Understanding Korean Politics

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Understanding Korean Politics

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Description

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About this course: This course will select six most outstanding issues in contemporary Korean politics and will engage in an in-depth, interactive inquiry of those issue. They include Korean politics in history, institutional setting of Korean politics, and dynamics of political culture in Korea, profiles of political leadership, myth and reality of the developmental state and the Korean economic miracle, and debates on Korean unification. The course will expose students to contending theories and empirical reality at first hand. After completing this course, learners will be able to 1. Grasp the most salient and timely aspects of Korean politics.. 2. Place South Korean politics in comp…

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Didn't find what you were looking for? See also: Politics, Korean, Government and Politics, M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions), and International Relations.

When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan

  • Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
  • Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.

About this course: This course will select six most outstanding issues in contemporary Korean politics and will engage in an in-depth, interactive inquiry of those issue. They include Korean politics in history, institutional setting of Korean politics, and dynamics of political culture in Korea, profiles of political leadership, myth and reality of the developmental state and the Korean economic miracle, and debates on Korean unification. The course will expose students to contending theories and empirical reality at first hand. After completing this course, learners will be able to 1. Grasp the most salient and timely aspects of Korean politics.. 2. Place South Korean politics in comparative perspectives. 3. Digest a delicate mix of theory and practice regarding Korean politics. 4. Come up with new interpretations of political development in South Korea. 5. Most importantly renew their genuine interests in Korea and Korean politics.

Who is this class for: This course is aimed for learners who have general interest in Korea and who want to get knowledge on East Asian politics.

Created by:  Yonsei University
  • Taught by:  Chung-in Moon, Distinguished Professor Emeritus

    Department of Political Science
Level Beginner Commitment 6 weeks of study, 2-2.5 hours/week Language English, Subtitles: Spanish, Chinese (Simplified) How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Yonsei University Yonsei University was established in 1885 and is the oldest private university in Korea. Yonsei’s main campus is situated minutes away from the economic, political, and cultural centers of Seoul’s metropolitan downtown. Yonsei has 3,500 eminent faculty members who are conducting cutting-edge research across all academic disciplines. There are 18 graduate schools, 22 colleges and 133 subsidiary institutions hosting a selective pool of students from around the world. Yonsei is proud of its history and reputation as a leading institution of higher education and research in Asia.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Korean Politics in Historical Perspective



During Week 1, leaners will have an overview of Korean Politics which includes past history, the presidents and the main historical events during the 1st to the 6th Republic, and the democratic transition in 1987. The first week will help learners develop a fundamental understanding of the historical development of Korean Politics and lead leaners to think what makes Korean Politics new and interesting.


5 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Video: 1.1 Why Korean Politics?
  2. Video: 1.2 Korean Politics-Past History
  3. Video: 1.3 The First and Second Republic(1948-1961)
  4. Video: 1.4 Military Coup, Park Chung-Hee, and the Yushine Regime
  5. Video: 1.5 The 5th Republic, Chun Doo-Hwan, and Democratic Transition
  6. Reading: Reading Materials
  7. Discussion Prompt: Yushin Regime

Graded: Graded Quiz

WEEK 2


Dynamics of Democratic Transition in South Korea: Structure, Culture, and Leadership Choice



Week 2 will first summarizes the four legacies of South Korea’s politics from 1948 to 1987 and introduce the major concepts and models of democratic transition. Second, it will give a clear and detailed explanation about South Korea’s democratic transition which includes the transition dynamics, the determinants of democratic transition and the democratic consolidation.


5 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Video: 2.1 Legacies of the Past and Transition to Democracy
  2. Video: 2.2 Understanding Democratic Transition and Consolidation
  3. Video: 2.3 Authoritarian Past and Transition Dynamics
  4. Video: 2.4 Determinants of Democratic Transition in South Korea
  5. Video: 2.5 Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in South Korea
  6. Discussion Prompt: Is democracy incompatible with economic growth?
  7. Reading: Reading Materials

Graded: Graded Quiz

WEEK 3


Political Institutions in South Korea



Week 3 will start with the explanation of institution including its concept, types and major issues. In the second part, the lecture will expound South Korea’s constitutional foundation and its evolution, focusing on its nine constitutional amendments. Then it will talk about the structure and features of South Korean government, also it will briefly introduce South Korea’s presidential system which will be further explained in next week.


5 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Video: 3.1 Understanding Political Institutions
  2. Video: 3.2 Constitutional Foundation and Its Evolution
  3. Video: 3.3 Korean Government
  4. Video: 3.4 Why persistent Imperial President?
  5. Video: 3.5 Conclusion: Debates on New Constitutional Amendment
  6. Discussion Prompt: Constitutional amendment
  7. Reading: Reading Materials

Graded: Graded Quiz

WEEK 4


Profiles of political leadership



Week 4 will mainly talk about the political leadership. The lecture will first give the definition, types and evaluation criteria of political leadership. Then it will evaluate President Rhee Syngman, Park Chung-hee and Kim Dae-jung by using the criteria given in the first part and lead leaners to discuss the unique pattern of South Korean leadership.


6 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Video: 4.1 Understanding Political Leadership
  2. Video: 4.2 Evaluating Political Leadership
  3. Video: 4.3 Assessing Rhee Syngman
  4. Video: 4.4 Evaluating Park Chung-hee
  5. Video: 4.5 Evaluating Kim Dae-jung
  6. Video: 4.6 Conclusion: some puzzles for discussion
  7. Discussion Prompt: Park Chung-hee- Assets and Liabilities
  8. Reading: Reading Materials

Graded: Graded Quiz

WEEK 5


The Developmental State and the Korean Economic Miracle



Week 5 will give leaners a very clear explanation of South Korean economic development, including its original conditions, economic take-off and economic crisis. Then the lecture will talk about the limits of developmental state and lead leaners to discuss about the future of South Korean economy.


5 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Video: 5.1 The Korean Economic Miracle: Empirical Check
  2. Video: 5.2 Understanding the South Korean Economic Miracle ( I )
  3. Video: 5.3 Understanding the South Korean Economic Miracle ( II )
  4. Video: 5.4 Dark-side of the Developmental State and Policy Networks
  5. Video: 5.5 Limits to the Developmental State and the Future of the South Korean Economy
  6. Discussion Prompt: Was Japanese colonial rule beneficial to South Korea’s economic development?
  7. Reading: Reading Materials

Graded: Graded Quiz

WEEK 6


Debates on Korean Unification



The main topic of week 6 is Korean unification. The lecture will start with explanation of inter-Korean relationship to help learners form a better understanding towards Korean unification. Then it will expound and evaluate the Sunshine policy. And the last part will have learners discuss about the future of Inter-Korean relations and unification.


5 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Video: 6.1 Overview of Korean Division and Inter-Korean Relations
  2. Video: 6.2 Understanding towards Korean Unification
  3. Video: 6.3 The Sunshine Policy and Korean Unification
  4. Video: 6.4 The Sunshine Policy - Its Limits and Constraints
  5. Video: 6.5 The Future of Inter-Korean Relations and Unification
  6. Discussion Prompt: North Korean nuclear problem
  7. Reading: Reading Materials

Graded: Final Graded Quiz
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