Synopses & Reviews
andlt;bandgt;South Korea's amazing rise from the ashes: the inside story of an economic, political, and cultural phenomenonandlt;/bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;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 fifty 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.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Daniel Tudor is a journalist who has lived in and written about Korea for almost a decade. In andlt;Iandgt;Korea: The Impossible Countryandlt;/Iandgt;, Tudor examines Korea's cultural foundations; the Korean character; the public sphere in politics, business, and the workplace as well as the family, dating, and marriage. In doing so, he touches on topics as diverse as shamanism, clan-ism, the dilemma posed by North Korea, the myths about doing business in Korea, the Koreans' renowned hard-partying ethos, and why the infatuation with learning English is now causing huge social problems.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;South Korea has undergone two miracles at once: economic development and complete democratization. The question now is, will it become as some see Japan, a rich yet aging society, devoid of energy and momentum? Or will the dynamism of Korean society and its willingness to changeand#8212;as well as the opportunity it has now to welcome outsiders into its foldand#8212;enable it to experience a third miracle that will propel it into the ranks of the world's leading nations in terms of human culture, democracy, and wealth?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;More than just one journalist's account, andlt;iandgt;Korea: The Impossible Countryandlt;/iandgt; also draws on interviews with many of the people who made South Korea what it is today. These include:andlt;BRandgt;andlt;ulandgt;andlt;liandgt; Choi Min-sik, the star of "Old Boy".andlt;/liandgt;andlt;liandgt; Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul.andlt;/liandgt;andlt;liandgt; Soyeon Yi, Korea's first astronaut Hong Myung-bo, legendary captain of Korea's 2002 FIFA World Cup team.andlt;/liandgt;andlt;liandgt; Shin Joong-hyun, the 'Godfather of Korean Rock'.andlt;/liandgt;andlt;liandgt; Ko Un, poet.andlt;/liandgt;andlt;liandgt; Hong Seok-cheon, restaurateur, and the first Korean celebrity to 'come out'.andlt;/liandgt;andlt;/ulandgt;andlt;BRandgt;And many more, including a former advisor to President Park Chung-hee; a Shaman priestess ('mudang'); the boss of Korea's largest matchmaking agency; a 'room salon' hostess; an architect; as well as chefs, musicians, academics, entrepreneurs, homemakers, and chaebol conglomerate employees.
Review
"Written with affection and deep knowledge, Daniel Tudor's book fills a huge gap in our understanding of one of Asia's least known countries. His engaging narrative overturns the stereotypes by depicting a society which, though full of stresses, strains and contradictions, has overcome poverty and dictatorship to become a prosperous democracy. South Korea's transformation into a vibrant, modern state is, as he says, a story that deserves to be better known. Tudor has done the "impossible country" a service by opening its secrets to the world." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;David Pilling, Asia Editor, andlt;iandgt;Financial Timesandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
"Daniel Tudor covers all the important issues, yet does not simply tell the more familiar stories but looks deeper and wider to give the full story of Korea today."—Martin Uden, Former British Ambassador to South Korea
"Offering fascinating insight into the role of women in South Korea, [Daniel Tudor] makes a strong economic case for why women's lives have been changing and why the pace of change will increase."—Cherie Blair, Leading Human Rights lawyer and founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
Review
"But this is not a history book. Tudor, Seoul correspondent for
The Economist, provides a fairly perfunctory account of the "miracle on the Han River", which saw South Korea transformed from postwar ruin to prosperous democracy within four decades.
The book's real value comes in its exploration of the cultural forces behind the country's zeal for self-improvement."
"He spends more time analysing the rise of Korean popular culture, which has swept across Asia during the past decade and is now going global with the success of PSY, the rapper whose hit, "Gangnam Style", has become a worldwide internet sensation. Some see PSY's breakthrough as evidence that South Korea is finally establishing itself in the global consciousness as the modern, sassy society it is. That may be true but his satire of life in the rich, fashionable Gangnam district of Seoul also reflects unease over the rising social divisions charted in Tudor's book."—Financial Times
"Daniel Tudor is one of the most influential foreign correspondents in South Korea—and one of the least known. As the reporter for the Economist, which doesn't use bylines, most of his work is published anonymously. But Mr. Tudor's profile is about to take a sharp rise with the publication of his new book, Korea: The Impossible Country.
