Korean Job Discussion Forums

alicat_blue · Joined: 09 Mar 2005

I was curious if anyone else has read this social commentary/comic book (graphic novel?) all about the history, culture and social problems concerning Korea, both North and South. I found it to be very interesting as well as enlightening. It's truly amazing what this country has endured over the last hundred years. Constant invasions, first from China and then Japan, then the terrible civil war within Korea immediately after the Japan departure. And finally the split between the north and the south. I was fascinated by the authors' view on what it would take to reunite the split nation. I was also very interested by his take on the education fever that has consumed the South Korean people. I highly recommend this book and if you've already read it, what do you think?

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Korea Unmasked

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

sistersarah · Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Location: hiding out

yeah, i bought it used and i've read about half of it. i won't read the other half. pretty boring. and there's something i don't like about the author's view...tone...i don't know. can't put my finger on it.

alicat_blue · Joined: 09 Mar 2005

Sure, I believed it. Why not? What about it do you not believe?

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

I just read like the first page. The author was comparing the relationship between Korea, Japan, and China to that of the nations of Western Europe. His argument was that the Asian nations share far less in common than the nations of Western Europe do. To back this up he stated that they all use forks, share the same alphabet etc., whereas, the Asian nations share none of these things. It made me laugh since they all use chopsticks, the all share the same religion, and I'm pretty sure the languages are closer related than he would seem to think.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Jeez, lighten up people. It was told in a light hearted way to ease people into understanding a huge spectrum of Korean mindset and culture. Of course it's going to be done in a nutshelled format. Name me any writer who has attempted the metaphorical Mt. Everest of Korean topical writing and wrote specifically in such a fashion to appease the cynicism of eslcafe males. Rolling Eyes

alicat_blue · Joined: 09 Mar 2005

You really think that China, Japan and Korea are all very similar, especially concerning religion? Now that's a generalization I think any Korean would find insulting.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I didn't see one insinuation of him ever throwing down a gauntlet and saying that this is the first and last book one will ever have to read on Korea. He uses comedy and cartoons to create an approachable overview of a huge swath of subjects. I suppose he could've dedicated an extra 300-400 pages to get into the finer and more trivial points of culture comparisons, history, etc...Sure, I wish there was more substance and definition about the Korean war and cultural idiosyncracies, but going deep on any one thing was obviously not his objective, when looking at the vast range of topics he lightly touched on.

antoniothegreat · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Location: Yangpyeong

well, i havent read the book, but god, if you ask any westerner, yeah, China, Korea and Japan are similar. ask an Asian, and Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia are pretty similar. Ask an African, and France, England, and Germany are pretty similar, ask an Israeli, and Panama, Mexico, and Cuba are the same... you get the point.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 7:45 am Post subject:

I feel like this is some orchestrated campaign to sell books. The same types of threads keep popping up, and up, and up. Every few months.

stat · Joined: 22 Apr 2005

my opinion:
if you're here for a year and know sweet FA about Korea then it'll probably be a good read. Otherwise it's a disappointment. It seems like a great concept, but it glazes over complex issues with simple (false?) generalisations. If you know a little about Korea already, it probably won't be too hard for you to see a lot of bias pervading every single issue he writes about.

I started it but I'm finding it hard to motivate myself to finish it. I'm finding 'Bug' a far more insightful read into Korean culture.

But again, if you want Korean history/culture on a plate, then here is a McDonalds' Meal Deal.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

I liked the book...

It was lighthearted and took a different perspective on things..

Some of the authors views you could drive a truck through and it certainly took a pro-Korean slant but still entertaining nontheless...

I also read the same authors one that specifically talks about japan(not in English yet - only Korean) and that one was very very good

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.