The United States and the Korean War

While the Korean War was concluded over fifty years ago, in many ways it has never ended. American military presence is still strong in South Korea, and North Korean military excursions and threats to develop nuclear weapons still make front page news. In this FIG, students will examine the political and diplomatic context in which the Korean War occurred, the combat history of that conflict, and the interactions between that war and domestic American politics. Students will explore the importance of the Korean War in the development of the Cold War, the role of media coverage of the war, and the films based on it. “Introduction to Korean Culture and Civilization” will provide cultural perspectives as background for studying the Korean War. “Introduction to International Relations” will provide another context for understanding the patterns of political, social, and technological changes in terms of their implications for international relations.