This is a beautifully constructed book written by a South Korean about contemporary Korea. It covers some Korean history but the emphasis is on the way people live in South Korea today.
The tone of the writing is light and at time humorous; reminiscent of similar country-specific essays one would find in the National Geographic Magazine in the United States.
However such topics as Admiral Yee, Son-in-Law Country, Hwang Ji-ni, Mongol, Japanese, & American Occupations, Shamanism (the real religion of Koreans) and many others are not even hinted at.
Good place to begin learning about Korea, nevertheless.
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From the Publisher
INTRODUCTION
All things Korean, from music and film to food, design and technology, have burst onto the world stage in recent years and South Korea is certainly having a moment. This ancient country has come into the 21st century limelight with hallyu (Korean Wave), the rise of the popularity of South Korean culture, reaching a crescendo in the last decade. But before I go on, you must be warned – this isn’t just a run-of-the-mill cultural travel guide on where to go and what to see in South Korea. The Korean peninsula is much more complex than what these material barometers can measure and, as Aristotle said, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. From kimchee to K-pop and everything in between, this book will unpack what it means to be Korean in all its forms, through the unfiltered eyes of a Korean native who has been immersed in a Korean upbringing and cultural setting for nearly 40 years.
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CHAPTER 1: A BRIEF HISTORYWhat’s in a name? An incredible ancient history in the case of Korea, whose past is permanently etched into its name. The term Korea stems from the name Koguryŏ (also spelled Goguryeo), one of the earliest kingdoms of Korea, which later evolved to become Koryŏ (or Goryeo). Life on the Korean peninsula can be traced as far back as the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages. Several excavated sites across the peninsula today indicate that the earliest inhabitants used tools made from animal horns to hunt during the Paleolithic period, while from around 8,000 bc, the use of more polished stone tools and farming began. These were the most primitive beginnings of a region that would later be ruled by kingdoms. |
CHAPTER 2: THE KOREAN PENINSULASouth Korea is divided into nine main provinces, which include Chungcheongbukdo, Chungcheongnamdo, Gangwondo, Gyeonggido, Gyeongsangbukdo, Gyeongsangnamdo, Jeollabukdo, Jeollanamdo and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Within these provinces, there are eight administrative divisions designated as ‘Special Cities’ which are at the same level as provinces. These cities include Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Sejong and Ulsan. South Korea covers about 45 percent of the peninsula, while North Korea occupies the remainder. There are also five northern provinces governed by South Korea that are located entirely in North Korea. The five northern provinces are Hwanghaedo, Pyeongannamdo, Pyeonganbukdo, Hamkyeongnamdo and Hamkyeongbukdo. |
CHAPTER 3: THE KOREAN SPIRITIt’s hard to find a culture where family isn’t important in some way, shape or form. It’s a universal thread that runs through the fabric of life across all boundaries and what brings people together in all corners of the world. In Korean society, family is not simply important – it’s everything. Family forms the bedrock from which the foundation of its culture has been built and from where key aspects of its cultural beliefs and norms radiate. There may be no other group where the saying ‘Blood is thicker than water’ rings more true than among Koreans. |
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CHAPTER 4: RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL LIFELet’s face it. Families are complicated, regardless of your background, and it’s no different for Korean families. The dynamics of any relationship, be it between family, friends or lovers, is so specific to people and their shared circumstances. But there are some common understandings passed down through generations of tradition that can be traced in many Korean families. How strongly they resonate in any given Korean household differs from family to family. As mentioned earlier, one undisputed element is that of filial piety (having the utmost respect for your parents and other elders in your life), which is at the core of Confucian teachings that are deeply rooted in Korean culture. This ultimate respect naturally dictates the dynamics within Korean families and is played out in everyday life. |
CHAPTER 5: AT THE TABLEFrom lip-smacking spicy street eats to innovative Michelin starred fare, Korean cuisine has burst onto the culinary scenes of major capitals around the world in recent years, with the South Korean capital Seoul now boasting a Michelin Guide with more than 186 recommended venues, including nearly 30 Michelin starred restaurants. Here, I’ll take you through some of the basics of Korean dining etiquette, signature foods and how to navigate a Korean menu. |
CHAPTER 6: K CULTUREWhile the K-pop music genre began to rise in the early 1990s, it was the success of the song ‘Gangnam Style’ by South Korean rapper Psy that turned it into the global phenomenon it has become today. As a fellow Korean, seeing Psy’s now famous horse-riding dance move featured on television screens across the world, a good part of me cringed in embarrassment for it being so cheesy. Yet the world embraced the tune and danced with open arms, igniting strong interest in K pop from a Western audience for the first time |
CHAPTER 7: K LIFESTYLEA few years ago when I was in South Korea, I had an encounter with an uncle of mine whose first words upon seeing me for the first time in about 25 years weren’t ‘hello’ or ‘how are you’ but rather ‘What’s happened to your skin You used to have such white porcelain skin as a little girl ... you’re darker now’, referring to my tanned skin at the time, which I’d earned from my travels around some sunnier parts of the world in the months prior to my visit. |
Top reviews from other countries
Tatjana Svetova
Lovely book, but came with a scratched cover, disappointed :(
Reviewed in Germany on June 15, 2022
Tatjana Svetova
Reviewed in Germany on June 15, 2022
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