The document provides background on the history of Korea and its relationship with the United States. It discusses: 1) The U.S. played a significant role in Korea's modern history through unequal treaties in the late 19th century, the 1905 Taft-Katsura Agreement that led to Japanese occupation, and dividing Korea after WWII without Korean consultation. 2) Current U.S.-Korea relations involve seeking resolution to North Korea's nuclear program through six-party talks, strong diplomatic and economic ties between the U.S. and South Korea, and South Korea being a top source of foreign students to the U.S. 3) Koreans take pride in their long history dating back thousands

1. What Koreans Want Americans
to Know About Korea
Original Power Point created by Edward J. Shultz,
University of Hawaii in 2005 and Extended and
Updated by Mary Connor, President Korea Academy
for Educators, 2004-2012
Advisor, National Korean Studies Seminar, 2014-2017
Copyright 2015 and Updated 2017

2. Recommended Reading
•Don Clark, Korea in World History
•Mary Connor, Asia in Focus: The Koreas (2009)
•Barbara Demick: Nothing to Envy
•Bruce Fulton, Waxen Wings (short stories)
•Richard Kim, Lost Names: Scenes from a Korean
Boyhood
•Yi Munyol, Our Twisted Hero
•Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard
•Young-Bok Yoo, Tears of Blood (translation Paul Kim)
•www.NationalKoreanStudies.com
•www.state.gov (North and South Korea)
•(See Teaching East Asia: Korea for lessons, articles, and
additional book recommendations)

3. United States has played a Significant
Role in Korea’s History
• 1882 – Shufeldt Treaty – Korea signed an
unequal treaty with the U.S., the first time that
Korea signed a treaty with a Western nation.
Subsequency, the U.S. paved the way for further
influences from the West.
• 1905 – Taft-Katsura Agreement – secret
agreement between U.S. and Japan. In this
agreement, the U.S. recognized Japan’s
interests in Korea in exchange for securing U.S.
interests in the Philippines.This agreement led to
Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945.

4. • 1945 – Without consulting Korea, the U.S.
divided Korea at end of World War II as we
feared the Russians would take over the entire
Peninsula.
• 1950–1953 The U.S. provided the most military
support for South Korea during the Korean War.
• 1940s–1980s U.S. and South Korea are Cold
War partners
• 1965–1973 South Korea sends 300,000 South
Korean troops to fight in the Vietnam War
U.S. Influence in Korea

5. Current U.S. – Korea Relations
• North Korea: Since late 1980s, U.S. and South Korea
have sought a resolution to North Korean efforts to
pursue nuclear weapons. The Six-Party Talks began in
2003 and were aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear
program through a negotiating process; however there
has been no real progress as evidenced by North
Korea’s frequent missile tests in 2017.
• South Korea: South Korea values its diplomatic,
economic, and cultural ties with the U.S. Approximately,
28,000 U.S. troops remain in South Korea.
• Korean students; Korean students are the fourth largest
group of foreign students next to China, India, and Saudi
Arabia.

6. The Geography of Korea
• Northeast Asia
• A Peninsula
• East Sea (not Sea of
Japan), South Sea,
and West Sea
• Four Distinct Seasons
• Monsoon climate
• 70% of Korea is
occupied by
mountains

7. • In art, literature, and in their leisure, Koreans
reveal their deep passion for nature.
• The importance of being in harmony with nature
is seen in homes, palaces, and temples
• Koreans appreciate their natural surroundings
and are very proud of the exquisite beauty of the
Peninsula whether in the North or South.
Koreans have a strong aesthetic sense and it is
rooted in nature.
Korea is Beautiful and Koreans Have a
Passion for Nature

8. Since 70 % of Korea is
mountainous, one can
readily see that the
Korean Peninsula is
very beautiful. This
particular photo of
North Korea is unusual
as the forests for the
most part have been
destroyed because of
the need for fuel.
The Scenic Beauty of Korea

