Korea: Language, people and culture

In this unit you will critically examine the languages, cultures and societies of Korea and Koreans living on the Korean Peninsula and elsewhere around the world. The first half of the unit explores language, identity, gender, and sexuality. The second half of the unit focuses on the demographics of Korea  with a particular focus on multiculturalism and migration (whether they are forced or voluntary). You will be introduced to major developments in the formation, distribution and projection of languages, identity and culture of Korea and the Korean diaspora, as well as accompanying socio-cultural and historical changes in contemporary Korea.
An important goal in the unit will be to get away from a monolithic view of Korean language and culture and encourage you to engage in critical analysis of the inevitable variation and change that characterizes linguistic and cultural practices. Through a variety of reading materials, you will be exposed to different approaches for analysing language, culture and society. The unit will be conducted in English and will be open to students without any specific competence in Korean.