-Heung-Gi-Han/dp/1565910109/ref=pd_sim_b_3
Let's Visit Korea is a brilliantly illustrated book designed to introduce children to Korea and her people and
customs. As Nick and Mona tour the country with their parents, they visit some of Korea's most picturesque spots
and monuments of her ancient civilizations. Through their travels they learn much about Korean history, culture
and everyday life.
DOCUMENTARY FILMS
CROSSING HEAVENS BORDER
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/crossing-heavens-border/introduction/4990/
In the past decade, up to 100,000 defectors have crossed the waters of the Tumen and Yalu Rivers into Northeast
China to escape from North Korea, the world’s last closed Communist State. In Crossing Heaven’s Border, Wide
Angle tells the moving and dramatic stories of a few of them.
NORTH KOREA: DESPERATE AND DANGEROUS
http://www.thinktanktv.com/media/index.php (search for “North Korea”)
Few nations are as mysterious, isolated, and defiant as North Korea. Confronted in October 2002 with hard
evidence of a secret nuclear weapons program, the North Korean government readily confessed. Within weeks it
was threatening nuclear war. Meanwhile the North’s economy is in collapse and people are starving. Can this
dangerous regime be stopped?
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NEWSMAKER: ALBRIGHT
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/july-dec00/albright_10-30.html
This interview was conducted after Madeline Albright returned from North Korea as the first U.S official to visit
the Communist nation.
INTERVIEW WITH BILL ANDERSON: VERSIONS OF THE TRUTH
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/northkorea/interview.html
Ben Anderson’s behind-the-lines investigation of North Korea for the BBC and Frontline/World.
CHILDREN OF THE SECRET STATE (2003)
http://www.aems.uiuc.edu/searchresults_detail.html?biblioId=6368
Through interviews with street children, refugees, and former prisoners, this program explores the plight of youth
in the last remaining Stalinist dictatorship and perhaps the most secretive state on the planet. From Pyongyang,
to the China/North Korea border, to South Korea, to the infamous prison camps, the cameras expose the truth
behind the wall of secrecy that hides a record of 3 million reported starvation deaths in the last decade and
hundreds of thousands of children with nowhere to call home. Some content may be objectionable.
RETURN TO THE BORDER
http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500255831
Chinese filmmaker Zhao Liang grew up in Dandong, near the border with North Korea, when the socialist
countries were allies. However, as China started trading with capitalist South Korea in the 1990s, North Korea
branded China as an enemy
INSIDE NORTH KOREA (2007)
http://www.aems.uiuc.edu/searchresults_detail.html?biblioId=7515
Grade: 6-13, 60 minutes, DVD
Few western journalists have been allowed to see what Lisa Ling reports from North Korea in this fascinating
National Geographic special. Posing as an undercover medical coordinator, Ling moves inside the closed world of
Dictator Kim Jong-Il's pariah nation under heavy guard. Startling footage reveals the government's total
domination of its people, hindering the humanitarian efforts made by the outside world.
INSIDE THE HERMIT KINGDOM: NORTH KOREA (2004)
http://www.aems.uiuc.edu/searchresults_detail.html?biblioId=6555
Grade: High School, 52 minutes, DVD
This film, made by I Sun-Dyung, the daughter of Korean immigrants, was an attempt to understand the country
that has been demonized by the West, particularly the US. She was the first western journalist allowed entry. Her
film traces the history of Korea in the 20th century and includes fascinating interviews with some of the world's
foremost experts on North Korea, including Prof. Bruce Cumings of the University of Chicago, and Donald Rickerd
of the Center for Asia Pacific Studies, who give fresh perspective on this enigmatic country.
KOREA: THE UNFINISHED WAR (2003)
http://www.aems.uiuc.edu/searchresults_detail.html?biblioId=7173
Grade: High School, 4 parts, 52 minutes each, DVD
This film documents a war where neither side was victorious, nor defeated, a struggle that came very close to
thermonuclear war, and that still resonates in the geopolitical machinations between East and West. Korea: The
Unfinished War combines archival footage, first person accounts with soldiers and civilians on both sides, direct
quotes from Truman, MacArthur, Mao and Stalin, clearly showing their roles in the conflict. This important film
provides the background for today's fear of nuclear testing by North Korea.
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NORTH KOREA: PORTRAIT OF A RED DICATOR
http://www.aems.uiuc.edu/searchresults_detail.html?biblioId=7440
Grade: High School, 26 minutes, DVD
This exclusive portrait is the first to portray North Korea's 'Dear Leader' Kim Jong-il, with interviews of North and
South Korean politicians, as well as close relatives and former employees who have fled the regime.