9. • Approximately 3,400
islands exist off the
Korean coast. The largest
of these islands is Jejudo.
Koreans consider this
island to be the Hawaii of
Korea. The island attracts
large numbers of
honeymooners, Korean
families, and tourists.
Jejudo

10. Koreans are Proud of their Long
History

11. Chronology – Key Dates
• Korea Foundation (Tangun legend) – 2333 B.C.
• Three Kingdoms – Goguryeo (37 BCE - 668 CE),
• Baekje (18 BCE – 660 CE), Silla (57 BCE – 668 CE)
• Three Dynasties – Unified Silla (668 CE – 935 CE)
• Goryeo – 918 – 1392), and Joseon 1392-1910.
• Japanese Occupation – 1910 - 1945
• Division - 1945 and War – 1950 - 1953
• Economic Development – 1960s - Present
• Democratization – 1990s

12. Koreans are Proud of their Past
Achievements
• Inventions
– Printing (Goryeo)
• Movable metal
print (200 years
before
Gutenberg)
– Ironclad vessels
(Joseon) 250 years
before the Monitor
and the Merrimac

13. Koreans are proud of their written
language, Hangeul
• Created by King Sejong, Korea’s greatest
king in 1446 to bring literacy to his people
• Clever, simple set of consonants and
vowels
• A scientific language: shape of each
character relates to the position of one’s
mouth in making a particular sound.
• Only 14 consonants and 10 vowels, but it
can express virtually any sound.

14. Koreans are proud of their cultural
treasures
• Seokguram(750 CE)
(Unified Silla) One of the
most beautiful Buddhas in
all of East Asia
• Pottery
– Celadon (praised even
by China as some of
the world’s finest
ceramic art)
– Buncheong (greatly
admired by the
Chinese and
Japanese)

15. Seokguram Grotto
• The construction of this
temple began in 751 C.E.
during Unified Silla. The
temple represents a
combination of Silla’s
knowledge of
architecture, math,
geometry, physics,
religion and art into an
organic whole and is one
of Korea’s greatest
Buddhist masterpieces.

16. Bulguksa Temple
• Construction began at
this temple the same year
as Seokguram in 751.
Built on a series of stone
terraces, the temple
blends into the rocky
landscape of a forested
mountain. Three
staircases are called
bridges because they
lead from the secular
world to the spiritual one
of the Buddha.

17. Celadon
• The artistry of the
Goryeo Dynasty (918-
1392) can best be
appreciated by its
celadon ware. The
jade green color and
elegant designs are
truly stunning looking
and are very distinct
from Chinese
designs.

18. Koreans are Proud of their Folk
Art Traditions
• In the 18th
and 19th
century
Koreans were influenced
by a movement that
promoted the rights of the
people. This had a great
impact on historical
writing, fiction, poetry and
the arts. TheTiger and the
Magpie painting
exemplifies the folk art
tradition.

19. Haeinsa Temple/Tripitaka
Koreana
• Haeinsa houses the
Tripitaka Koreana,
consisting of some
81,258 wood
printing blocks, the
most complete
Buddhist text in the
world. It was carved
in the 13th
century
and preserved by a
ventilation system
that has prevented
their deterioration.

20. Religion: Buddhism
• Arrived in Fourth Century
• Profound impact on art,
music, and literature
• Inspired magnificent
sculpture and architecture
• Peaks in 10th
-12th
centuries
• 15.5% of South Koreans
are Buddhist, 27.6%
Christian, and 56.9 %
• have no religious
affiliation.

21. Philosophy: Confucianism
• Fourth century
• Dominant ideology during
Joseon dynasty (1392 –
1910)
• Korea is the most
Confucian of all Asian
nations
• Confucian beliefs:
importance of the family
and community over the
individual, role fulfillment,
filial piety, loyalty,
hierarchy, obedience to
authority, and education.

