Korea, Daniel Tudor
Korea, Daniel Tudor
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

Korea
The Impossible Country: South Korea's Amazing Rise from the Ashes: The Inside Story of an Economic, Political and Cultural Phenomenon

Author: Daniel Tudor

Narrator: James Cameron Stewart

Unabridged: 13 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/25/2018


Synopsis

South Korea's amazing rise from the ashes: the inside story of an economic, political, and cultural phenomenon

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.

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 massive 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 prosperous 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 regarding human culture, democracy, and wealth?

About Daniel Tudor

Daniel Tudor has lived in Seoul for many years and served as Korea Correspondent for the Economist from 2010-2013. His North Korea Confidential (with James Pearson) was selected by the Economist as one of the best books of 2015. He holds degrees from Oxford University and Manchester University in England and has worked in finance in both Korea and Switzerland.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Robert

Korea: The impossible country by Daniel Tudor answers just about every challenge an introduction to a foreign nation one can image. It’s well-written, comprehensive (history, culture, foreign relations, politics, economy, education, family life and social mores). In addition, Tudor’s book has the s......more

Goodreads review by Ronald

Originally from here! Local admirers of everything Korean may be pleased to find out that the people of the Korean peninsula share a few similar traits with those of us here in the Philippines. Foremost of these is the concept of “jeong,” or “the invisible hug.” Defined as “feelings of fondness, carin......more

Goodreads review by Zahin

I was recommended this book by Tram as a crash course of Korean culture, and it was just what I needed! I'm just at the 2 month mark of my time in Korea, and while I need a lot more time to accustom myself to the environment, this book helped me to build a deeper understanding and empathy towards Ko......more