What do you think?
Rate this book
Coreia: Uma Breve História do Norte e do Sul
A major new history of North and South Korea, from the late nineteenth century to the present day
Korea has a long, riveting history—it is also a divided nation. South Korea is a vibrant democracy, the tenth largest economy, and is home to a world-renowned culture. North Korea is ruled by the most authoritarian regime in the world, a poor country in a rich region, and is best known for the cult of personality surrounding the ruling Kim family. But both Koreas share a unique common history.
Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo draw on decades of research to explore the history of modern Korea, from the late nineteenth century, Japanese occupation, and Cold War division to the present day. A small country caught amongst the world’s largest powers—including China, Japan, Russia, and the United States—Korea’s fate has been closely connected to its geography and the strength of its leadership and society. This comprehensive history sheds light on the evolving identities of the two Koreas, explaining the sharp differences between North and South, and prospects for unification.
Korea has a long, riveting history—it is also a divided nation. South Korea is a vibrant democracy, the tenth largest economy, and is home to a world-renowned culture. North Korea is ruled by the most authoritarian regime in the world, a poor country in a rich region, and is best known for the cult of personality surrounding the ruling Kim family. But both Koreas share a unique common history.
Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo draw on decades of research to explore the history of modern Korea, from the late nineteenth century, Japanese occupation, and Cold War division to the present day. A small country caught amongst the world’s largest powers—including China, Japan, Russia, and the United States—Korea’s fate has been closely connected to its geography and the strength of its leadership and society. This comprehensive history sheds light on the evolving identities of the two Koreas, explaining the sharp differences between North and South, and prospects for unification.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2023
238 people are currently reading
4160 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
December 20, 2023
This may be one of the most important books I have ever read. As I’m on a journey of further growing in my own identity as a Korean American, this book is a work of art, and I cannot begin to express its importance to me (although I will try).
It is written in an easy to understand format, starting from the beginnings of Korean history to today. I love how this book captures the multidimensional parts of a nation through history, politics, culture, economics and sociology. And I love that the writers ensure that we recognize and appreciate the humanity, resilience, and presence of the Korean people.
Dr. Cha and Dr. Ramon- thank you for teaching me, helping me learn more about my grandparents and their parents, and the people and places they came from. Thank you for igniting a newfound passion for Korean history and international relations. Thank you for strengthening my compassion and understanding of the North Korean people. Thank you for teaching me more about myself.
It is written in an easy to understand format, starting from the beginnings of Korean history to today. I love how this book captures the multidimensional parts of a nation through history, politics, culture, economics and sociology. And I love that the writers ensure that we recognize and appreciate the humanity, resilience, and presence of the Korean people.
Dr. Cha and Dr. Ramon- thank you for teaching me, helping me learn more about my grandparents and their parents, and the people and places they came from. Thank you for igniting a newfound passion for Korean history and international relations. Thank you for strengthening my compassion and understanding of the North Korean people. Thank you for teaching me more about myself.
October 27, 2023
Pleased to announce I have finally finished a book for the first time in a few months (????).
Moving house has put a dent in my spare time (along with pouring liquids into cups, being a superstar dj obvs, and being a socialite).
This book was ace, solidarity to the 33,000 that have left the North and are now living down under (the South). Lots of assassinations, war and famine - the big 3 I guess!
Great read for my upcoming trip
Moving house has put a dent in my spare time (along with pouring liquids into cups, being a superstar dj obvs, and being a socialite).
This book was ace, solidarity to the 33,000 that have left the North and are now living down under (the South). Lots of assassinations, war and famine - the big 3 I guess!
Great read for my upcoming trip
February 4, 2024
Proszę Państwa, mamy passę bardzo dobrych koreańskich publikacji w tym roku.
February 24, 2024
Reportaż obfity w treść i ogromnie wartościowy. Co prawda zebranie wszystkich faktów/ informacji sprawiło, że jest to wymagająca, czasochłonna i momentami trudna w lekturze książka, jednak niewątpliwie warta uwagi.
December 27, 2024
I've been looking for a substantive history of Korea and not finding it in the library, so bought this recently (2023) published book without any prior knowledge of it. Korea: A New History of South and North is not exactly what I was after, as it disposes of the period prior to 1945 in 28 pages. I'd like to track down a book that covers earlier years in more detail. Nonetheless, the late twentieth century history of Korea is told well and built upon what I've already come across. What I really gained from this book, though, is a much better understanding of the issues around Korean reunification. The authors were present at many workshops and meetings discussing this, so have a lot of thoughtful points to make. They trace the evolution of reunification rhetoric and policy on both sides of the DMZ, which I found very informative. Over the decades there has been a great deal of talk without any progress.
Memorably, the authors compare the theoretical reunification of Korea with the most relevant historical case study: German reunification after the fall of the Iron Curtain. That was a complex, expensive, and fraught process, leaving political splits and resentments that allow the former border to be traced on 2024 electoral maps. However Germany was not split for as long as Korea has been, nor was the economic divergence between East and West so substantial, and there was more cross-border interaction than Korea has had for the past 70 years. On the other hand, Germany had not been a country for even a century before it split, whereas Korea spent thousands of years as a single nation prior to the Korean War. The book therefore cautions that detailed examination of this case study was not necessarily helpful for South Korean policy-makers:
Another aspect of Korea: A New History of South and North I found especially interesting is the account of North Korea's economic and political changes in the 21st century. I had not realised that in recent decades the Kim regime has abandoned many trappings of communism, in favour of totalitarian military dictatorship with a personality cult. Although it isn't really capitalist, North Korea now has a substantially market-based economy. The Kim dynasty still appears to be firmly in control, although the authors concede that North Korea is so secretive that assertions about its present are largely speculative, never mind predictions of its future. The regime could collapse completely this year or continue as it is for a hundred more. The most recent innovation is closer ties with Russia over the Ukraine War, where North Korean troops have been deployed.