22. Confucianism in America
• Educational achievement is a high priority (A not A-).
Success for the group (family) more important than
individual recognition. Role fulfillment.
• A strong work ethic.
• Success in one’s studies has historically been a path for
social mobility. Doctors/lawyers/engineers/educators
• Hierarchy – get into the best colleges.
• Korean moms are traditionally “the education moms” and
are judged by their children’s success or lack of it.
• Respect for teachers, elders, authority
• Confucianism varies by generation and by the individual.

23. Historical Background: Korea
as a Japanese Colony
• 1910–1945
• Brutal exploitation
• Some modernization
efforts, but benefits were
primarily Japan’s.
• Gave rise to nationalism
and the Independence
Movement
• Growth of Christianity in
response to the
challenges of occupation.

24. Japanese Colonial Period (1910–1945)
Koreans had to obey the laws of Japan.
Children had to adopt Japanese customs,
culture and language.
Koreans were forced to take Japanese names:
the most cherished source of family identity and
ancestor worship.
Approximately 200,000 women were forced to
serve the sexual needs of Japanese troops.
In order to succeed and provide for their
families, many educated Koreans collaborated
with the Japanese.

25. To destroy national spirit, Koreans were forced to
bow at Shinto shrines

26. Korean children had to practice
Japanese calligraphy

27. Korean children could not speak
their own language and had to read
from Japanese textbooks

28. • Thousands of Korean women were forced to
serve Japanese soldiers and were called
comfort women

29. The Legacy of Occupation
• An unrepentant Japan
• Lingering memories of Japanese brutality
• Japanese textbooks exclude information
about occupation and WWII
• Some Korean families collaborated with
the Japanese
• Korea and Japan both claim Dokdo Island
• The issue of the comfort women

30. The Koreas Today
• Size (Korean Peninsula)
– 84,747 sq miles
California – 163,000 sq.
Miles
So. Korea – 38,000 sq.
miles
No. Korea – 46,400 sq.
miles
• Population (Korean Peninsula)
– 75 million Koreans
– No. Korea – 25 million
– South Korea – 50 million
– ( California - 39 million)
• Greater Seoul area
– 25 million
– 4th largest
metropolitan area in
world

31. Seoul: The Old and the New

32. P’yongyang, North Korea
• The capital is a
well- ordered city
carefully designed
to glorify national
founder Kim Il
Sung and promote
communism. It is
also the political,
cultural, and
educational center
of the nation. The
huge sterile
buildings resemble
Soviet architecture.

33. Public Building, Pyongyang
• This photograph was
taken in 2007 before the
death of Kim Jong Il.
Photographs of the
leaders are in all public
places, such as this
library. Certainly,
photographs of Kim Jong-
un must now appear
everywhere. All homes
must also include
photographs of Kim Il
Sung.

34. North Korean School Girls
• One girl
wears a Kim Il
Sung pin and
the other a
red scarf,
signs of
loyalty to the
state and that
they are good
communists.
Both look
healthy and
willing to be
photographed

35. North Korean Children

36. Post WWII-North/South Division
• 1945 – US decision immediately following Hiroshima and
Nagasaki and the Soviet Union’s invasion of Korea
• Koreans were not consulted in the haste to prevent the
Peninsula from becoming communist
• Thought at the time that division would be temporary, but
72 years later the Peninsula is still divided.
• Split a nation that had been unified since 668 C.E.

37. Korean War
• 1950–53
• Cold War struggle and a
civil war
• Massive destruction
– 3 million dead
– Infrastructure destroyed
– Division remains
– The issues of the war
continue – no formal
ending to the war – only an
armistice

38. North Korea (DPRK)
• Founded 1948
• Kim Il Sung 1948-1994
(Great Leader)
• Kim Jong Il 1994-2011
(Dear Leader)
• Kim Jong Un 2011-
(Supreme Leader)
• Until 90s North Korea
was dependent on the
Soviet Union

39. South Korea
• Founded 1948
• Many political leaders
– Syngman Rhee
– Park Chunghee
– Chun Doo Hwan
– Roh Tae Woo
– Kim Young Sam
– Kim Dae Jung
– Roh Moo Hyun
- Lee Myung-Bak
- Park Geun-hye
- Moon Jae-in

40. South Korea (ROK) a Success in
becoming a Democratic Nation
• The election of Kim Young Sam as
President of South Korea in 1992 brought
civilian rule to South Korea after more
than three decades of military rule.
• Kim Dae Jung’s election in 1997 was the
first peaceful transition of power from the
ruling party to the opposition party through
an open and fair election.

