Some aspects of Korean culture, like K-pop and Korean food, have grown increasingly popular in the United States. But for many students, this is their only familiarity with Korean culture.
Eunae Kim, a Ph.D. student studying language and literacy education, hopes to share a fuller picture of Korean culture. This spring, she is teaching Contemporary Korea: Language, Media, and Culture (MLL 322), the University of Miami’s first Korean course.
Kim is also helping to expand the range of classes offered by the Michele Bowman Underwood Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the College of Arts and Sciences. The department teaches 10 different languages but had not previously had the opportunity to offer Korean courses.
“The department is really big and diverse, but there was a missing piece,” said Kim, who taught Korean at the University of Pennsylvania for five years before coming to the University of Miami in 2023 to start her Ph.D. at the School of Education and Human Development.
During the 2024–2025 academic year, several Korea-related events on campus, hosted by the department, drew strong student participation and enthusiasm.
“At outreach events, we’ve noticed a clear uptick in student interest for all things Korean: music, streaming series, films, travel to Korea, etc.,” said Logan Connors, the department chair. “Our department is thrilled that Eunae Kim will be offering this class in the Spring, and we hope this is just the beginning for Korean studies here at UM!”
Beyond K-pop
The new course covers K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean food, but Kim is more interested in introducing students to what lies beneath. “It’s not just about learning some fun facts or trends,” she said. “It’s about exploring how Korea’s history, society, and culture connect to the world today.”
Students will examine how history, politics, and economics shaped South Korea’s rise as a cultural force. Topics include food, identity, language, globalization, and U.S.-Korea relations, explored through film, drama, music, and other media. Classes will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and no prior knowledge of Korean language or culture is required.
Kim wants students to think critically and connect what they learn to their own experiences. One of her favorite aspects of Korean culture to share is how the old and new exist side by side in surprising ways.
“I love showing students how the past and present coexist in creative and dynamic ways,” Kim said. This idea illustrates one of the main themes in her course: culture isn’t static; it’s complicated, layered, and constantly evolving. “What we see on the surface level, such as music, fashion, and food, is only one part of a much deeper story,” she added.
Kim sees this course as a starting point. “I am very excited to offer this class for the very first time here at UM,” she said. “I hope this is just the beginning of something bigger for additional opportunities, such as language courses, study abroad programs, and internships.”
By the semester’s end, Kim hopes students will understand Korean culture better while gaining new perspectives on their own cultures and the wider world. “They can compare and contrast Korean culture with their own cultures, or with other cultures, and think about how cultures are very different or similar in some ways,” she said.
For more information about Contemporary Korea: Language, Media, and Culture (MLL 322), students can contact the Michele Bowman Underwood Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.