With a keen focus on the last fifty years, Korea: A New History of South and North is a readable and thought-provoking work of political history. While there are also some elements of social and cultural history, politics is the focus. I enjoyed learning about the geopolitical context in which both Koreas have operated in recent decades, and specifically the issues around potential reunification. The authors consider whether any other nation has reason to actively oppose reunification and argue that only China does, in part because it is 'the only country in the region that is benefitting economically from North Korea today'. (Apparently China has agreements to extract minerals and coal from North Korea on preferential terms.) The economic divergence between North and South Korea, respectively among the poorest and richest nations in the world, is truly extraordinary when you think about it. I feel better informed for reading Korea: A New History of South and North, although I still want to explore further back in time and more widely in terms of society and culture.
Memorably, the authors compare the theoretical reunification of Korea with the most relevant historical case study: German reunification after the fall of the Iron Curtain. That was a complex, expensive, and fraught process, leaving political splits and resentments that allow the former border to be traced on 2024 electoral maps. However Germany was not split for as long as Korea has been, nor was the economic divergence between East and West so substantial, and there was more cross-border interaction than Korea has had for the past 70 years. On the other hand, Germany had not been a country for even a century before it split, whereas Korea spent thousands of years as a single nation prior to the Korean War. The book therefore cautions that detailed examination of this case study was not necessarily helpful for South Korean policy-makers:
The result was that while the end of this period [1989-98] saw important political agreements among the two Koreas and its neighbours, these agreements neither individually nor collectively contributed to the unification process more than the earlier 'winner-takes-all' or bukjin tongil period. What this period did show, however, was that through the study of German unification and its potential application to the Korean situation, new parameters were set regarding costs, caution, and prudence as to how the Koreans and the world thought about unification. These parameters, once set, would act as empirical blinders for the next decade.
Another aspect of Korea: A New History of South and North I found especially interesting is the account of North Korea's economic and political changes in the 21st century. I had not realised that in recent decades the Kim regime has abandoned many trappings of communism, in favour of totalitarian military dictatorship with a personality cult. Although it isn't really capitalist, North Korea now has a substantially market-based economy. The Kim dynasty still appears to be firmly in control, although the authors concede that North Korea is so secretive that assertions about its present are largely speculative, never mind predictions of its future. The regime could collapse completely this year or continue as it is for a hundred more. The most recent innovation is closer ties with Russia over the Ukraine War, where North Korean troops have been deployed.
With a keen focus on the last fifty years, Korea: A New History of South and North is a readable and thought-provoking work of political history. While there are also some elements of social and cultural history, politics is the focus. I enjoyed learning about the geopolitical context in which both Koreas have operated in recent decades, and specifically the issues around potential reunification. The authors consider whether any other nation has reason to actively oppose reunification and argue that only China does, in part because it is 'the only country in the region that is benefitting economically from North Korea today'. (Apparently China has agreements to extract minerals and coal from North Korea on preferential terms.) The economic divergence between North and South Korea, respectively among the poorest and richest nations in the world, is truly extraordinary when you think about it. I feel better informed for reading Korea: A New History of South and North, although I still want to explore further back in time and more widely in terms of society and culture.
June 7, 2024
Korea: A New History of South and North is a thorough examination and history of modern Korea (1945/post Japanese imperialism to 2023/current day), and is presented in a way that even those that have the littlest knowledge about the Korean peninsula can understand.
Dr. Cha and Professor Pardo wonderfully bring the reader a sharp and educational account of the history of North and South Korea post-Japanese rule/WWII to today, with small personal accounts within. This book manages to go between the history of North versus South Korea as it evolves, without the reader getting lost. Once we are brought up to present day Korea, the authors then go into the 'what-ifs?' Cha and Pardo try to cover every avenue of possibility in what a reunified Korea would look like and what it would take to get there.
While some criticize Cha and Pardo's more Western outlook on North and South Korea, it's important to realize that that's the audience this book is geared towards. This book is meant to not only educate about Korea, but also to inspire further conceptualization and conversation about the ongoing strife between the two, as well as the possibility of reunification. You are not going to reach a target Western audience if you don't have them in your sights.
I personally applaud Dr. Cha and Professor Pardo's efforts here. These are two highly intelligent men, but they wrote a book that anyone can pick up. While there is a word or phrase or two that hint at a slight bias when speaking about modern US politics, the book is otherwise largely free of bias, particularly when it comes to Korea and its people and history.
I left this book feeling much more informed than I could have imagined. For example, take the modern, prosperous South Korea. It's hard to image how this country could be anything but, but the late 20th century was littered with corruption, violence, and bankruptcy for the nation. This is definitely a book I would own to highlight in and reference back to.
