KOR4520 – South Korea: Society and Politics
Course content
This course focuses on the central topics in the field of South Korean society and politics. It will represent a combination of theoretical understanding and empirical learning, and will prominently feature the problems of industrial development, neo-liberal restructuring, authoritarian and post-authoritarian politics, education, social mobility, social network, gender and family life.
The course is based on the lectures, combined with reading of sources in Korean and English. Training in theory, methodology, essay writing and oral presentation is an organic part of the course.
Learning outcome
You will learn:
- To read and analyse sources in Korean and English pertinent for the study of contemporary South Korean society and politics.
- To apply theoretical understanding to the study of concrete empirical issues.
- To produce academic texts in writing and present their findings and ideas orally
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Please see the admission requirements defined by the programme option East Asian Culture and History.
NB! The teaching presupposes reading mastery of Korean.
Teaching
The teaching is organized as 10 classes of 2 hours each throughout the semester. Active participation in class is required.
Compulsory activities
- A preliminary draft of the term paper. The draft should be approximately 3-4 pages long and encompass title, subtitle, chapter titles, brief contents of each chapter, and a literature list. The draft is to be submitted in Canvas within the given deadline (to be announced).
- Oral presentation of the draft. The oral presentation is to be delivered in the course of the semester.
An approved draft is only valid for one semester.
You must pass all compulsory activities in order to qualify for the exam. You should familiarize yourself with the guidelines for compulsory activities at the Faculty of Humanities.
In the event of illness you must notify the study advisor before the deadline runs out. You must obtain a medical certificate and deliver or send it to the study advisor no later than three business days after the exam.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The exam is a term paper of 10 pages (2300 characters per page, not including spaces) on a subject approved by the teacher. Front page and list of references come in addition. The paper should be partly based on the original Korean sources.
You must pass all compulsory activities in order to qualify for the exam.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.