Mr. Tudor pushes into new social and economic territory with his book, including the rising role of immigrants, multicultural families and even gay people in South Korea. He lays out some of the contradictory behavior one finds in South Korea, such as the unending desire for new and trendy gadgets and fashion and yet the tunnel-like view of what constitutes a successful life."—Wall Street Journal
"Books on Korea are a plenty, but few seem to really get beyond kimchi and k-pop and deal with some of the less often-discussed topics that affect Koreans on a daily basis. We were therefore interested to hear that Daniel Tudor, the Economist's Korea Correspondent, has a book coming out later this month that really delves deep into South Korean contemporary society. […]the book portrays Korea from a comprehensive and fascinating angle that's worth sharing with our readers."—KoreaBang.com
"With a new generation every five years, it's hard to keep up with Korea. This book is long overdue but Daniel Tudor has done a magnificent job filling the gap. Not only has he captured the new Korea, but he does so in an effortless style that leaves the reader wanting more."—Michael Breen, author of The Koreans
"Written with affection and deep knowledge, Daniel Tudor's book fills a huge gap in our understanding of one of Asia's least known countries. His engaging narrative overturns the stereotypes by depicting a society which, though full of stresses, strains and contradictions, has overcome poverty and dictatorship to become a prosperous democracy. South Korea's transformation into a vibrant, modern state is, as he says, a story that deserves to be better known. Tudor has done the "impossible country" a service by opening its secrets to the world."—David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times
Review
"But this is not a history book. Tudor, Seoul correspondent for
The Economist, provides a fairly perfunctory account of the "miracle on the Han River", which saw South Korea transformed from postwar ruin to prosperous democracy within four decades.
The book's real value comes in its exploration of the cultural forces behind the country's zeal for self-improvement."
"He spends more time analysing the rise of Korean popular culture, which has swept across Asia during the past decade and is now going global with the success of PSY, the rapper whose hit, "Gangnam Style", has become a worldwide internet sensation. Some see PSY's breakthrough as evidence that South Korea is finally establishing itself in the global consciousness as the modern, sassy society it is. That may be true but his satire of life in the rich, fashionable Gangnam district of Seoul also reflects unease over the rising social divisions charted in Tudor's book."—Financial Times
"Sixty years ago, South Korea was an economic wasteland. Today, it is not only the world's 11th largest economy, but also a vibrant democracy and an emerging cultural force. This transformation is the subject of a new book, Korea: The Impossible Country, by Daniel Tudor, Korea correspondent for the Economist. He argues that, thanks in part to its neighbors, South Korea is all too often overlooked. A pity, he says, since "South Koreans have written the most unlikely and impressive story of nation-building of the last century.""—Time Magazine
"Daniel Tudor is one of the most influential foreign correspondents in South Korea—and one of the least known. As the reporter for the Economist, which doesn't use bylines, most of his work is published anonymously. But Mr. Tudor's profile is about to take a sharp rise with the publication of his new book, Korea: The Impossible Country.
Mr. Tudor pushes into new social and economic territory with his book, including the rising role of immigrants, multicultural families and even gay people in South Korea. He lays out some of the contradictory behavior one finds in South Korea, such as the unending desire for new and trendy gadgets and fashion and yet the tunnel-like view of what constitutes a successful life."—Wall Street Journal
Review
"Books on Korea are a plenty, but few seem to really get beyond kimchi and k-pop and deal with some of the less often-discussed topics that affect Koreans on a daily basis. We were therefore interested to hear that Daniel Tudor, the
Economist's Korea Correspondent, has a book coming out later this month that really delves deep into South Korean contemporary society. […]the book portrays Korea from a comprehensive and fascinating angle that's worth sharing with our readers."—KoreaBang.com
"With a new generation every five years, it's hard to keep up with Korea. This book is long overdue but Daniel Tudor has done a magnificent job filling the gap. Not only has he captured the new Korea, but he does so in an effortless style that leaves the reader wanting more."—Michael Breen, author of The Koreans
"Written with affection and deep knowledge, Daniel Tudor's book fills a huge gap in our understanding of one of Asia's least known countries. His engaging narrative overturns the stereotypes by depicting a society which, though full of stresses, strains and contradictions, has overcome poverty and dictatorship to become a prosperous democracy. South Korea's transformation into a vibrant, modern state is, as he says, a story that deserves to be better known. Tudor has done the "impossible country" a service by opening its secrets to the world."—David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times
"Daniel Tudor covers all the important issues, yet does not simply tell the more familiar stories but looks deeper and wider to give the full story of Korea today."—Martin Uden, Former British Ambassador to South Korea
"Offering fascinating insight into the role of women in South Korea, [Daniel Tudor] makes a strong economic case for why women's lives have been changing and why the pace of change will increase."—Cherie Blair, Leading Human Rights lawyer and founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
"As a Korean entertainer and the head of an entertainment company, I've been representing my country for the past 18 years. I've always been curious about how foreigners perceived my country. At last, a book that answers all my questions is out. Korea: The Impossible Country is critical at times but you also feel Daniel Tudor's love and enthusiasm for this country all the way through. Hope this can be another great introduction to our country and our culture."—Park Jin-young, owner of the Korean label JYP
Review
"
Korea: The Impossible Country is an accessible, vibrantly written 360-degree explanation of what South Korea has become after half a century of break-neck change. Authored by the Seoul-based correspondent for the
Economist, Daniel Tudor (Somerville, 2000), itÆs a book I suspect we should all be reading."—
Oxford Today"Furthermore, unlike the majority of foreign correspondents in Seoul, Tudor has the natural advantage of actually being able to speak colloquial Korean well enough to really get under the skin of issues that affect Koreans, without the need of a local aide. Such language requirements might seem obvious, but it is undoubtedly the case that many foreign correspondents based in Seoul cannot speak the local language, unlike a substantial proportion of their colleagues in Beijing, for example.