Dr. Cha and Professor Pardo wonderfully bring the reader a sharp and educational account of the history of North and South Korea post-Japanese rule/WWII to today, with small personal accounts within. This book manages to go between the history of North versus South Korea as it evolves, without the reader getting lost. Once we are brought up to present day Korea, the authors then go into the 'what-ifs?' Cha and Pardo try to cover every avenue of possibility in what a reunified Korea would look like and what it would take to get there.
While some criticize Cha and Pardo's more Western outlook on North and South Korea, it's important to realize that that's the audience this book is geared towards. This book is meant to not only educate about Korea, but also to inspire further conceptualization and conversation about the ongoing strife between the two, as well as the possibility of reunification. You are not going to reach a target Western audience if you don't have them in your sights.
I personally applaud Dr. Cha and Professor Pardo's efforts here. These are two highly intelligent men, but they wrote a book that anyone can pick up. While there is a word or phrase or two that hint at a slight bias when speaking about modern US politics, the book is otherwise largely free of bias, particularly when it comes to Korea and its people and history.
I left this book feeling much more informed than I could have imagined. For example, take the modern, prosperous South Korea. It's hard to image how this country could be anything but, but the late 20th century was littered with corruption, violence, and bankruptcy for the nation. This is definitely a book I would own to highlight in and reference back to.
May 26, 2024
wybitna!
August 8, 2024
Very informative and helpful for understanding the basics of Japanese colonization, the Korean War, the North and South’s changes throughout the decades, and the logistics of reunification. I found this book very approachable and enjoyable. I think everyone should read this book.
March 10, 2024
Mocno wygładzona i zamerykanizowana wersja historii Korei. W 90% historii politycznej, gdzie wpływy amerykańskie są dobitnie podkreślane. Niemalże brak w tej książce historii społecznej i kulturalnej. Za to dowiemy się o życiu osobistym i zawodowym autorów.
Treść jest skoncentrowana (150 lat historii na 300 stronach), ale nie obyło się bez wypełniaczy takich jak np.: zimy w Korei Północnej są zimne, Korea ma długą i bogatą historię, ludzie są zapracowani i przez to powstają opóźnienia... Śmiechłam. Takie teksty świadczą o braku umiejętności pisarskich i chęci ominięcia jakiś niewygodnych tematów. Tak, Korea (na początku jako całość) jest przedstawiana jako ofiara. Wszystko przez swoje geopolityczne położenie. Później Korea Południowa jest tą dobrą, bo ciągle musi pamiętać o swoim sąsiedzie z Północy. O udziale Koreańczyków w wojnie w Wietnamie nie dowiemy się niczego. Dodatkowo dużo tu treści jak z przewodników turystycznych, czyli nazw rzek, czy gór oraz dokładny opis budynków wraz z wysokością.
Osobiście nie polecam tej książki, choć wiem, że osoby które nie chcą czytać kilku opracowań o tym kraju, wybiorą koncentrację treści. Nie jestem fanką takich rozwiązań. I nie jestem fanką przedstawiana czarno-białej wybiórczej historii.
Treść jest skoncentrowana (150 lat historii na 300 stronach), ale nie obyło się bez wypełniaczy takich jak np.: zimy w Korei Północnej są zimne, Korea ma długą i bogatą historię, ludzie są zapracowani i przez to powstają opóźnienia... Śmiechłam. Takie teksty świadczą o braku umiejętności pisarskich i chęci ominięcia jakiś niewygodnych tematów. Tak, Korea (na początku jako całość) jest przedstawiana jako ofiara. Wszystko przez swoje geopolityczne położenie. Później Korea Południowa jest tą dobrą, bo ciągle musi pamiętać o swoim sąsiedzie z Północy. O udziale Koreańczyków w wojnie w Wietnamie nie dowiemy się niczego. Dodatkowo dużo tu treści jak z przewodników turystycznych, czyli nazw rzek, czy gór oraz dokładny opis budynków wraz z wysokością.
Osobiście nie polecam tej książki, choć wiem, że osoby które nie chcą czytać kilku opracowań o tym kraju, wybiorą koncentrację treści. Nie jestem fanką takich rozwiązań. I nie jestem fanką przedstawiana czarno-białej wybiórczej historii.
April 23, 2025
Książka dobra jako wstęp do historii obu Korei ale ja mam osobiście spory niedosyt.
February 16, 2025
A disappointment, but I guess I should have known what to expect from two Western so-called "experts" on Korea. What these two people have to say about Korea is all from a specifically Western (namely American) lens. I think the authors of this book posit themselves as gracious and magnanimous in their views toward to North, but the pro-U.S. imperialism under-/overtones and anti-communist rhetoric left a bad taste in my mouth. It is laughable to frame the US as a charitable benefactor to the Korean people, but I suppose that's always what pro-U.S. propaganda comes down to. A lot of the "aid" the US provides to foreign territories are veiled forms of imperialism. Do you know how many active military bases there still are in Korea? The authors only talk about how much South Korea has benefitted from the U.S.--that U.S. aid is essentially what made South Korea the export powerhouse it is today. But what of irreversible damage western interference has done to our country? The mass carpet bombings? The fact that U.S. military troops killed 20% of all Koreans during the war? The fact that to this very day, Korea is still at war, severed at the waist for the imperialist agenda?
It took me so long to finish this book because I took a hiatus before the last chapter and frankly was debating on whether or not to pick it back up. I will admit my formal knowledge of Korean history is lacking, which is precisely why i picked up this book, but I know enough to tell this book is nothing but dog shit, and I could have easily picked up a different book about Korean history instead. Literally fuck this.
