K-Culture and Korean Philosophy

Juntae Kim

Domestic and Foreign University Students and General Persons

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Humanities

Beginner

This class introduces Korean philosophy and Koreans’ speculation, projected in K-culture and Korean cultural contents, which has attracted significant global attention. It verifies that Korean culture can acquire not only universal characteristics but also particular features based on Korea’s own philosophy, and also considers the role Korean philosophy can play for the continuous development and extension of K-culture.

1. Learners who take this course would be able to verify the universal and particular characteristics of K-culture and explain how Korean philosophy could contribute to them.

2. Learners who take this course would be able to verify the historical, geographical and cultural characteristics of Korea and broaden their understanding of Korean values.

3. Learners who take this course would have time to think about how tradition can be succeeded and developed into the current living tradition through the relationship between the K-culture and the Korean philosophy.

Week 1

Opening

1) What Kind of Country is Korea?

2) Introduction of Korean Philosophy and Korea Culture Database

3) Background, Terminology, Accidents

4) Plan for Teaching The Class

Week 2

K-Culture and Korean Myth

1) What is a Myth?

2) Characteristics of Myths

3) Myths and Contents

4) Korean Myths

Week 3

Korea Legends and Shamanism

1) Korean Legends

2) Korean Shamanism

Week 4

Korean Political Thought and Ideal Leadership Viewed from Historical Play

1) What is Historical Play

2) Namhansanseong

3) Ideal Leader – Lee Sunsin

4) Ideal Leader – King Sejong

5) Power Structure

Week 5

The Symbolic World of Korean Culture

1) What is a ‘Symbol’?

2) Korean Symbol – the Great Absolute and the Five Elements

3) Korean Symbol – Numbers

4) Korean Symbol – Flowers, Birds, Animals

Week 6

Korean World Heritage

1) Royal Ancestors’ Shrine

2) Changdeokgung

3) Seokguram Cave and Bulguksa Temple

4) Mountain Temples and Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea

5) Korean Private School

Week 7

Korean Intangible Cultural Heritage

1) Korean Circle Dance

2) Arirang

3) Buddhist Intangible Cultural Heritage

4) Woman Diver

5) Namsadang Nori

6) Cheonyong Dance

7) Pansori

8) Others

Week 8

Korean Memory of the World Register

1) Tripitaka Koreana

2) Royal Books

3) Annals of Joseon Dyansty

4) Seungjeongwonilgi

5) Ilseongrok

6) Hunminjeongeum

7) Dongeuibogam

8) War Diary

9) Joseong Tongsinsa

10) Korean Confucian Printing Woodblocks

11) Royal Seal and Investiture Book Collection of the Joseon Dynastiy

12) Memory of the World Register after 20th Century 

Week 9

Korean Culture and Korean Speculation Viewed from Key Words (1)

1) Religion

2) Chivalrous Robbers and Messiah

3) Coup d'état and Validity

4) Women 

Week 10

Korean Culture and Korean Speculation Viewed from Key Words (2)

1) Plain Speaking

2) Love and Breakup

3) Relationship-Couple

4) Arrangement