Korean Culture

Korea was one of the last countries in Asia to be visited by Westerners, and its borders have remained largely unchanged since it was unified in the seventh century. Though it is one of the world's oldest and most ethnically homogeneous states, Korea was not born in a vacuum. Geographically isolated, the country was heavily influenced by powerful China and was often used as a bridge to the mainland by Japan. Calling themselves as "a shrimp among whales", Koreans borrowed elements of government, culture, and religion, all the while fiercely fighting to maintain independence.

Apart from the headline-making politics, not much is known in the West about the Korean people and their ancient culture. Yet those who visit Korea, whether North or South, find a land of great interest. The Koreans, when not constrained by politics or other considerations, are friendly and sociable, and the peninsula has areas of outstanding natural beauty. The South’s cities, if not always beautiful, are vibrant and alive. The North, while very different, is complex and fascinating.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers, a chronicle of the extraordinary feats of heroism by Marines called on to do the impossible during the greatest battle of the Korean War. "Superb ... A masterpiece of thorough research, deft pacing and arresting...

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.

In this charmingly chaotic follow-up to A Magical Girl Retires, our favorite millennial-turned-magical girl begrudgingly returns to the workforce to fight crime and the forces of evil. Our protagonist from A Magical Girl Retires is done with the magical girl life . . . but the magical girl life...

From the indie rockstar of Japanese Breakfast fame, and author of the viral 2018 New Yorker essay that shares the title of this book, an unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity. In this exquisite story of family, food, grief...

In the stunning debut novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Pachinko, the Korean-American daughter of first-generation immigrants strives to join Manhattan's inner circle. National Book Award finalist Min Jin Lee introduces the unforgettable Casey Han: a strong-willed, Queens-bred...

Long overshadowed by Japan and China, South Korea is a small country that happens to be one of the great national success stories of the postwar period. From a failed state with no democratic tradition, ruined and partitioned by war, and sapped by a half-century of colonial rule, South Korea transformed itself in just 50 years into an economic powerhouse and a democracy that serves as a model for other countries. With no natural resources and a tradition of authoritarian rule, Korea managed to accomplish a second Asian miracle.

A charming, life-changing guide to living a longer, happier, healthier life, rooted in Korean self-care. From the country scientists predict will top longevity charts in 2030. Ssukgat, or Chrysanthemum greens, are treasured in Korean culture for their healing abilities. You can coax its withered...

This is Innovative language Learning. This Audiobook will take you through the basics of Korean with Basic Bootcamp, All About, and Pronunciation lessons. The five Basic Bootcamp lessons each center on a practical, real-life conversation. At the beginning of the lesson, we'll introduce the background of the conversation. In the fifteen All About lessons, you'll learn all about Korean and Korea.

South Korea 101 is a book that shares with you practical information that holds great value in better understanding the Korean mindset and culture! If you have an interest in Korea and Korean people then this book will bring you tremendous value. I cover subjects like: How to eat spicy foods, how to not get run over by vehicles in Korea, dating in Korea and many more!

One of the New York Times’ 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. In this New York Times bestseller, four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family fight to control their destiny in 20th-century Japan—read by Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Sandra Oh. “Stunning.” —New York Times...

KOREAN MYTHS Korean mythology has interesting links to the ancient matriarchal tradition. We find celestial gods and heroes, but also shamanesses and brave girls who became goddesses after overcoming great obstacles. We will discover the foundation of the Three Kingdoms and the first kings who sat on the Phoenix Throne, but we will also listen to traditional shamaness songs about the origins of the world and the gods of home and agriculture. We will meet tigers, foxes, dragons and other creatures of Korean folklore, discovering their stories, sometimes close to those of Chinese and Japanese...

There is an ancient Chinese proverb that states, "Two tigers cannot share the same mountain." However, in East Asia, there are three tigers on that mountain: China, Japan, and Korea, and they have a long history of turmoil and tension with each other. In his latest entertaining and thought-provoking narrative travelogue, Michael Booth sets out to discover how deep, really, the enmity is between these three "tiger" nations and what prevents them from making peace.

Celebrate Jungkook, the once-in-a-generation talent at the center of BTS, in this illuminating look into the forces that have made him a global icon. Jungkook is one of the world’s biggest stars, period. His first album, Golden, sold more than 2 million copies on the day of its release and...

One of Porchlight's Business Books of the Year | One of Vox's Best Books of 2023 | An NPR Book of the Day | Required Reading from New York Post | One of Nylon's 13 May Books to Add to Your Reading List | One of PureWow's 14 Books to Read for AAPI Heritage Month | One of W Magazine's 14 Books to...

Step inside the rabbit hole. From the first click on a dazzling music video to the addictive ritual of replaying a chorus and learning a bias's moves, The K-Pop Culture Handbook is the one companion every fan — new, returning, or longtime — has been missing. Written as the guide the author wished they'd had when they first fell in love with K-Pop, this book decodes the industry, the fandom, and the rituals that make K-Pop a global cultural force. Whether you're a curious "baby stan" just discovering this universe or an experienced multi-stan who wants deeper context and strategy, this ...

The Unbroken Peninsula Divided by war, shaped by history. A land that never truly healed. Korea: An Unbroken History of Survival, Identity, and Influence Korea’s history is often summarized by invasion, occupation, and division. But those moments alone do not explain how a nation repeatedly pushed to the edge of erasure continues to stand—rooted in memory, culture, and identity. This book tells the longer story. Spanning from Korea’s earliest foundations to its modern global presence, this work traces the pivotal moments that permanently reshaped the peninsula. It is not a military ...

A land famous for green tea and the martial art of tae kwon do, South Korea lies on a peninsula in southern Asia. Many small islands fill the waters off its coast, including the volcanic Cheju Island. Learn all about South Korea’s landscapes, the everyday life of its people, and the country’s history with North Korea.

Are you learning Korean? Knowing more words is one of the best ways to speak and understand more Korean. And if you want to sound like a native speaker, you'll need vocab that's relevant to Korean culture and daily life and that is actually used by Korean people. With Learn Korean: Discover Korean Culture & Traditions by KoreanClass101.com, you learn the must-know vocab and Korean cultural insights that you won't find in a textbook.