EDIT: if anyone is interested in learning about the about the korean war in a real, critical way and through an anti-imperialist lens, check out season 3 of the Blowback podcast. Its about $25 for the whole year, and it includes access to the other seasons too! Thats about the price of a hardcover book for loads of well-thought and put-together information, and it includes a bunch of other resources too.
It took me so long to finish this book because I took a hiatus before the last chapter and frankly was debating on whether or not to pick it back up. I will admit my formal knowledge of Korean history is lacking, which is precisely why i picked up this book, but I know enough to tell this book is nothing but dog shit, and I could have easily picked up a different book about Korean history instead. Literally fuck this.
EDIT: if anyone is interested in learning about the about the korean war in a real, critical way and through an anti-imperialist lens, check out season 3 of the Blowback podcast. Its about $25 for the whole year, and it includes access to the other seasons too! Thats about the price of a hardcover book for loads of well-thought and put-together information, and it includes a bunch of other resources too.
June 2, 2024
AMAZING OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF KOREA! Would 10/10 recommend to anyone who is looking for a quick-ish to gain a better understanding of the history, language, conflicts, politics, and culture of the peninsula.
Bonus points for the phenomenal cover too!
Bonus points for the phenomenal cover too!
May 12, 2025
I think I erased my own review when I amended it down to one star from two. but....save yourself some time and just translate all the Goodreads review in polish and read those. this book sucks.
or, if you love US imperialism and rewriting history, this book is great.
Cha and Pardo gloss over western violence, support for brutal dictatorships and economic hegemony. but they're Bush II era diplomats so what did I expect? (actually I expected this book would be cool because of the nice cover, but after I read a sentence about Koreans "welcoming" the 1945 U.S. occupation, I googled the authors and LOLed to death.)
the book is more of a tale of palace intrigue and high level diplomacy than any serious inquiry into how society/politics/mass movements/economies work. I don't think one guy going to visit another guy changes history, personally. by leaving out everything else that would explain the Korean peninsula, this book is pure capitalist fantasy.
it's hard to find accurate accounts of either of the Koreas in the 20th century. I have found a few, but they mostly cover 1945-1953. I had hoped this book would at least cover the broad swaths of the second half of the 20th century...but it was absolute garbage.
I'm no Marxist-Leninist DPRK apologist, but this book is ahistorical crap.
or, if you love US imperialism and rewriting history, this book is great.
Cha and Pardo gloss over western violence, support for brutal dictatorships and economic hegemony. but they're Bush II era diplomats so what did I expect? (actually I expected this book would be cool because of the nice cover, but after I read a sentence about Koreans "welcoming" the 1945 U.S. occupation, I googled the authors and LOLed to death.)
the book is more of a tale of palace intrigue and high level diplomacy than any serious inquiry into how society/politics/mass movements/economies work. I don't think one guy going to visit another guy changes history, personally. by leaving out everything else that would explain the Korean peninsula, this book is pure capitalist fantasy.
it's hard to find accurate accounts of either of the Koreas in the 20th century. I have found a few, but they mostly cover 1945-1953. I had hoped this book would at least cover the broad swaths of the second half of the 20th century...but it was absolute garbage.
I'm no Marxist-Leninist DPRK apologist, but this book is ahistorical crap.
September 18, 2024
Great overview of modern Korean history. The authors have witnessed firsthand key diplomatic events throughout the last several decades which gives the book a personal touch as well.
I particularly liked the chapter on different challenges a unified Korea will have to overcome - including potential social division and discrimination, mass migration, setting up telecommunications lines, etc. it’s helpful to look at the challenges Germany faced after unification in the 90s to see that it’s a long and challenging process but potentially very worthwhile.
I particularly liked the chapter on different challenges a unified Korea will have to overcome - including potential social division and discrimination, mass migration, setting up telecommunications lines, etc. it’s helpful to look at the challenges Germany faced after unification in the 90s to see that it’s a long and challenging process but potentially very worthwhile.
April 15, 2025
Прекрасна, малка книжка от 200 страници. Не е като да прочетох нещо, което не знам в общи линии, но има подробно описани много политически и исторически събития за двете Кореи в периода от края на 19 век до наши години.
Книгата е преведена и издадена от издателство Труд съвсем наскоро.
Лично като фен на Южна Корея трябваше да я имам и да я прочета! 😁
На който му е интересна тази тема - може да чете.
Книгата е преведена и издадена от издателство Труд съвсем наскоро.
Лично като фен на Южна Корея трябваше да я имам и да я прочета! 😁
На който му е интересна тази тема - може да чете.
February 1, 2025
Een tijdje geleden vroeg Claudia aan mij:
“Weet jij waar dat vandaan komt? Kim Jong-Un enzo?”
Ik kom geen antwoord bedenken naast “iets met de Korea-oorlog denk ik”. Dit vond ik natuurlijk niet kunnen en besloot daarom in het onderwerp te duiken.
Dit boek is echt de perfecte binnenkomer voor mensen die helemaal niks weten over de twee Korea’s. Het is ongelofelijk licht geschreven en leest heel makkelijk weg. Er wordt voornamelijk gefocust op Korea vanaf 1900, waardoor er veel tempo in zit en je niet te lang vast zit in Koreaanse Oudheid of Middeleeuwen.
