North Korea: Looking Beyond the Stereotypes | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Chinese Language Learning
    • Mandarin Jumpstart
    • National Chinese Language Conference
    • Teaching Resources Hub
    • Language Learning Supporters
  • Global Competency Resources
    • About Global Competence
    • Global Competency Resources
    • Teaching for Global Understanding
    • Asia Society at Home
    • Thought Leadership
    • Education For Equity
  • About
    • About
    • Results and Opportunities
    • News and Events
Search
Education
  • Chinese Language Learning
    • Mandarin Jumpstart
    • National Chinese Language Conference
    • Teaching Resources Hub
    • Language Learning Supporters
  • Global Competency Resources
    • About Global Competence
    • Global Competency Resources
    • Teaching for Global Understanding
    • Asia Society at Home
    • Thought Leadership
    • Education For Equity
  • About
    • About
    • Results and Opportunities
    • News and Events

North Korea: Looking Beyond the Stereotypes

A mural of Kim Il Sung in the foreground (Anne Hilton)

NEW YORK, September 14, 2017 – In an article published on Education Week's Global Learning blog, Center for Global Education staff member Anne Hilton shares resources to help you cut through the stereotypes surrounding North Korea and more deeply examine the country, its people, and the complexities of its politics and nuclear program. Below is an excerpt of the article, which can be read in its entirety on Education Week.

What does North Korea make you think of? What's the very first word or phrase that comes to mind? Nuclear weapons? World War Three? Military marches? Famine? Axis of evil? How about your students? What's the first word or phrase that comes to mind for them?

Were any of the answers surprising? Were the answers similar?

Is there an image that's particularly iconic in your mind or in students'? Do those images reinforce the words or phrases you came up with, or do they broaden the idea you've built up of North Korea?

Don't be surprised if you're finding a pattern of perceptions about North Korea in your answers and your students' answers. North Korea is the country everyone loves to hate. Be it their leader's idiosyncratic behavior or their insistence on making and testing nuclear weapons, media and political leaders alike focus on the strangeness of North Korea and eagerly perpetuate superficial stereotypes about the country and its people.

But by using the tools of global competence as a starting point, you can empower your students to consider North Korea beyond the stereotypes and gain a better understanding of the country.

Find resources and read the entire article on Education Week.

You Might Also Like

October 9 is the only national holiday dedicated to a writing system.

The World's Most Incredible Alphabet

Hint: It was invented to fit a language that previously used a borrowed writing system.
A student in Korea (Stephen Hucker/flickr)
Global Cities Education Network

South Korean Education Reforms

How one nation turned around its education system radically--and achieved an 86 percent enrollment rate in higher education.
A child with blocks spelling LEARN. (marsbars/istockphoto)
report
 /  Global Cities Education Network

What Can America Learn?

Students in many countries now out-rank American students academically. Top-performing nations sound off on reforms that worked.
Korean 'comfort women,' who were often teenagers. (KeithPR/flickr)

Japan's Sins of Omission

International dispute over history textbooks in East Asia.
(tonio_vega/flickr)
article

Women's Role in Contemporary Korea

An essay about Korean women's role in society and its rapid change in the last century.
A Korean family portrait. (bloodcurdlingscreams 2.0/flickr)
article

The Value and Meaning of the Korean Family

An essay exploring why close family ties and dependencies are valued so highly in Korea.
Supreme Court of South Korea
article

The Korean Judge

The practice of mediation in Korea.
South Korean flag.
article

Taegeuk

Delve into the profound philosophical significance of the South Korean flag.
An example of an 18th century landscape. Collection of Ho-Am Art Museum, ROK.
article

Religious Influence on Korean Art

An overview of religious influence on Korean art throughout history.
Korea.
article

Population Change and Development in Korea

How Korea transformed from one of the poorest countries to an economic giant in the span of a century.
Silla art (Constantin B./flickr)
article

Mechanical Toys

The elaborate mechanical toys in 7th century Korea reveals something about technology and trade of that time.
Bridge at No Gun Ri
article

Massacre at Nogun-ri

Fifty years after the Nogun-ri Massacre, the world is trying to understand how this crime could occur, even during war.

Connect With Us

Asia Society
725 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021
t: 212-327-9260
education@asiasociety.org

Follow Our Blog on Education Week

Newsletter

About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC