Asia Education Foundation

Democracy at Work

Investigations and activities (History/SOSE/CCE Focus)

  1. Look at the background to the cultural civic activities you see in the Democracy at work image. Locate Jukseo on a map. Search the Internet to find out more about this popular civic community festival. Why do you think this festival has become so highly recognised across South Korea?
  2. Folk activities such as the gossaum in this image are an important part of Korea’s heritage and contemporary society. Find out more through the Culture and the Arts section of the Life in Korea website as well as the Visit Korea website.
  3. Understanding ‘civics’ in a nation involves understanding how the government functions and what rights and freedoms people have. Go to the Constitution and Government section of the Korea.net website to find out more about Korea’s system of government. Compare this system with the Australian government system.
  4. Research the political history of South Korea from the 1950s to today. As a class, create an illustrated wall chart showing key political events in this period. This will help you to understand why citizens in South Korea today cherish their rights and freedoms and their ability to preserve traditions.
  5. OhmyNews is a South Korean online newspaper website with the motto ‘Every Citizen is a Reporter’. Visit the website to read the current news items from Korea’s ordinary citizens. Find out more about how Korean citizens participate in news gathering by exploring the 9 pieces of rollover text on the ‘Democracy at work’ image. What do you think would motivate people to be involved like this?
  6. Look at:
  • some examples of what people in Korea are writing about on the Featured Writers section of OhmyNews
  • Some of the content of the OhmyNews International Talkback Board
  • examples of what people are writing in the letters to the editor section of some Australian newspapers.

a) How can people in Australia express their opinion about current issues? 

b) How are the Australian issues similar or different to what Koreans are writing about?

c) How do members of your class participate as citizens in your local and in the wider community?

d) How can you express your views if you want to?