The result is a balanced and, more importantly, up-to-date and relevant book that manages to avoid the usual traps and cliches that otherwise make literature on South Korea incredibly boring or predictable to read (South Korea is, in fact, anything but boring—and it is certainly unpredictable.)"—Asia Times Online
"And I have to say, it was quite an enjoyable read. …There's a fair amount of colorful detail in these chapters, and Mr. Tudor's brisk writing kept the pages turning for me. … if youÆre new to all things Korean, you should consider picking this up. Oh, and for a quick and entertaining introduction to Korean shamanism, I'm not sure this can be beat.ö—Asian Correspondent
Review
"[à] author of this extremely readable perspective on Korea gives a rare fair treatment of his subject matter as well as showing his deep affection, or the Korean "jeong" (as explained in the book, deep inter-affection) for it. [à] His dynamic narrative richly blends in his interviews with contemporary Koreans and is refreshing."—
The Korea Times"But South Korea has enormous strategic importance: some 28,000 American servicemen are stationed there, holding off the North Korean military threat and a rising Chinese one. This year, Seoul slid into the news when a rapper's music video went viral. But despite a few wrong-headed attempts to find cultural commentary in "Gangnam Style," illumination of the fascinating country was limited. Tudor has demonstrated that South Korea has far more going on that is worth exploring."—The New Republic
"This superb book charts the improbable rise of South Korea from the devastation of war and impoverishment to rapid development and prosperity, and from brutal dictatorship to the most vibrant democracy in Asia … Tudor sparkles in explaining Korean cultural concepts and values, and its deep social, generational and political divisions. He writes well and has an eye for the quirky detail while charting changing norms in sex, divorce and gender equality. Learning about Korea has never been more entertaining."—Japan Times
Review
"But this is not a history book. Tudor, Seoul correspondent for andlt;iandgt;The Economistandlt;/iandgt;, provides a fairly perfunctory account of the "miracle on the Han River", which saw South Korea transformed from postwar ruin to prosperous democracy within four decades. The book's real value comes in its exploration of the cultural forces behind the country's zeal for self-improvement. He spends more time analysing the rise of Korean popular culture, which has swept across Asia during the past decade and is now going global with the success of PSY, the rapper whose hit, "Gangnam Style", has become a worldwide internet sensation. Some see PSY's breakthrough as evidence that South Korea is finally establishing itself in the global consciousness as the modern, sassy society it is. That may be true but his satire of life in the rich, fashionable Gangnam district of Seoul also reflects unease over the rising social divisions charted in Tudor's book." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Financial Timesandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
"Sixty years ago, South Korea was an economic wasteland. Today, it is not only the world's 11th largest economy, but also a vibrant democracy and an emerging cultural force. This transformation is the subject of a new book, andlt;iandgt;Korea: The Impossible Countryandlt;/iandgt;, by Daniel Tudor, Korea correspondent for the andlt;iandgt;Economistandlt;/iandgt;. He argues that, thanks in part to its neighbors, South Korea is all too often overlooked. A pity, he says, since 'South Koreans have written the most unlikely and impressive story of nation-building of the last century.'" and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Time Magazineandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
Mr. Tudor pushes into new social and economic territory with his book, including the rising role of immigrants, multicultural families and even gay people in South Korea. He lays out some of the contradictory behavior one finds in South Korea, such as the unending desire for new and trendy gadgets and fashion and yet the tunnel-like view of what constitutes a successful life." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Wall Street Journalandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
andlt;divandgt;"Books on Korea are a plenty, but few seem to really get beyond kimchi and k-pop and deal with some of the less often-discussed topics that affect Koreans on a daily basis. We were therefore interested to hear that Daniel Tudor, the andlt;iandgt;Economist'sandlt;/iandgt; Korea Correspondent, has a book coming out later this month that really delves deep into South Korean contemporary society. [andhellip;]the book portrays Korea from a comprehensive and fascinating angle that's worth sharing with our readers."and#8212;KoreaBang.comandlt;/divandgt;
