7. Why is there a development gap between North and South Korea?

Intended for Y8 but suitable for Y9, this lesson is part of a fully-resourced synoptic unit about Asia designed to draw together pupils’ learning from the past two years in Geography. The unit includes elements of coasts, rivers, climate change, development, urbanisation and looks at more challenging and contemporary issues such as the roots of the development gap between North and South Korea and also the abuse of Uighers in China.

This lesson briefly introduces the history of conflict between the two Koreas and moves on rapidly to examine the impacts of this in terms of development indicators. Pupils they become familiar with the concept of an authoritarian dictatorship and personality cult. The role of internment camps is examined in some detail to hook pupils’ interest. Pupils examine if NK is indeed a communist country.