NORTH KOREA: SUSPICIOUS MINDS (2003)
http://www.aems.uiuc.edu/searchresults_detail.html?biblioId=5997
Grade: High School, 60 minutes, VHS
As tensions build between the United States and North Korea, FRONTLINE/World crosses the DMZ to take a
glimpse at life in one of the world's most sealed-off countries. Traveling as tourists and using a small camera, BBC
reporter Ben Anderson and producer Will Daws are guided by two government "minders" who parrot the official
government line about politics and history. The journalists encounter the highly militarized, extremely
regimented society one might expect, but they also develop a friendly, bantering relationship with their guides
and experience unexpected moments of openness and humor.
NORTH KOREA: A DAY IN THE LIFE (2004)
http://www.aems.uiuc.edu/searchresults_detail.html?biblioId=7142
Grade: High School, 48 minutes, DVD
In this rare look inside North Korea, director Pieter Fleury gained unprecedented access to a country generally
cloaked in secrecy. Using "a day in the life" format, Fleury follows the daily routines of a typical North Korean
family as they go to work, attend school, and participate in English classes. Though the country’s inhabitants
sincerely put their best face forward, the relentless images and ritualized practices of government propaganda
offer a telling portrait of this controversial country.
NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE: UNDERSTANDING NORTH KOREA (2003)
Grade: High School, 50 minutes, DVD
This film provides an introduction to the currently unresolved North Korea nuclear crisis by telling the history of
the Korean peninsula, evaluating U.S. foreign policy and the role of East Asia.
CROSSING THE LINE (2006)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/19/movies/19cros.html
Grade: High School, 94 minutes, DVD
The film is about a former U.S. Army soldier, James J. Dresnok, who defected to North Korea on August 15, 1962.
The film centers around Dresnok’s history, highlighting his insecurity with America, particularly his desertion in
1962 to the DPRK. It also shows Dresnok in the present day, around Pyongyang (where he now lives), and
interacting with his North Korean friends. Dresnok spoke exclusively to the filmmakers about his feelings about
his childhood, his desertion from the U.S. Army, living in a country completely foreign and even hostile to his own,
and his wife and children.
A STATE OF MIND
http://www.astateofmind.co.uk/
The story of two North Korean schoolgirls and their families in the lead up to the Mass Games – the biggest and
most elaborate human performance on earth. You may be interested in our new documentary on the last of the
US defectors still living in North Korea.
THE GAME OF THEIR LIVES
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354594/
A BBC documentary producer is given unprecedented access in North Korea to chronicle the story of the famed
1966 World Cup team from the North that advanced to the quarterfinals. The feature includes interviews with
surviving members of the team, English fans and soccer pundits who saw the North Koreans upset Italy, 1-0, and
go up 3-0 against Portugal before Eusebio eventually rallied the Portuguese.
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BOOKS/ FILMS/ NEWS AND LOCAL RESOURCES
FEATURE FILMS
Please preview all videos before showing them in class.
CHUNHYANG (2000)
Grade: 6-12, 120 minutes, VHS
th
A story set in 18 century Korea about the secret marriage between the privileged son of a Governor, Mongryong,
and the daughter of a former courtesan, Chunhyang. Life gets interesting when Mongryong is forced to Seoul
and Chunhyang is pursued by the newly appointed governor, who out of spite imprisons and sentences her to
death.
SHIRI (1999)
http://www.mediacircus.net/shiri.html
Dubbed by the local press as the 'small fish that sank Titantic,’ Shiri is the most successful film in South Korean box
office history. With production values and visuals rivaling both Hollywood and Hong Kong action movies, the star
power of popular Korean actors Han Suk-kyu and Choi Min-shik, and a story centered around the continuing Cold
War tensions between North and South Korea, this espionage action-thriller easily won over domestic audiences
when it was released in 1999.
TEAM AMERICA (2004)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_America:_World_Police
Team America: World Police is a 2004 comedy film. The film is a parody of big budget action films and their
associated clichés and stereotypes. The title of the film itself is derived from domestic and international political
criticisms that the U.S. frequently and unilaterally tries to “police the world.”
TAEGUKGI (2004)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taegukgi_(film)
Taegukgi Hwinallimyo is a 2004 South Korean war film. It tells the story about the effect of the Korean War on two
brothers. The film's title is the name of the pre-war Flag of Korea well as the postwar Flag of South Korea.
JSA: JOINT SECURITY AREA (2000)
Grade: High School, 120 minutes, DVD
A unique relationship builds between North and South Korean soldiers at a remote station in the DMZ. A political
thriller showing the human side of the Korean Conflict.
