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Learn Korean history by reenacting the debates and exploring the issues that defined its course. This program takes a close look at the Kabo reforms that came about after the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95). In the wake of a series of rapid Japanese victories early in the war, China lost its prestige as the center of civilization and the Japanese model of radical reform attracted the attention of the Korean court. The king established a Reform Council to consider how best to implement modernizing reforms in Korea. The council included members of the old conservative cabinet as well as members of the former Progressive Party who had tried unsuccessfully to institute sweeping reforms a decade earlier. Many of the reforms debated in Korea at this same were also issues in China and Japan and the positions taken by various factions in Korea were often informed by the debates that took place in those countries, so this course offers insight into the ways in which East Asia as a whole sought to cope with the challenges presented by Western civilization.
This course places strong emphasis on student participation. Students will take on roles representing a broad swath of political opinion and will debate a wide range of concerns pertaining to foreign relations, structure of government, social class and gender distinctions, economic development, and education. Students will have to prepare formal reform proposals, based on selected primary and secondary source materials, will make oral arguments in front of the Council and debate the reform proposals. Students will have to negotiate with each other in order to push through, or block, reforms.
This program is being offered by the UCLA Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, in partnership with Seoul National University (SNU). For questions regarding this program please contact Professor Duncan.