Het verhaal van de twee Korea’s is super interessant en de twee schrijvers vertellen het met veel kunde. De Japanse bezetting, de heerschappij van de Kim-familie, de dictaturen in Zuid-Korea, het belang van Gangnam Style en zelfs de opkomst van K-pop en K-drama komen allemaal naar voren. Deze afwisseling in donkere en lichte thema’s houdt het boek enorm interessant.
Ik ben echt blij dat de schrijvers het ook over K-pop enzo hebben, terwijl ik daar helemaal niks (maar dan ook echt niks) mee heb. Toch wil je als lezer weten waar die gekte vandaan komt. Het was een goede keuze om niet alleen op diplomatische geschiedenis te focussen.
5/5!!!!
“Weet jij waar dat vandaan komt? Kim Jong-Un enzo?”
Ik kom geen antwoord bedenken naast “iets met de Korea-oorlog denk ik”. Dit vond ik natuurlijk niet kunnen en besloot daarom in het onderwerp te duiken.
Dit boek is echt de perfecte binnenkomer voor mensen die helemaal niks weten over de twee Korea’s. Het is ongelofelijk licht geschreven en leest heel makkelijk weg. Er wordt voornamelijk gefocust op Korea vanaf 1900, waardoor er veel tempo in zit en je niet te lang vast zit in Koreaanse Oudheid of Middeleeuwen.
Het verhaal van de twee Korea’s is super interessant en de twee schrijvers vertellen het met veel kunde. De Japanse bezetting, de heerschappij van de Kim-familie, de dictaturen in Zuid-Korea, het belang van Gangnam Style en zelfs de opkomst van K-pop en K-drama komen allemaal naar voren. Deze afwisseling in donkere en lichte thema’s houdt het boek enorm interessant.
Ik ben echt blij dat de schrijvers het ook over K-pop enzo hebben, terwijl ik daar helemaal niks (maar dan ook echt niks) mee heb. Toch wil je als lezer weten waar die gekte vandaan komt. Het was een goede keuze om niet alleen op diplomatische geschiedenis te focussen.
5/5!!!!
December 11, 2024
Very interesting book on the modern history of Korea. Learned quite a few new things and was enlightened about the relationship between North and South Korea. Being young, it’s easy to think South Korea has always dominated the world in technology, culture, and economics; however, I know now that South Korea’s meteoric rise is more recent than I would have initially guessed. I don’t typically read history books, and now I’m hoping there are more books like this to help me understand the world.
Read
June 8, 2025Recenzja z dedykacją dla Wiktorii:
Przyjemna do przeczytania i chyba wyciągnie mnie z kryzysu czytelniczego, ale jeśli ktoś tak jak ja miał w gimnazjum fazę na Koreę Północną to ta książka będzie tylko powtórką. Ciągłe podkreślanie tego jak super jest USA też na minus xd
Przyjemna do przeczytania i chyba wyciągnie mnie z kryzysu czytelniczego, ale jeśli ktoś tak jak ja miał w gimnazjum fazę na Koreę Północną to ta książka będzie tylko powtórką. Ciągłe podkreślanie tego jak super jest USA też na minus xd
February 9, 2025
“The start of this new history will not be easy, but then again, very little in history has come easy for Korea and for Koreans. But they have demonstrated time and again a remarkable resilience and ability to overcome all odds.”
I wasn’t expecting to become so immersed in a nonfiction book! I’ve been interested in Korean history & politics for a while now, satiating this curiosity mainly with youtube documentaries. I saw this book and figured I should expand into learning through reading!
I hesitated on giving this book a star rating — consider it solely a measure of my enjoyment while reading and not a testament to how accurate it is (I am by no means educated on this enough to speak on that). The storytelling was succinct yet descriptive, perfect to newcomers looking to get an overview. I was surprised, however, that the role of chaebols in South Korean politics was not touched upon nearly as much as I would have expected.
The history of Korea itself is both tragic and triumphant — from experiencing the clutches of a brutal Japanese occupation to post-liberation falling into a nation-dividing conflict fueled by U.S.-Soviet tensions, Korea has been an unfair victim to the problems of global superpowers for centuries. The earlier part of this book speaks on this colonialist perspective, best described by the following quote that stuck with me:
“The enthusiasm for trusteeship in Korea, in Africa, and in Indochina was informed by Americans' self-perceived success in the Philippines, which progressed under fifty years of tutelage before Ivy-league Westerners felt comfortable that brown-skinned subjects could be trusted to govern themselves.”
Despite the repeated stealing of land and erasure of culture by various colonizers, the rise to international success for South Korea over the years proves the persistence and pride of their people. The discussion surrounding reunification of the two Koreas remains hazy, but the authors provide various perspectives on how this might be approached in the future.
Kind of dying to read another nonfiction book asap I feel imbued with knowledge….
I wasn’t expecting to become so immersed in a nonfiction book! I’ve been interested in Korean history & politics for a while now, satiating this curiosity mainly with youtube documentaries. I saw this book and figured I should expand into learning through reading!
I hesitated on giving this book a star rating — consider it solely a measure of my enjoyment while reading and not a testament to how accurate it is (I am by no means educated on this enough to speak on that). The storytelling was succinct yet descriptive, perfect to newcomers looking to get an overview. I was surprised, however, that the role of chaebols in South Korean politics was not touched upon nearly as much as I would have expected.
