Curriculum to support When Spring Comes to the DMZ:

Lee, Uk-Bae, Chungyon Won, and Aileen Won. When Spring Comes to the DMZ. Plough Publishing House, 2019.

Teaching Resources: 

• General Resources about Korea (padlet)
• General Resources about Korea (webpage)
• When Spring Comes to the DMZ Culture Notes (The National Consortium for Teaching About Asia)
• When Spring Comes to the DMZ Resource Guide (East Asian Studies Center, The Ohio State University)
• When Spring Comes to the DMZ Select Word Pronunciation Powerpoint Slides
• Exploring identity and culture and their connection to one another via When Spring Comes to the DMZ Lesson Plan 
• Which Came First…the Theme or the Animal Symbolism? Analyzing Themes in Literature as Supported by Symbolism of Animals Across Cultures Lesson Plan 
•  Lesson plans about Korea

Background

KOREAN WAR

• Many families were separated during the Korean War, and many never saw their relatives again. In the story, the grandfather returns to the DMZ because he remembers the land from before the division, he wants to feel close to where his family once lived, and he shares the longing felt by separated families across the peninsula. Korean War: Families remain divided 70 years later
• Timeline of the Korean War leading up to the formation of the DMZ.
• Summary of the Korean War (video)

THE DMZ

• The DMZ is known as a wildlife sanctuary because of its expanse of untouched land. Some unique species live there, including: 
  • Asiatic Black Bear: A species classified as vulnerable. A cub was captured on camera in 2019, and this is good news since it shows the biodiversity of the DMZ.
  • The DMZ is a seasonal home to two species of cranes, the red-crowned and white-naped. These cranes thrive due to the untouched land that allows them to rest and breed.
  • Significance of the crane in Korean culture: The Fascinating Origins and Folklore of Crane Symbolism
• The Valley shown in the book represents the untouched natural areas inside the DMZ. These valleys protect endangered animals, preserve nature without human interference, as well as symbolize peace and harmony. 
• The Dora Observatory allows visitors to look across the border into North Korea. Through large binoculars, visitors can see villages, farmlands, unoccupied military posts, the North Korean flag, and parts of the surrounding landscape. This is the location the grandfather visits in the story to see the north sky and use the binoculars.  
• The Iron Horse Train on the cover of the book and throughout the story is one of the most important symbols near the DMZ. This rusted train was damaged during the Korean War and has remained in place for more than seventy years. It still has all the bullet holes and signs of war. It represents the once-connected railway between North and South Korea and the hope that the line may reconnect in the future. There is a phrase next to it at the Imjingak Park which says, “철마는 달리고 싶다,” meaning “The iron horse wants to run.” This phrase expresses a longing for movement, reunion, and peace. The train symbolizes both the division of the Korean peninsula and the hope shared by separated families.
• Imjingak is a major landmark near the DMZ that was created to remember the Korean War and honor separated families. It includes the North Korea Center, where visitors can view North Korean clothing, currency, posters, and everyday items. These artifacts help visitors understand daily life in North Korea. Many families visit Imjingak during holidays to feel closer to lost loved ones and pray for them at the monument dedicated to separated families. 15 Interesting Things To Do At Imjingak Park Near The DMZ.  

LANGUAGE POINTS

• In the story, the grandfather remembers a time where Korea was united, before they split into North and South Korea. Let's learn some terms from the story!
• 할아버지 (hal-a-beo-ji) - Grandfather
• 대한민국 (dae-han-min-gug) - South Korea 
• 북한 (buk-han) - North Korea (This is just a common term used in South Korea) 
• 봄 (bom) – Spring
• 여름 (yeo-leum) – Summer
• 가을 (ga-eul) – Autumn
• 겨울 (kgyeo-ool) – Winter 
• 두루미 (du-ru-mi) – red-crowned crane

• Access a video for pronunciation of terms in When Spring Comes to the DMZ.