MY HEART (1999)
Grade: High School, 116 minutes, DVD
A sixteen-year old is married off to the ten-year old son of a local medicine doctor. Following years of living as a
traditional daughter-in-law, she leaves home to lead her own life, where she will find love, tragedy, and a new
beginning.
SPRING IN MY HOMETOWN (1998)
Grade: High School, 124 minutes. DVD
During the Korean War, in a small village located outside of the range of fighting, two boys try to live normally
with their mother. Life in the village is affected by the close proximity of an American military base and the worry
and hardships brought on by the distant fighting. This leads to the boys’ mother being hired by the American
army to wash their clothes, which changes their lives forever.
THE WAY HOME (2003)
Grade: 6-12, 88 minutes, DVD
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A seven-year-old boy from the city is forced to live with his grandmother, a deaf-mute who has spent her entire
life in a small rural village. The boy is shocked at what he finds—a place without electricity, indoor plumbing, or
access to fast-food restaurants. This is a story of family relationships.
DOCUMENTARIES ON NORTH KOREA AVAILABLE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON LIBRARY
These videos are recommended by the East Asia Resource Center to enhance your study of North Korea. These
videos can be rented from the University of Washington Library. Please preview all videos before showing them in
class.
NORTH KOREA: BEYOND THE DMZ (2003)
JT Takagi & Hye Jung Park, 60 minutes
th
What is it like on the other side of the 38 parallel? This new documentary follows a young Korean American
woman to see her relative and through unique footage of life in the DPRK and interviews with ordinary people and
scholars, opens a window into this nation.
NORTH KOREA: SHADOWS AND WHISPERS (1980)
Kim Jung-Eun, 52 minutes
This documentary is filmed in the remote northeast mountains of China, captures the dire circumstances of the
North Korean refugees who must live in secret in China or else be caught and forced back to North Korea.
YONGYANG DIARIES (1998)
Solrun Hoaas, 52 minutes
This film is director Solrun’s Hoaas’s personal encounter with the closed society of North Korea. Starting with Kim
Il Sung’s Death and transitioning to Kim Jong Il’s government, this film tells the history and culture of North
Korea.
SEOUL TRAIN (2005)
Jim Butterworth, and Lisa Sleeth, 54 minutes
This documentary is focused on the underground railroad set up to help refugees from North Korea escape to
safer areas.
WELCOME TO NORTH KOREA (2002)
Peter Tetteroo, 50 minutes
This film, shot mostly covertly, shows the discrepancies between 20 million people in poverty and the people in
power and the contrasts between South Korea and North Korea.
LOCAL RESOURCES ABOUT KOREA
EAST ASIA RESOURCE CENTER, THE HENRY M. JACKSON SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
http://jsis.washington.edu/earc/resources/
The EARC maintains a small lending library of K-12 curriculum materials including curriculum units, films, and
other resources. We encourage educators to visit the center and check out materials free of charge. Descriptions
of many of the materials are available in the EARC's resource library catalog (Updated April 2007). Visit the EARC
on the University of Washington campus in Thomson Hall, Room 302, Monday through Friday, between 9 am and
5 pm. Please call (206) 543-1921 prior to making the trip to ensure that an EARC staff member will be available to
meet you.
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THE ANN P. WYCKOFF TEACHER RESOURCE CENTER (TRC)
http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/Learn/trc/trc.asp
The Ann P. Wyckoff Teacher Resource Center (TRC) is a free lending library for educators. Located in the Seattle
Asian Art Museum, the TRC offers over 4,000 resources on the Seattle Art Museum collection and covers all art
disciplines. The TRC materials includes curriculum guides, CDs, books, videos and more.
MCCAW FOUNDATION LIBRARY
http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/Learn/Library/SAAM.asp
Location: Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, 1400 East Prospect Street, Seattle, WA Collections include:
books, catalogues and journals on Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, Art reference
collection, publications and object files on objects in the Seattle Asian Art Museum’s permanent collection,
resources for current exhibitions and auction catalogues.
WING LUKE MUSEUM OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
http://wingluke.org/home.htm
The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is dedicated to immersing people in uniquelyAmerican stories of survival, success, struggle, conflict, compassion and hope. The Museum is in the heart of
Seattle’s vibrant Chinatown-International District, and includes the very hotel where countless immigrants first
found a home, a meal and refuge. As our nation’s only museum devoted to the Asian Pacific American experience,
it’s one of the few places that can truly give you a new perspective on what it means to be American. The Wing is a
Smithsonian Affiliate, a partnership with the Smithsonian Institution.