The history of Korea itself is both tragic and triumphant — from experiencing the clutches of a brutal Japanese occupation to post-liberation falling into a nation-dividing conflict fueled by U.S.-Soviet tensions, Korea has been an unfair victim to the problems of global superpowers for centuries. The earlier part of this book speaks on this colonialist perspective, best described by the following quote that stuck with me:
“The enthusiasm for trusteeship in Korea, in Africa, and in Indochina was informed by Americans' self-perceived success in the Philippines, which progressed under fifty years of tutelage before Ivy-league Westerners felt comfortable that brown-skinned subjects could be trusted to govern themselves.”
Despite the repeated stealing of land and erasure of culture by various colonizers, the rise to international success for South Korea over the years proves the persistence and pride of their people. The discussion surrounding reunification of the two Koreas remains hazy, but the authors provide various perspectives on how this might be approached in the future.
Kind of dying to read another nonfiction book asap I feel imbued with knowledge….
November 12, 2023
*I listened to this as an audiobook and it was so great*
This book offers an insightful, knowledgeable and accessible history of modern Korea. It is evident that the authors know what they are talking about and are able to navigate the various intricacies with respect and facts.
Most importantly, it answered my long held questions: why is there a North and a South Korea? When did this occur? What does a 'communist' country look like today?
It also sparked my interest in Korea and has made me interested in learning more about the language and culture (and possibly even visiting the South).
Success all 'round.
This book offers an insightful, knowledgeable and accessible history of modern Korea. It is evident that the authors know what they are talking about and are able to navigate the various intricacies with respect and facts.
Most importantly, it answered my long held questions: why is there a North and a South Korea? When did this occur? What does a 'communist' country look like today?
It also sparked my interest in Korea and has made me interested in learning more about the language and culture (and possibly even visiting the South).
Success all 'round.
August 29, 2023
This book was very interesting and informative but it needs copy editing. Its current state isn’t really worthy of the qualifications of its authors
January 16, 2024
Este livro reúne a história da Coreia. A fase embrionária e a fase adulta da mesma. A divisão, a subtração do Norte e a adição do Sul.
As dicotomias entre as duas é gritante. A Coreia do Sul pauta-se pelo regime democrático, pela harmonia social e pela abertura. A Coreia do Sul tem tido, ao longo do tempo, um desenvolvimento notável em todas as áreas. Evolução tecnológica, assim como artística, fazem desta Coreia uma referência a nível mundial. O cinema tem vindo a divulgar o potencial daquele povo. Parasitas, é um filme que retrata bem a mestria inerente àquela sociedade livre e criativa.
Por sua vez, a Coreia do Norte, adota a filosofia comunista na sua política, fazendo com que o contexto social se afirme através da desigualdade e da injustiça. A opressão faz com que o povo seja inibido e não conheça muito para além da miséria.
Os autores conseguem recapitular a história, indo ao detalhe sem saturar, e isso é bastante valorativo. Percebemos os porquês, os contextos e o que leva a que os contrastes sejam e continuem a ser óbvios. A ocupação japonesa, a independência a muito custo, a divisão com o eclodir Guerra Fria, são alguns dos momentos retratados neste livro.
O papel de inúmeras potências para o estabelecimento de alguma ordem, as inúmeras ajudas humanitárias, o jogo de interesses na ocupação do território que se traduziram em instabilidade, entre muitos outros pormenores.
Um livro que se foca no essencial e que, por isso, é uma ótima sugestão para percebermos o papel histórico de divisão.
As dicotomias entre as duas é gritante. A Coreia do Sul pauta-se pelo regime democrático, pela harmonia social e pela abertura. A Coreia do Sul tem tido, ao longo do tempo, um desenvolvimento notável em todas as áreas. Evolução tecnológica, assim como artística, fazem desta Coreia uma referência a nível mundial. O cinema tem vindo a divulgar o potencial daquele povo. Parasitas, é um filme que retrata bem a mestria inerente àquela sociedade livre e criativa.
Por sua vez, a Coreia do Norte, adota a filosofia comunista na sua política, fazendo com que o contexto social se afirme através da desigualdade e da injustiça. A opressão faz com que o povo seja inibido e não conheça muito para além da miséria.
Os autores conseguem recapitular a história, indo ao detalhe sem saturar, e isso é bastante valorativo. Percebemos os porquês, os contextos e o que leva a que os contrastes sejam e continuem a ser óbvios. A ocupação japonesa, a independência a muito custo, a divisão com o eclodir Guerra Fria, são alguns dos momentos retratados neste livro.
O papel de inúmeras potências para o estabelecimento de alguma ordem, as inúmeras ajudas humanitárias, o jogo de interesses na ocupação do território que se traduziram em instabilidade, entre muitos outros pormenores.
Um livro que se foca no essencial e que, por isso, é uma ótima sugestão para percebermos o papel histórico de divisão.
September 2, 2024
Very interesting and detailed but also easy to follow overview of the History of North and South Korea.
Read
January 17, 2025now I’m going to feel like I’m watching k-dramas with some Authority
September 6, 2024
Bought this prior to going to South Korea 🇰🇷 bc I saw it on a friend's bookshelf and I was captured by the cover. So glad I did grab it before my trip bc it was brilliant, it made me want to stay and explore the country for longer. Learnt a lot and highlighted most of the book - it's brief but extensive in its coverage of the Koreas (🇰🇷🇰🇵) modern history (e.g. politics, pop culture, economics, gender etc) and it's incredibly engaging, coming from someone that usually struggles with non-fiction. The authors did a great job of contextualising key events in the Koreas with important events occurring elsewhere in the world, particularly important bc the Koreas are a product of the great powers of the time via the cold war. You can tell the author's are incredibly knowledgeable on the Koreas but the book was still very accessible for someone who only had a very cursory knowledge.
