The Korean Wave and Its Educational Possibilities

A brief article about the culture and experiences behind the group known as Jeju Haenyeo in Korea. A community built around diving and made up by women, some in their 80s, it discusses their traditions and cultural impact. This can be assigned to students for discussion or used as a foundation for research focusing on women in Korea.

A collection of materials surrounding the Jeju 4·3 Uprising and Massacre. The publication aims to provide an accessible resource on the key findings of the National Committee for Investigation of the Truth about the Jeju 4·3 Events. It includes several articles, an expansive timeline, and links for further research.

A brief article that provides an overview for the memorial created for the victims of the Jeju 4.3 Uprising and Massacre. It was created to pass down the historical lessons learned to the coming generations and by paying tribute to the victims and promoting reconciliation.

The intense popularity of Korean pop culture, known as Hallyu, which has increased interest in Korean language learning, is just one example of a pop-culture-driven globalizing language. In the wake of such globalization, language instructors must be responsive to the evolving needs of their learners, but few studies address how language instructors respond to such changes. Through a qualitative, thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with six language instructors of Korean, this study investigates how the globalization of Korean media and cultural products has impacted these language instructors’ teaching contexts as well as their responses to these changes

“What makes K-pop distinct from other popular music? The authors explore the multifaceted evolution and global phenomenon of K-pop, tracing its origins from early twentieth-century musical adaptations to its current status as a sophisticated multimedia industry. Beginning with historical factors, including the emergence of modern Korean popular music during the colonial period, the impact of the U.S. military, and the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, this article addresses how these factors catalyzed the genre’s development and forced a strategic shift toward international markets.”

An amazing article covering the expansive history and cultural context surrounding K-Pop Demon Hunters in a Q&A with University of Chicago’s Angie Heo. It goes over Korean shamanism, mythology and gender dynamics. This resource can be assigned to students to be used as a part of discussion or expanded upon by individual research.

An article discussing the creation of K-Pop Demon Hunters and the cultural impact following the film’s massive success. Additionally, it contains what went into incorporating Korean history and culture into the film. This is a great read for students to be used in discussion, especially in historical or writing-based environments.

A free adaptable lesson plan suited to grade levels from K-12 by Dr. Melody Li. This can be used with any form of dance including: K-pop, TikTok, film choreography and traditional/folk dance to be used as a guide to explore dance as a text and movement. Students will be able to distinguish spectatorial from embodied knowledge; identify choreographic choices; connect movement to historical/transnational contexts; and reflect on the limits of embodied experience.

An adaptable lesson plan and assignment suited towards multiple grade levels created by Dr. Melody Li. The Tour Guide Presentation is an oral communication assignment that can be adapted to any course for students to narrate place and culture-based knowledge while developing real-world, professional and interdisciplinary skills. It is designed to promote both analytical thinking and oral communication skills. This can be used on it’s own or combined with additional resources to create a multi-part activity.