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Course profile

Korean Popular Culture: Korean wave (LTCS2023)

Study period
Summer 2024
Location
External
Attendance mode
Online

Course overview

Study period
Summer Semester, 2024 (06/01/2025 - 01/02/2025)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
External
Attendance mode
Online
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Languages & Cultures School

This course explores the portrayal of Korean popular culture by engaging in the social and cultural presentations from the Korean War to the present day. This course will help students to understand the current Korean popular culture [Hallyu: Korean wave] that is spreading across the globe. Korean popular music, drama, variety shows and films will also be discussed. This will also help students to grasp Korean youth culture and Korean identity and the values and images depicted in modern Korea.
NOTE: Course offering may be cancelled unless a minimum of 20 students enrol.

This course explores Korean popular culture, with focus on the phenomenon of Korean Wave or Hallyu, which can include topics from music, lm, fashion, youth culture, food, leisure activities to national gures. This course is designed to engage students with a variety of popular Korean cultural topics through a range of in class activities, largely through the media which made hallyu popular, that is the music, TV dramas and movies. The class will also discuss the factors that led to the phenomenon of hallyu and its global impact.

Course requirements

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

LTSC1004

Restrictions

Course offering may be cancelled unless a minimum of 20 students enrol

Course staff

Course coordinator

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Public holidays:

Alternative arrangements for affected students will be announced through the Blackboard site.

Class allocation:

In order to optimise the student experience, it may be necessary to reallocate students to a different class from their first choice.

Before this happens, every effort will be made to enable students to voluntarily change into an alternative class that is suitable.

Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email hass.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:

  • Full name,
  • Student ID, and
  • the Course Code

Additional information and support can be found here .

Aims and outcomes

This course explores the dynamic growth of Korean popular culture and its social ground in contemporary South Korea. Through this course, students will be equipped with the insight and knowledge to understand the current Korean popular culture portrayed in Korean music, films, TV dramas and the youth culture in other forms. Students will have opportunities to discuss the values emphasised and developed in the culture and the images of Korean culture generated by the social emphasis on certain values. 


Korean popular culture, known as the ‘Korean Wave’ or Hallyu as in other popular cultures, consists of movies, TV shows, music, entertainers, musicians, sports, news, cosmetics, fashion and cuisine. In Korea’s case, its popular culture is spread by TV shows, movies and music. Since the late 1990s Korean popular culture has become a global phenomenon. The ‘Korean Wave’ generates significant revenue and cultural pride in South Korea. Korean language skills, or enrolment in Korean classes, are not pre-requisites for this course.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Establish a good understanding of Korean popular culture in relation to the socio-economic and historical background

LO2.

Critically think and discuss contemporary issues in Korean popular culture, such as education fever, depression, economic disparity, feminism and multiculturalism

LO3.

Expand knowledge on the origin and driving force of the Korean Wave

LO4.

Discuss the global impact of the Korean Wave and anticipate the future direction of Korean popular culture

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Quiz Online reviews
  • Online
30% (15% x 2)

10/01/2025 5:00 pm

17/01/2025 5:00 pm

The online review sessions will be open between 4:00 and 5:00pm.

Reflection Class summary and reflection
  • Online
30%

24/01/2025 5:00 pm

Essay/ Critique Essay Writing
  • Online
40%

31/01/2025 5:00 pm

Assessment details

Online reviews

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Quiz
Weight
30% (15% x 2)
Due date

10/01/2025 5:00 pm

17/01/2025 5:00 pm

The online review sessions will be open between 4:00 and 5:00pm.

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

There will be two Review sessions in the first week and second week. Students will be given 1 hour to complete each session on Blackboard.

  • The first session opens between 4 and 5 pm on Friday Week 1. The topics will cover the first week's learning.
  • The second session opens between 4 and 5 pm on Friday Week 2. The topics will cover the second week's learning.

Each Review will include 12 - 15 multiple-choice questions and 2 - 5 short answer questions. A sample test will be introduced in the first week and shared on Blackboard so students can learn and prepare for the types of questions.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Your answers will be automatically saved and submitted at 5pm on the online review session day.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

A maximum extension of 7 days is permitted for this task, as it forms part of a sequence of assessments designed to help students consolidate their understanding of course content within this intensive delivery mode. Correct answers are released after this period, and general feedback is provided and discussed during class to support ongoing learning and progression.