I find the story of the Koreas the most fascinating in modern history, from Japanese colonisation, their division, the civil war and their incredibly divergent paths. Both dystopian but in very different ways - with SK's education system putting kids through 12-15 hr days (incl cram schools) only to get jobs in industry leading but exploitative chabeols (Samsung, Hyundai) while NK runs an oppressive dictatorship and only exists due to its nuclear stockpile (which is continues to build). Pacheco and Cha taught me a lot of things I should have already known, like the fact SK had a dictatorship and their own Tiananmen Square massacre when they rolled out tanks to suppress student pro-democracy protests in Gwangju (the Gwangju uprising), and a lot of other interesting things, including that NK women have become the breadwinners in the country after the post-1990 famine as they are the ones operating the markets that keep the country alive (while men work for the government and military). They didn't have some things that I wanted more info on such as NK's state-sponsoted meth labs (read about them in a mémoire).
I lost a little interest during reunification section as it rehashed info I'd already read elsewhere in the book. It would have been better to simply integrate this section within the chronological structure the rest of the book followed, rather than dedicating a disjointed chapter of its own. Also, the some more recent events weren't contextualised with the same depth as events that happened further back in time which was a little frustrating as I would have loved to have learned more. For example, the reasons why the Hallyu wave has captured the West was not covered. The book also stated SK'S response to COVID was one of the best in the world, but didn't explain what they did and why it was successful. I'm guessing this may be the case bc there's currently limited research on these things.
Overall, well worth reading and def one to bring on a trip to SK. Now I feel a bit disappointed that I didn't get to spend more time in Korea (was only there 4 days) bc I now have a reinvigorated interest in the country (my pre-BXL koreaboo self is back, nice to see that a LOONA-ite (HeeJin) is still dropping bangers w Video Game, the soundtrack of my trip).
I find the story of the Koreas the most fascinating in modern history, from Japanese colonisation, their division, the civil war and their incredibly divergent paths. Both dystopian but in very different ways - with SK's education system putting kids through 12-15 hr days (incl cram schools) only to get jobs in industry leading but exploitative chabeols (Samsung, Hyundai) while NK runs an oppressive dictatorship and only exists due to its nuclear stockpile (which is continues to build). Pacheco and Cha taught me a lot of things I should have already known, like the fact SK had a dictatorship and their own Tiananmen Square massacre when they rolled out tanks to suppress student pro-democracy protests in Gwangju (the Gwangju uprising), and a lot of other interesting things, including that NK women have become the breadwinners in the country after the post-1990 famine as they are the ones operating the markets that keep the country alive (while men work for the government and military). They didn't have some things that I wanted more info on such as NK's state-sponsoted meth labs (read about them in a mémoire).
I lost a little interest during reunification section as it rehashed info I'd already read elsewhere in the book. It would have been better to simply integrate this section within the chronological structure the rest of the book followed, rather than dedicating a disjointed chapter of its own. Also, the some more recent events weren't contextualised with the same depth as events that happened further back in time which was a little frustrating as I would have loved to have learned more. For example, the reasons why the Hallyu wave has captured the West was not covered. The book also stated SK'S response to COVID was one of the best in the world, but didn't explain what they did and why it was successful. I'm guessing this may be the case bc there's currently limited research on these things.
Overall, well worth reading and def one to bring on a trip to SK. Now I feel a bit disappointed that I didn't get to spend more time in Korea (was only there 4 days) bc I now have a reinvigorated interest in the country (my pre-BXL koreaboo self is back, nice to see that a LOONA-ite (HeeJin) is still dropping bangers w Video Game, the soundtrack of my trip).
November 3, 2025
Writing history books is hard. That’s what reading several such ‘introduction to country X’ books has taught me. Authors face many difficult choices: what time period to cover, what level of detail to go into, what structure is best (thematic versus chronological say), who is likely to read this book? This last question is particularly tricky when writing about less (for want of a better word) popular times or places. There is not a deep bench of history books about South Korea, which means authors (not particularly fairly) get saddled with meeting many different needs, from the total novice to the repeat visitor.
So, how do the authors Victor D. Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo fare with their conjoined history of South and North Korea? They chose a sensible timeframe; many non-academic history books fall at this hurdle by trying to cover a country’s entire sweep of history, condemning the reader to walking away remembering nothing. Cha and Pardo opt for the 20th century and beyond, something I know steer towards if at all possible in books of this kind. The book is also in chronological order, not some tortuous thematic setup that renders learning about a place much more challenging.
Unfortunately, the authors do not get the balance of detail right though. In one of those paradoxes that makes sense when you regularly read history books, they manage to include too much and too little detail. In the section on the Japanese occupation, for example, we get almost no description of how the colonisation happened (too little detail) followed by reams of statistics detailing how the country changed under Japanese rule (too much detail that should have been put in graphs if included at all). Events are mentioned with no context, such as the “historic landing at Incheon”, historic presumably to those in the know but not readers of this book. I would say the intended audience is the Korea enthusiast, yet the overall tenor and brevity of the book does not support this view.
