Teaching East Asia: Korea Teaching East Asia: Korea | Page 155

Traditional and Contemporary Korean Popular Culture
Gregg Brazinsky, Nation Building in South Korea: Koreans, Americans,
and the Making of a Democracy (University of North Carolina
Press, 2007). Brazinksy examines America’s role in rebuilding
South Korea after the Korean War. Chapter Five focuses on Rhee’s
development of an autocratic regime and suggests how Ameri-
cans supported the emergence of a developmental autocracy be-
cause it was economically viable to do so.
Many students believe Om Sokdae represents Syngman Rhee,
and the fifth grade teacher in Our Twisted Hero symbolizes the
United States. A textual rendering of this section allows students
to draw parallels and better understand America’s decision to look
the other way by allowing Rhee to ruthlessly govern for over a
decade.