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The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies
The rise of South Korea is one of the most unexpected and inspirational developments of the latter part of our century. A few decades ago, the Koreans were an impoverished, agricultural people. In one generation they came out of the fields and into Silicon Valley. In 1997, this powerhouse of a nation reeled and almost collapsed as a result of a weak financial system and heavily indebted conglomerates. The world is now watching to see whether the Koreans will be able to reform and continue their stunning growth.Although Korea has only recently found itself a part of the global stage, it is a country with a rich and complex past. Early history shows that Koreans had a huge influence on ancient Japan, and their historic achievements include being the first culture to use metal movable type for printing books. However, much of their history is less positive; it is marred with political violence, poverty, and war--aspects that would sooner be forgotten by the Koreans, who are trying to focus on their promising future.The fact that Korean history has eluded much of the world is unfortunate, but as Korea becomes more of a global player, understanding and appreciation for this unique nation has become indispensable.In The Koreans, Michael Breen provides an in-depth portrait of the country and its people. An early overview of the nature and values of the Korean people provides the background for a more detailed examination of the complex history of the country, in particular its division into the Communist north and pro-Western south.In this absorbing and enlightening account of the Koreans, Michael Breen provides compelling insight into the history and character of this fascinating nation.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2014
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December 28, 2020
The title is a lie.
This book is an British expat's view on the two Koreas from within the Republic of (South) Korea. Yes, "America's troubled relations" play a role in his telling, but it's absolutely not what the book is about. Instead, you get a historical overview of pre-modern Korea, from puppet kingdom to out-Confucianing Confucian China, then asserting itself as Joseon, then losing itself in the Japanese occupation, then splitting in two, and the South taking off on a bumpy, often police-state-y path to eventual democracy. This book was written before (I think) the (South) Korean Invasion into the international music and beauty scenes, so there's not a lot said about (South) Korean culture projection.
Like CHINA ROAD by Rob Gifford, the outsider lens is interesting, even as (South) Korea has made itself more visible (if maybe not too easily accessible), but maybe a certain British tinge troubled my reading. Both books tend to make strong-sounding assertions of "national character" which, especially as regards such an ethnically homogeneous country as (South) Korea, creeps pretty close to race-essentialism for my taste. It's especially weird when compared with the objectively rapid and bewildering pace of change that (South) Korea went through after the war, from bombed-out starvation to industrialized middle-class nation to democracy in a few generations. When Grandma remembers having to break up the ice in her inkwell at school, Dad remembers his fellow students getting shot at a protest, and the kids don't remember a government that wasn't democratically elected, I'd say it's hard to say what "the Koreans" are like.
Naturally, the later parts are most interesting: Mr. Breen recounts his actual experience doing journalism in late-authoritarian, early-democratic South Korea, and his journalistic talents make for compelling reading. It's hard to imagine how I would feel living in a modern-ish country where mass demonstrations against the police are raging right below the coffee shop where I've posted up (oops, until 2020 I guess...) I also appreciate the third-party perspective on USA-ROK relations, but I have no other knowledge to compare it against.
The biggest lack, of course, is coverage of North Korea, but that's unfortunately only natural.
2.5 stars rounded up. It seems like a decent overview of modern (South) Korea, up to the Nineties at least.
This book is an British expat's view on the two Koreas from within the Republic of (South) Korea. Yes, "America's troubled relations" play a role in his telling, but it's absolutely not what the book is about. Instead, you get a historical overview of pre-modern Korea, from puppet kingdom to out-Confucianing Confucian China, then asserting itself as Joseon, then losing itself in the Japanese occupation, then splitting in two, and the South taking off on a bumpy, often police-state-y path to eventual democracy. This book was written before (I think) the (South) Korean Invasion into the international music and beauty scenes, so there's not a lot said about (South) Korean culture projection.
Like CHINA ROAD by Rob Gifford, the outsider lens is interesting, even as (South) Korea has made itself more visible (if maybe not too easily accessible), but maybe a certain British tinge troubled my reading. Both books tend to make strong-sounding assertions of "national character" which, especially as regards such an ethnically homogeneous country as (South) Korea, creeps pretty close to race-essentialism for my taste. It's especially weird when compared with the objectively rapid and bewildering pace of change that (South) Korea went through after the war, from bombed-out starvation to industrialized middle-class nation to democracy in a few generations. When Grandma remembers having to break up the ice in her inkwell at school, Dad remembers his fellow students getting shot at a protest, and the kids don't remember a government that wasn't democratically elected, I'd say it's hard to say what "the Koreans" are like.
Naturally, the later parts are most interesting: Mr. Breen recounts his actual experience doing journalism in late-authoritarian, early-democratic South Korea, and his journalistic talents make for compelling reading. It's hard to imagine how I would feel living in a modern-ish country where mass demonstrations against the police are raging right below the coffee shop where I've posted up (oops, until 2020 I guess...) I also appreciate the third-party perspective on USA-ROK relations, but I have no other knowledge to compare it against.
The biggest lack, of course, is coverage of North Korea, but that's unfortunately only natural.
2.5 stars rounded up. It seems like a decent overview of modern (South) Korea, up to the Nineties at least.
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