Korean Job Discussion Forums

EmilyGish · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Location: Texas

I have just accepted an ESL position in Seoul and I have a little time to kill before the position starts. Are there any books about South Korea or Seoul that you could recommend I check out?

Thanks in advance!

wade_fleming · Joined: 17 Nov 2008

a book from Lonely Planet would be useful and interesting. Check out their website too.

lonelyplanet.com

Mochi · Joined: 20 Oct 2008

By all means read the lonley planet at the library but don't buy it. I did and I have barely used it at all for reference. I read through the intro sections on the plane but the appendix is really spare and the info on the tourist places in the country are so generic you're better off just using the net once you get here.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:22 pm Post subject:

Two new posters telling a third to learn more about Korea while in Korea by reading the Lonely Planet Laughing

THAT is how Dave's is different these days.

richardlang · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Location: Gangnam

Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History by Bruce Cumings is a good place to start.

EmilyGish · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Location: Texas

Thanks for the suggestions!

I also wanted to recommend one of my own. I just finished reading The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies by Michael Breen. I would highly recommend it, except that the �Where Their Future Lies� section is a bit dated as the book was published in 1998. Overall, though, a good read.

Ultimo Hombre · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Location: BEER STORE

Aquariums of Pyongyang.

Sums it up.

michaelambling · Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Location: Paradise

American English by Andrew Luxner. It's hysterical, and kinda touching at times.

zeldalee13 · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

"Korea" by Simon Winchester.

zeldalee13 · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

"The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War" by David Halberstam

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

Prisoner of Wonderland

here's a link

http://www.lulu.com/content/86610

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

The Koreans by Michael Breen.

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

Breen's book is good, as is Winchester. "How Koreans Talk" is a book of Korean idioms. Most of them are not in use anymore, but the explanations are a good insight into the culture.

EmilyGish · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Location: Texas

Thanks so much for all the good suggestions- there are several mentioned that I am going to look into.