Korea, a country of major significance within the East Asian culture sphere, is also a country of historical and contemporary importance to the United States. Divided in 1945 into two zones, the North and the South, the communist northern sector became a formidable economic and military power, while the phenomenal growth of the southern sector's economy has made South Korea a Third World development success story, and the economic and cultural ties between the United States and South Korea continue to grow. This teaching guide suggests approaches for teachers who, although unable to devote an entire unit to the study of Korea, may wish to include Korea in a unit on East Asia. The guide contains three sections: (1) Korea--cultural transformer and transmitter; (2) Korea--vortex of conflict; and (3) Korea--division and reunification (South Korea, modern economic power; North Korea, bastion of communism and self-reliance; reunification, the common dream). A timeline and maps of the country are also included. (DB)