Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jaganath69]

That book is a miasma of generalizations and appologies for Korean exceptionalism. Statements like "peninsular peoples are firey" "Korean food is the hottest in the world" and "North Korea is the most Communist country and South Korea is the most capitalist country" are sheer nonsense. Isn't this guy meant to be some kind of academic? If anyone else with such a claim produced a bunch of rot like this, unsubstantiated without researched facts, it would be laughed all the way to the rubbish bin. It made me feel like I had read a Chick tract without the religion.

[butter808fly]

I also liked 'Korea unmasked'. I thought it was a fun read, and insightful and not to biased even though it was written by a Korean! Definatly recommend it.

[ulsanchris]

I liked it, but BUT there are quite a few things about it that I didn't like.

It was fairly honest about koreans and their culture, but it did go too far on too many things. pretty much all the stuff that jaganath69 said in his post. Korean food is the hottest food in the world. What a bunch of tripe.

[Mashimaro]

[Kiddirts]

I read around 40pages in and had to put it down. All they do is brag about Korea's economy improving and Korea is great because of this and this and this and NOT ONCE did they mention all the help the USA gave them and all the money the USA pumped in here. Thanks but no thanks. They didn't mention the help they got from other nations and this is where the book is majorly flawed. Thankless, unappreciative people these Koreans are.

[rapier]

[ulsanchris]

speaking about not giving other countries any credit for helping korea, when it mentioned that the steal mill in pohang was built I don't think they mentioned that the money came from japan. Of course the money was tied to war guilt. I don't have my copy of the book at home right now but I'm pretty sure it negelects this.

[hocbas]

[Len8]

Without McCarthur, Inchon and Ridgway they'd be bowing to Kim Jong il.
Most Koreans seem to know and grudgingly acknowledge this, but when they have a beef they all conveniently forget. Nothing wrong with getting a handout now and again, but I guess they got too big a thing about losing face.

Paper Tiger. "Right On"

[philinkorea]

I really enjoyed that. One of my favourite books about korea along with The koreans, who they are what they want where their future lies my Micheal Breen. These are 2 great books. Obviously can be criticised but a top introduction I think for anyone coming to korea

[Hyeon Een]

I had a pretty advanced conversation class of four opinionated girls. I photocopied a few pages of this book for one class. For those that read it, it was the bit about Koreans all copying each other/one upping each other (the bit with one neighbour getting a big tv, then all the other neighbours wanting one etc.), all the kids going to Hagwans coz their neighbours kids did too, and all the churches having big red neon crosses and so forth.

Anyway, they hated it. They thought (and I agreed with them) that it was all gross generalizations. They did laugh at the bit about everyone in the apartment building wanting big TVs coz their neighbour had them, but on the whole they found the generalizations irritating. They were surprised when I told them a Korean wrote it actually. I suspect if I'd used all the bits about how awesome Korea is they might have liked it however.

Hmm. Anyway, I think the book is pretty trite, and oversimplifies the country. Especially all the drivel about it is the way it is because its a peninsula. (Reminds me of when I mentioned in passing to a Korean friend that Korea eats a lot of seaweed compared to Britain. I was told that it was because it's a peninsula and has water on three sides.. when I pointed out that Britain has water on ALL sides.. their explanation kinda collapsed heh.)

For someone NOT living here it probably is a pretty good introduction to the country before you come though. Take parts of it with a pinch of salt though.

-HE

[edited because of a couple of typos.]