South+Korea-Dyer

= = =South Korea =

//An Introduction- //
South Korea islocated in Asia on a peninsula connected to North Korea that is connected to China. The country has a population of almost 50 million. The capital is Seoul and it has a population of 9,794,304. It was originally one nation called Korea and after occupation by Soviet and U.S. forces at the end of World War II, the nation was divided into North and South Korea. South Korea was established as a democracy in 1948. After years of political turmoil that was under military rule the Sixth Republic was established in 1987 and as a result South Korea is has transformed into a major economy and has a high standard of living.

 (http://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Korea-at-a-Glance/History)

//How their views of arts and education are reflective of their culture- //
Korean art has been greatly influenced by religions, specifically Buddhism and Confucianism. This can be seen in the many traditional paintings, sculptures, ceramics and in the performing arts. For example, art works such as Joseon's Baekja and Goryeo's Celadon are well known along with The Korean Tea Ceremony, Pansori, and Talchum as well known works of performing arts. The primary curriculum consists of 9 core subjects: Moral Education, Korean language, Social Studies, Math, Science, Physical Education, Music, Fine Arts, and Practical Arts. The culture of South Korea has been influenced by Confucianism and Buddhism. This is seen through their use of architecture, costumes, and strong beliefs.

South Korea’s culture is extremely driven and competitive. Education is very important in South Korea. South Korean natives are raised with a strong work ethic and that can be seen in the arts as well. South Korea is much more formal in creativity than in the U.S. because of the stress that is put on success.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South Korea)

//An accomplished South Korean Artist- //
§ Le nozze di Figaro: Countess Almaviva(29 performances), Susanna(10 performances), Barbarina(8 performances) § Don Giovanni: Zerlina (29 performances) § Così Fan Tutte: Despina (14 performances) § La clemenza di Tito: Servilia (11 performances) § Die Zauberflöte : Pamina (9 performances) § Idomeneo: Ilia (9 performances) § La Bohème: Mimì (59 performances) <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">§ Turandot: Liù (33 performances) <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">§ Gianni Schicchi: Lauretta (5 performances) media type="youtube" key="cGuhowXXatg" height="315" width="420" align="center"
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Hong Hei-Kyung **
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> South Korean-American Operatic Lyric Soprano, born July 4, 1959
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Studied at Yea Won Music School in Seoul and at age 15 studied at Julliard School of Music in NYC
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Winner of 1982 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and performed in Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Countless performances and extended vocal music repertoire including the languages of Italian, German, and French
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Examples of Work:

media type="youtube" key="EjjXgkXX5ZY" height="315" width="420" align="center"

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(sources: Youtube.com, http://imgartists.com/artist/hei-kyung hong, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong Hei-Kyung)

//<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Successful Arts Organization in South Korea- //

 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The Korean Arts and Culture Education Service **


 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Established in February 2005 by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Education. The foundation was built to create a consensus on arts and cultural education policies to make government funded programs more effective and efficient.
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Examples of Programs Offered
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Arts in Schools" sends professional artists to public schools to bring new vitality to arts and culture education
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Creative Partnership Program" has a goal to create a region-centered arts and culture infrastructure. This program creates a partnership between local artists and arts organizations, while museums and galleries are used as classrooms.
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Re-Training Support for School Teachers" helps teachers understand the importance of arts and culture education by providing guest lectures and workshops by experts and scholars.
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Goals
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">To introduce qualitative improvement to arts and culture education in schools and expand related programs
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">To diversify community-based arts and culture education programs and broaden educational opportunities
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">To raise public awareness of the value of arts and culture education and its basic directions
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">To create infrastructure necessary for the promotion of arts and culture education
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(source: http://eng.arte.or.kr/arte eng/who/idea.html)

//<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">School Arts Programs in South Korea- //
<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">South Korea is divided into kindergarden, elementary, middle school, and high school. In the first three levels of education music, fine arts, and practical arts are all required subjects.

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">In high school students choose between career specific schools such as Science High school, foreign language high school and art high school. Prior to attendance to these high schools there are very intensive and competitive entrance exams that connects back to the Korean discipline of success.

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">South Korea particularly places emphasis on the subjects of fine arts and music. In their music programs, students choose between singing or instrumental and focus on that as their primary aid to learning music. The fine arts subject includes drama, painting, writing, and other forms of visual arts. This is different from in the United States where once a student reaches a certain point in their education they can choose what they want to take as subjects resulting in many students leaving music and fine arts behind.

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(Source: http://www.korea4u.org/education south.html)

//<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Conclusion- //
__<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Compared to Personal Experiences: __

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">This is different than the typical American student because once most American students reach seventh grade they can choose whether or not to take art and music. Most students do not pursue the fine after sixth grade replacing them with other subjects. In Korea the education system has decided that it is important for all the students to learn about the creative arts in order to produce the most well rounded and knowledgeable students. I personally continued with the fine arts in middle and high school. I took band, choir and art throughout middle and high school and went on to pursue music in college as well. This is similar to many South Korean students who are required and encouraged to participate in the arts at a young age. While I did participate in the fine arts through my entire education I think that the way South Korea requires it is great because it exercises a side of the brain that normally is not used.

__<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">What surprised me: __

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">I was surprised by the quality of the South Korean education system and by the competitive and rigourus curriculum that they have in place. I was unaware of the emphasis that the people of South Korea place on education and the pressures that the children have in learning. '74% of students in South Korea engage in after school instruction on top of the already demanding school day.’ Education is so important that the government had to set a 10pm curfew on after school tutoring and instruction. 97% if South Korean young adults complete high school, higher than any other country. The system in Korea is extremely tough and demanding, however credit must be given because they have one of the best economies in the world and live a great standard of living because of the importance the population as a whole place on education.

__Sources:__

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">@http://imgartists.com/artist/hei-kyung_hong

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">@http://eng.arte.or.kr/arte_eng/what/extended.html

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">@http://www.korea4u.org/education_south.html <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong Hei-Kyung

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">http://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Korea-at-a-Glance/History

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South Korea