Review
"With a new generation every five years, it's hard to keep up with Korea. This book is long overdue but Daniel Tudor has done a magnificent job filling the gap. Not only has he captured the new Korea, but he does so in an effortless style that leaves the reader wanting more." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;Michael Breen, author of andlt;iandgt;The Koreansandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
"Daniel Tudor is one of the most influential foreign correspondents in South Koreaand#8212;and one of the least known. As the reporter for the andlt;iandgt;Economistandlt;/iandgt;, which doesn't use bylines, most of his work is published anonymously. But Mr. Tudor's profile is about to take a sharp rise with the publication of his new book, andlt;iandgt;Korea: The Impossible Country.andlt;/iandgt;
Review
"Daniel Tudor covers all the important issues, yet does not simply tell the more familiar stories but looks deeper and wider to give the full story of Korea today." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;Martin Uden, Former British Ambassador to South Koreaandlt;/bandgt;
Review
"Tudor's andlt;iandgt;Korea: The Impossible Countryandlt;/iandgt; is a fascinating overview of daily life in Korea. Tudor's in-depth analysis is the one of an insider who has never lost sight of the view from the outside. His book helps you feel comfortable right from your first visit in Korea." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;David Syz, Swiss Secretary of State for Economic Affairsandlt;/bandgt;
Review
"Recommended for expats and any readers who are keen to learn more about Asian cultures, Korea: The Impossible Country is a welland#8211;researched and authoritative window into a country and its people." and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;The Expatandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Synopsis
South Korea's amazing rise from the ashes: the inside story of an economic, political, and cultural phenomenonLong 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 fifty 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.
Daniel Tudor is a journalist who has lived in and written about Korea for almost a decade. In Korea: The Impossible Country, Tudor examines Korea's cultural foundations; the Korean character; the public sphere in politics, business, and the workplace as well as the family, dating, and marriage. In doing so, he touches on topics as diverse as shamanism, clan-ism, the dilemma posed by North Korea, the myths about doing business in Korea, the Koreans' renowned hard-partying ethos, and why the infatuation with learning English is now causing huge social problems.
South Korea has undergone two miracles at once: economic development and complete democratization. The question now is, will it become as some see Japan, a rich yet aging society, devoid of energy and momentum? Or will the dynamism of Korean society and its willingness to change—as well as the opportunity it has now to welcome outsiders into its fold—enable it to experience a third miracle that will propel it into the ranks of the world's leading nations in terms of human culture, democracy, and wealth?
More than just one journalist's account, Korea: The Impossible Country also draws on interviews with many of the people who made South Korea what it is today. These include:
- Choi Min-sik, the star of "Old Boy"
- Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul
- Soyeon Yi, Korea's first astronaut Hong Myung-bo, legendary captain of KoreaÆs 2002 FIFA World Cup team
- Shin Joong-hyun, the 'Godfather of Korean Rock'
- Ko Un, poet
- Hong Seok-cheon, restaurateur, and the first Korean celebrity to 'come out'
And many more, including a former advisor to President Park Chung-hee; a Shaman priestess ('mudang'); the boss of Korea's largest matchmaking agency; a 'room salon' hostess; an architect; as well as chefs, musicians, academics, entrepreneurs, homemakers, and chaebol conglomerate employees.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Daniel Tudorandlt;/bandgt; is from Manchester, England, and graduated with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. He has lived in Seoul, Korea for a number of years, and served as The Economist's Korea Correspondent from 2010-2013. His first book, 'Korea: The Impossible Country' received strong praise and has also been translated into Korean, Chinese, Polish, and Thai.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Daniel is a regular columnist for a Korean newspaper, the andlt;iandgt;Joongang Ilboandlt;/iandgt;, and has commented on Korea-related topics many times for the andlt;iandgt;BBCandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Al Jazeeraandlt;/iandgt;, and others. He is also co-founder of The Booth, a small chain of craft beer pubs.