Class summary and reflection

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Reflection
Weight
30%
Due date

24/01/2025 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02

Task description

This assessment is to help students review each lesson's topics and in-class discussions to solidify their understanding of the topics. Students are asked to write summaries of the 10 classes' learning in 300 words or more. Submission of the 10 summaries/reflections (each summary/reflection worth 3 points) should be made by 5pm on Friday Week 3, but students are encouraged to make a summary of each class daily. Topics to be reviewed are indicated in Section 8. Learning Activities of the course profile.


This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Submission through Turnitin on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

This assessment is designed to foster reflective engagement with each lesson's topics and class discussions, supporting students in consolidating their understanding progressively throughout the course. Given the intensive delivery mode over the summer semester and the need for students to reflect on and summarise their learning daily, the maximum extension allowed for the submission of the 10 summaries is 7 days. This timeframe allows assessors to provide timely feedback before subsequent tasks are due, ensuring students remain on track with their learning progression

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Essay Writing

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Essay/ Critique
Weight
40%
Due date

31/01/2025 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

This essay requires students to discuss a research question in 2,500 words (+/-10%). The research question will ask students to integrate their learning from the course and develop their own perspectives on the Korean Wave. The question will be given out during Week 3, and on the 22nd of January 2025, there will be detailed discussion and Q&A on the essay topics and writing guidelines.

Direct quotations are not counted in the word limit but should not exceed 10% of the essay. Marks will be deducted if the essay does not adhere to the word limit. Essays must be submitted through TURNITIN by 5 pm Friday Week 4.

Feedback can be expected in 2 weeks.


This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.


If you are unable to participate, apply for an extension.

Submission guidelines

Submission through Turnitin via Blackboard link.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 24

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Written assessmentᅠdemonstrates a complete inability to comprehend and/or analyse the course content.

2 (Fail) 25 - 44

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Written assessment demonstrates a very significant inability to comprehend and/or analyse the course content.

3 (Marginal Fail) 45 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

Course grade description: Written assessment demonstrates a significant inability to comprehend and/or analyse the course content.

4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Writtenᅠassessment makes an adequate response to the questions asked (though not always relevant, coherent and/or concise), and maintains an acceptable standard of academic writing.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Written assessment is adequate on most criteria, but distinguished by a high standard on at least one criterion.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Writtenᅠassessment fulfils all but one of the criteria for Grade 7.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Writtenᅠassessment is consistently relevant to the questions asked, consistently coherent, consistently concise, shows evidence of independent thought, and maintains a high standard of academic writing.

Additional course grading information

X = no work submitted

Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1

(06 Jan - 12 Jan)

General contact hours

Introduction

Korean Popular Culture
1. Introduction to Course
2. What is the Korean Wave?
3. Discussion on the influence of Korean popular culture around the globe.

Learning outcomes: L01, L04

General contact hours

K-pop and the Korean music industry

The beginning and development of K-pop; Global impact and socio-economic effects of K-pop - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

General contact hours

Side effects of K-pop growth

The cultural and social issues that rise with the Korean idol system - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

General contact hours

'Hallyuwood' and K-film

Korean film's influence around the world - Reflection to be submitted - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

General contact hours

Is BTS popular in Korea as much as overseas?

Recognition of Korean wave in Korea; The origins of popular culture consumption in Korea - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

Week 2

(13 Jan - 19 Jan)

General contact hours

Traditional Korean culture

Learn the objective 'Culture' of Korea, such as food, fashion, housing and language, and how it has formed Korean culture today and influenced the progression of Hallyu.

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

General contact hours

K-drama, getting more dramatic

History of Korean drama and its influences around the globe - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L04

General contact hours

'Sky Castle' and the education fever

Common plots, contexts and characters found in Korean TV dramas; Korean society in the dramas - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

General contact hours

Running man is still running

Korean variety shows as one of the top hallyu attractions - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

General contact hours

'Meokbang': Eat like Korean

What is meokbang? The collaboration of YouTube and Korean food - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

Week 3

(20 Jan - 26 Jan)

General contact hours

How has Korean culture become a global thing?

The Korean values as a driving force for hallyu - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

General contact hours

Korean popular culture in new forms

New generation, new culture and new media - Reflection to be submitted

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

General contact hours

Course revision

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.