GWIKS’s third two-week summer study abroad program in Seoul, South Korea ended on July 6, 2019 under the lead of Professor. Jisoo M. Kim and Professor. Insung Ko. During the program, eight GW students explored past, present and future of Korea through four main themes of Korean identities, culture, division, and reunification.
Students had the welcoming dinner and orientation on June 23, 2019 at the restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, and met with two instructors. During this two-week compact summer program, students were able to integrate readings, discussions, on-site lectures, and site-visits in learning Korean history, politics, film, and media.
For the first few days, students explored Korea’s past starting from the birth of the Joseon dynasty up to the modern times. They visited Kwanghwamun, Gyeongbok Palace, National Museum of Korea and Hangeul Museum to learn Korea’s history of dynastic kingdom. Students could also explore Korea’s 20th century history when visiting Seoul Museum of History, Seodaemun Prison, and National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. Through a tour in Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), students could see how one country divided into North and South.
The present of Korea was reflected through site visits to Ajou Institute for Unification, Korean Film Council, Constitutional Court of Korea, Korean National Diplomatic Academy, and MBC World. During these visits, students could incorporate their knowledge in various disciplines, such as politics, film, media and entertainment. At Hana Foundation, students had a workshop with North Korean defector students, where they discussed unification of Korea.
Towards the end of the program, students presented their experience in Korea based on this two-week summer study abroad program. The Students’ portfolio presentations of summer 2018 can be found here.