41. Successful and Rapid Economic
Development (1962–1997)
• 1. Work ethic
• 2. Well educated population
• 3. Close ties between South Korean
government and business
• 4. Substantial military and economic aid
from the U.S. during the Cold War
• 5. U.S. technology and technical
expertise.
• 6. U.S. contracts to South Korea during
Vietnam War

42. Economic Success Story
• Sustained growth from
the late 60s
• 14th largest economy
• 7th
largest exporter
• 9th largest importer
• In top 10 for penetration
• of 3G handsets
• 2nd
in shipbuilding, but first
in sales
• Home of globally
recognized companies
such as Samsung, LG,
Hyundai and Kia.

43. South Korea and North Korea
• Capital – Seoul
• Democratic republic
• Three branches of gov’t
• 19% arable land
• 50 million 97.9 literacy
• GDP per capita $37,900
• Industry: electronics,
automobiles, ships,
mining, manufacturing
• Exports: $509 billion
Capital – Pyongyang
Highly centralized
communist state
14% arable land
25 million 100% literacy
GDP - $1,700 est.
Industry: military products,
machine building,
chemicals
Estimate: $4.152 billion
(2015)

44. Interesting
Facts/Thoughts/Opportunities
• South Korea is 1/4 of the size of California, but is the 14th
largest economy in the world and the 7th
largest exporter,
• California’s neighbors are Oregon to the north, Mexico to
the south, Nevada to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to
the west. South Korea’s neighbors to the north are North
Korea and Russia, China is on the west, and Japan is to
the east. How might this influence the perspective of
South Koreans? If China, Russia, and Japan were our
neighbors, how would it impact our outlook/policies?
• Teaching is the most respected profession. Many
American teachers are teaching in South Korea. Pay is
excellent and housing is provided.

45. North Korea: Why go nuclear?
• Kim Jong-un wants to
stay in power
• U.S. backs South Korea
• North feels threatened by
U.S.
• Memories of Korean War
devastation.
• North Korea: Inefficient
system of distribution,
floods, starvation, weak
infrastructure
• Population of South
Korea twice as large as
population of North Korea

46. Korean Pop Culture Sweeping the
World
• Korean Wave (Hallyu)
• Singers
• Movies
• Drama
– Bae Yong-joon

47. • Hallyu, the Korean Wave, is the
phenomenon of Korean popular culture
spreading across the world.
• Hallyu includes film, television drama, pop
music, movie stars, video/computer
gaming, mobile content (cell phones and
ipods), animation, and comics.
Hallyu

48. Korean Pop
• Korean Popular culture has had a tremendous
impact throughout the world, especially with the
younger generation. Many American students
have not only wanted to listen to K-Pop music,
but to watch Korean films and eat Korean food.
• Korean Pop has also had significant influence on
American students wanting to learn the Korean
language. In fact, Korean language instruction
was reported to have increased 70 % during the
past decade.

49. • Over the past ten-fifteen years there have
been many Korean Pop stars, such as
Rain and Psy and groups: BoA, Super
Junior, Shinhwa, Miss A, and Crayon Pop.
• In 2012, Psy’s Gangnam style video
exceeded one billion views on You Tube,
becoming the first to do so in this
website’s history
Korean Pop

50. Psy

51. Girls Generation #1 January
2017

52. BTS #1 January 2017

53. Koreans in America
• 2003 Centennial
• Highly educated
• Highest percentage of
small businesses of
any group in US
• Our Neighbors and
our students
• Arirang, part 1 & 2
(first documentary on
Korean American
history) CD and DVD