A Mercer University professor took students in her Korean studies course halfway across the world to bring classroom material to life.
Ten students joined Dr. Phoebe Moon, assistant professor of political science, on a spring break study abroad trip March 4-11 to Seoul, South Korea.
While there, the students visited museums, including the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum; toured Gyungbok Palace while wearing traditional Korean clothing; and made a traditional Korean-style stamp. They also visited the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea.
“After having learned about the different historical events and struggles of the Korean people for freedom against Japanese colonialism, freedom against authoritarian rule up until the ‘90s, I wanted students to actually be able to see the historical sites, the different museums, the different spots where what we talked about in class actually happened,” Dr. Moon said. “And students were genuinely interested in all of those.”
The study abroad trip also provided students with context for the research papers they are writing during the remainder of the spring semester, she said.
Hannah Griffin, a biochemistry and molecular biology major who is graduating in May, is researching the intersection of feminism and the K-pop industry. She had the opportunity to discuss her topic with South Korean college students during a visit to Yonsei University.
“I learned a lot from them that hasn’t been in any of the papers that I’ve read so far,” she said. “So, it showed me that not only are their perspectives and their input extremely valuable, but I also have a lot more digging to do.”
Griffin said visiting the demilitarized zone was an eye-opening experience.
“I learned a lot there that I hadn’t ever known about, and it was really interesting to see just how determined both sides were to keep that area locked down,” she said.
The demilitarized zone resulted from the Korean War, which lasted from 1950-1953, Dr. Moon said.
“They were never able to finish the war in a formal setting, but instead what happened was they signed an armistice,” she said. “And in order for North and South Korea to not be touching each other’s territory, they created this buffer zone, and that is the demilitarized zone. There is no presence of any human being beyond a certain point.”
The area is heavily guarded by the military, and the United Nations is present to observe the peace. Students toured one of the tunnels dug by North Korea to infiltrate South Korea and observed North Korean life through binoculars at the site.
“To be able to see it firsthand, the best way to describe it is surreal,” said Destinee Jackson, a junior political science major.
Jackson said she enjoyed visiting the various museums, especially the War Memorial of Korea.
“It was interesting to get a more in-depth understanding of what happened during the Korean War and from a perspective that’s not American, from a Korean perspective,” she said. “Learning about their perspective allowed me to see just how monumental and influential that war was on Korean society.”
Both students said the study abroad experience gave them a better understanding of the social and cultural mores of South Korea. They both want to continue traveling.
“The world is an absolutely giant place, and I just want to keep exploring more of it,” Griffin said.