KOREAN CULTURAL CELEBRATION, SEATTLE CENTER
http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/festivals/festal/detail.asp?EV_EventNum=14
Korea’s traditional Harvest Festival Day offers festival-goers insight into this country’s cultural evolution and
contemporary culture through folk songs, dance, Tae Kwon Do demonstrations, traditional harvest foods, films
and exhibits. Presented by the Korean-American Art & Cultural Association of the Pacific Northwest.
THE KOREAN-AMERICAN ART & CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST (KACAPN)
http://www.koamartists.org/aboutkacap.htm
The Korean-American Art & Cultural Association of Pacific Northwest (KACAPN) was founded as a nonprofit
organization February, 2004. The organization is a group comprised of devoted professionals, mostly KoreanAmerican Artists who are immigrants of Korea and have lived in Pacific Northwest. Each member hopes to bring
an artistic sense to our diverse community.
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INTEGRATING STEM TOPICS INTO YOUR TEACHING
INTEGRATING STEM TOPICS INTO YOUR TEACHING
Global Classroom supports the Washington STEM Initiative which seeks to improve student achievement and
opportunity in areas critical to our state’s economic prosperity: Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM). The Initiative aims to catalyze innovation in the state’s K-12 education system, increase
teacher effectiveness and student learning, and dramatically raise the number of Washington students graduating
ready for college and work and succeeding in STEM degree programs. These efforts are intended to benefit every
student in the state, with a particular emphasis on accelerating the achievement of low-income and minority
students.
Below are resources that might help you integrate STEM into your into your humanities/social studies classroom.
We encourage you to pass these suggestions on to your colleagues in other subject areas. All of the resources
below incorporate STEM into their lesson plans.
CRISIS GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS: NORTH KOREA – GETTING BACK TO TALKS (6/18/2009)
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=6163&l=1
The motivations for North Korea’s second nuclear test are, as with many of its actions, mostly impenetrable. It
may be the latest step in an unrelenting drive to become a permanent nuclear state or it could be advertising
nuclear wares to potential buyers. It may be driving up the price others will pay for the North to give up its
weapons or it might be about ensuring that the military will accept whatever decision Kim Jong-il has made on his
successor. Most likely, North Korea’s nuclear weapons program serves multiple purposes for the leadership.
Whatever the rationale, there are no good options in response. Finding a way to resume talks on ending the
nuclear program may appear to reward Pyongyang’s bad behavior, but diplomacy is still the least bad option. At
the same time, the UN Security Council’s strong and united condemnation of the test in Resolution 1874 must be
enforced, while containment of proliferation and deterrence of North Korean provocations need to be boosted.
See this site for Crisis Group’s 26-page report/recommendations.
THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE – KOREAN PENINSULA NUCLEAR POLICY
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/npp/index.cfm?fa=view&nppID=1000090
The Carnegie Endowment is another source of information relating to national security issues. There are several
featured articles here on the nuclear program, nuclear talks, Congressional Research Service documents, and
many other resources. This website contains declassified information on North Korea and their nuclear weapons
program from FOIA documents.
NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVE: NORTH KOREA PROFILE
http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/NK/index.html
This extensive site contains information on the weapons of mass destruction programs of North Korea, including
maps, reports, treaties, policy papers, and publications.
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaDprk/
The IAEA is the world’s center of cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up as the world’s "Atoms for Peace"
organization in 1957 within the United Nations family. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple
partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies. News updates and with regard to
current work of the IAEA and North Korea.
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INTEGRATING STEM TOPICS INTO YOUR TEACHING
UNDERCOVER THE SECRET STATE
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=north+korea&rating=3
Students examine the current conditions in North Korea. They view and analyze a CNN documentary, research a
dissident, answer and discuss questions about the documentary on conditions in North Korea, and identify the
technology used by dissidents
The following three websites contain data and statistics on North Korea. You may want to encourage students to
explore these resources and compare economic data and/or population statistics and/or geographical information
vis-à-vis North Korea and South Korea.
BBC News – Country Profile North Korea
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1131421.stm
A brief overview of North Korea, its economy, people, and government. This website also includes useful data and
statistics on geographic features of North Korea as well as economic measures such as GDP.
CIA – COUNTRY PROFILE NORTH KOREA
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html
The CIA official data on North Korea. This fact page contains statistics and measurements in the geography,
economy, communication, and population of North Korea that are particularly useful in comparing North Korea
with other countries.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE “BACKGROUND NOTES: NORTH KOREA”
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm
These notes include facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign
relations. Similar to CIA country profile this website provides data and statistics including
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