This course is designed to introduce students to the main aspects of contemporary Korean society, including those pertaining to culture, the family, gender, education, population, religion, economy, and popular culture (Hallyu). The course will specifically focus on topics and issues that figure prominently in the lives of the Korean people, such as the persistence of Confucianism and shamanism, the rise in divorce rate, education frenzy, gender inequality, the rise of Christianity as a major religion, population aging, low fertility rate, increasing ethnic diversity and multiculturalism, rapid industrialization, Seoul-based urbanization, and the rise of Hallyu as a global phenomenon. Each of these issues will be examined through sociological, historical, and comparative perspectives. Every effort will be made to make each session lively and engaging, so your active participation is extremely important and is a vital part of the course.