Teaching East Asia: Korea Teaching East Asia: Korea | Page 5

About the Author
Mary Connor taught United States history and Asian Studies for 35 years, served as President
and Program Director of the Korea Academy for Educators (2004-2012), and serves as Advisor
for the National Korean Studies Seminar (2014-2017). Since 2004, she has organized
approximately 100 days of workshops on Korea from coast to coast and published two library
reference books (The Koreas: A Global Studies Handbook and Asia in Focus: The Koreas). She
has received the Republic of Korea’s Prime Minister’s Award and has been recognized by the
Korean Consulate General Los Angeles for her efforts to educate Americans about Korea. She
has accepted awards from the Council of Korean Studies at Michigan State University, the Peace
Corps Association, and the Organization of American Historians. Since 2009, Connor has served
as an editor of Education About Asia, the leading journal for educators who teach about Asia.
Acknowledgements
I have many individuals to thank for assisting me over the past twenty years in pursuing my
interest in Korean history and culture. I particularly want to express my gratitude to my husband,
Gerry Fallon, for his confidence in me and for editing two library reference books and numerous
articles that have appeared in educational journals. I appreciate the confidence and support of the
Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA), the Korean Consulate General Los Angeles, and
the Korea Society for my two fellowships to study and travel in South Korea. I also wish to
thank Lucien Ellington, Editor of Education About Asia (EAA), for his encouragement to write
The Koreas: A Global Studies Handbook and Asia in Focus: The Koreas and for publishing
many of the lessons, reviews, and articles that I submitted to EAA.
Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to Nakjung Kim, Director of KCCLA, for his
sustained support and Daniel Kim, Education General Manager, the first person to suggest
publishing this resource book for educators. I also wish to thank Sung Soon Kim, Project
Director, who obtained the funding to make this book a reality and provided valuable assistance
in the editing process. I also wish to thank our graphic designer, In Hoe (Jessica) Chang, who
created this beautiful book to inspire educators to teach about Korea and Jini Shim for her major
role in finalizing the second edition of this book on Korea. The Executive Director of the Korea
Tourism Organization in Los Angeles, Tae Shik Kim, and his staff provided the exquisite
photographs contained in this publication. Ernest Lee, Executive Director of Korean Friendship
Bell Preservation Committee, provided the historical information related to the Friendship Bell.
It is my hope that teachers will not only bring Korea into their classrooms, but that some will
also make plans to study, travel, and even experience teaching in Korea.
Teaching East Asia: Korea includes references to the California History-Social Science
Framework. While each state has its own framework, I believe that the California Framework
will be a very helpful and inspiring guide for educators throughout the United States.
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