Luckily, the overabundance of the wrong sort of detail is an issue largely confined to the first half of the book. In the latter half, the authors own experiences clearly come into play. We are treated to first-hand accounts of significant events or of their travels in the North as well as the South. Here the book comes into its own, as we look behind the curtain into US policy making or UN machinations. The over-detail of the first chapters falls away and the book has an immediacy lacking before.
Even in the latter stages, the book can be a somewhat heavy read. At times, this is because of some surprisingly (and generally out of style) florid prose: “Victor [D. Cha] stared at the tables, cognisant that few westerners would have a chance to view this piece of history cloistered in North Korea”. At others, the book falls into another typical pitfall of the popular history: writing as if the audience were academics. In a section contrasting North and South Korea, we are invited to consider “an interesting analytical point for those interested in the diverging fortunes of the two Koreas”. Such a sentence should never be uttered in standard trade paperback.
Yet, as mentioned, there is not a deep bench of books about Korea. Compared to works on similarly English-language-book-poor countries like Latvia, Brazil or Portugal that I have struggled through, this book is readable and you will learn something about the place, if not as much as you could have done had a few better choices been made.
So, how do the authors Victor D. Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo fare with their conjoined history of South and North Korea? They chose a sensible timeframe; many non-academic history books fall at this hurdle by trying to cover a country’s entire sweep of history, condemning the reader to walking away remembering nothing. Cha and Pardo opt for the 20th century and beyond, something I know steer towards if at all possible in books of this kind. The book is also in chronological order, not some tortuous thematic setup that renders learning about a place much more challenging.
Unfortunately, the authors do not get the balance of detail right though. In one of those paradoxes that makes sense when you regularly read history books, they manage to include too much and too little detail. In the section on the Japanese occupation, for example, we get almost no description of how the colonisation happened (too little detail) followed by reams of statistics detailing how the country changed under Japanese rule (too much detail that should have been put in graphs if included at all). Events are mentioned with no context, such as the “historic landing at Incheon”, historic presumably to those in the know but not readers of this book. I would say the intended audience is the Korea enthusiast, yet the overall tenor and brevity of the book does not support this view.
Luckily, the overabundance of the wrong sort of detail is an issue largely confined to the first half of the book. In the latter half, the authors own experiences clearly come into play. We are treated to first-hand accounts of significant events or of their travels in the North as well as the South. Here the book comes into its own, as we look behind the curtain into US policy making or UN machinations. The over-detail of the first chapters falls away and the book has an immediacy lacking before.
Even in the latter stages, the book can be a somewhat heavy read. At times, this is because of some surprisingly (and generally out of style) florid prose: “Victor [D. Cha] stared at the tables, cognisant that few westerners would have a chance to view this piece of history cloistered in North Korea”. At others, the book falls into another typical pitfall of the popular history: writing as if the audience were academics. In a section contrasting North and South Korea, we are invited to consider “an interesting analytical point for those interested in the diverging fortunes of the two Koreas”. Such a sentence should never be uttered in standard trade paperback.
Yet, as mentioned, there is not a deep bench of books about Korea. Compared to works on similarly English-language-book-poor countries like Latvia, Brazil or Portugal that I have struggled through, this book is readable and you will learn something about the place, if not as much as you could have done had a few better choices been made.
July 30, 2024
Probably one of the easiest, least dry non-fiction prose I've read so far this year - a definite recommendation for those who know bits and pieces of modern Korean history but need a refresher on specific policies or events that have lead up to what the peninsula looks like today.
The sporadic self-inserts/breaking of the fourth wall were a bit of an odd narrative choice, but they overall didn't disrupt the narrative that much!
The sporadic self-inserts/breaking of the fourth wall were a bit of an odd narrative choice, but they overall didn't disrupt the narrative that much!
September 6, 2023
A very informative crash course on modern Korean history. I knew the basics, but wanted a book that goes into further detail, yet was still accessible for any reader. I've seen a few other Korean history books out there, but they seemed to be geared towards a more academic audience. This book did a great job at clearly explaining what happened, why it happened and gave some interesting perspectives from both Koreas. The authors' unique experiences are highlighted throughout. And what I found really useful and fascinating was the last chapter that laid out the different historical approaches to reunification, how it might work and what the impact would be.
I wish I could rate this even higher, but the writing quality really needed another review. In some places, it becomes far too informal for a book like this. Lots of uses of "though" at the end of sentences. It was quite jarring. With some better editing I probably would have given this 4.5 stars, it was such a valuable read for me, but I'll leave it at 4 stars.
I wish I could rate this even higher, but the writing quality really needed another review. In some places, it becomes far too informal for a book like this. Lots of uses of "though" at the end of sentences. It was quite jarring. With some better editing I probably would have given this 4.5 stars, it was such a valuable read for me, but I'll leave it at 4 stars.
June 23, 2024
It’s amazing that I was able to understand 100% of this book that talks about the history and geography of-political climate of both north and South Korea. While I may only retain a small percentage of that, I did enjoy learning about the division of the two countries and what it would take to get them to reunite and the financial, political, psychological & geographical ramifications and costs. This was well researched and provided a lot of data, without being boring or making me tune out.
July 3, 2024
Lektura obowiązkowa dla każdego kto chce sie wypowiedzieć w temacie obu Korei
Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews