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90 reviews for:
The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture
Euny Hong
3.77 AVERAGE
90 reviews for:
The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture
Euny Hong
3.77 AVERAGE
funny
informative
fast-paced
A friend described this book as an interesting starting point for learning more about Korean history and culture, which I think fairly encapsulates both the strengths and the weaknesses of the book. It's not boring, it's often funny (bordering on acerbic at times), and I definitely gained some insights into 21st century Korean cultural products/production and some of the history and culture that informs all of that. There's some really interesting discussion (though I suspect a little overstated) of how the Korean government has deliberately invested in cultivating music, cinema, TV, and other cultural products with the specific purpose of exporting Korean culture around the world—therefore increasing Korea's global "soft power." But I wanted more of a detailed and focused analysis than the book provided. Just when a chapter was getting really interesting, it would wrap up and some new angle or topic would be introduced. I also noticed a tendency for ideas to be not clearly organized and thoughts poorly connected, especially in the second half of the book and towards the ends of her chapters.
I felt like I mostly got out of the book a fast, enjoyable read, and a basic but still useful introduction to various aspects of and issues in K-culture—like a rudimentary lay of the land—that could inform what I decide to explore next within this (very broad!) topic.
I felt like I mostly got out of the book a fast, enjoyable read, and a basic but still useful introduction to various aspects of and issues in K-culture—like a rudimentary lay of the land—that could inform what I decide to explore next within this (very broad!) topic.
OK, you wanna know why I haven’t been adding more books recently? It’s because I’ve discovered Korean drama series (K-dramas) and they are incredible. My evolving love of these series (and there are 100s of them) prompted me to learn more about Koreans and their unique culture. This book answered a lot of questions about everything from the rise of Korean democracy and the Asian financial crisis, to their social hierarchies and Confucian traditions, to their views on education and how all of those things have powered the film, television, and music industries. It’s a fascinating read. The book was published in 2014, and its interesting to see how these industries evolved 9 years onward.
First, watch this: http://youtu.be/mVE96w_cl_w
The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture by Euny Hong.
If you own a Samsung phone or television, have listened to a K-pop song or watched a K-drama, you may have wondered how it is that South Korea has crept up on Japan as the go-to Asian nation for our electronics and pop culture. As recently as 1965, South Korea’s GDP was less than that of Ghana. Today, South Korea is the world’s fifteenth largest economy and has the fastest Internet connections of any nation. Clever and engaging, "The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture” attempts to explain South Korea’s rapid journey from impoverished nation to the economic powerhouse it is today.
Author Euny Hong was born in America but returned with her family to her parents’ native South Korea at age twelve, giving her a unique understanding of the culture as both a citizen and a foreigner. She writes with humor and candor about growing up in South Korea during the 80s (when it was very much not cool): her shock at learning that their toilets were the squatting kind, eating cookies made out of caramelized sugar and baking soda, experiencing mandatory school thrashings, and other delightful discoveries.
Interesting and well-researched, the book is informative without being dry or boring. Hong interviews people in various aspects of South Korean government and society, such as the director of Popular Culture Industry Division and education officials as well as a boy band member and a South Korean American adoptee.
The only drawback to the author’s snappy writing style is the lightweight treatment of a few topics that warrant a deeper investigation. For example, South Korea has the world’s highest rate of plastic surgery, but this fascinating national preoccupation and its causes are only briefly discussed. This is a quick read, so do not go in expecting an in-depth, scholarly take on South Korean history and modern development.
“The Birth of Korean Cool” is a very readable, witty look at contemporary Korea with the personal feel of a memoir, and it is recommended for anyone with an interest in Korean culture.
The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture by Euny Hong.
If you own a Samsung phone or television, have listened to a K-pop song or watched a K-drama, you may have wondered how it is that South Korea has crept up on Japan as the go-to Asian nation for our electronics and pop culture. As recently as 1965, South Korea’s GDP was less than that of Ghana. Today, South Korea is the world’s fifteenth largest economy and has the fastest Internet connections of any nation. Clever and engaging, "The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture” attempts to explain South Korea’s rapid journey from impoverished nation to the economic powerhouse it is today.
Author Euny Hong was born in America but returned with her family to her parents’ native South Korea at age twelve, giving her a unique understanding of the culture as both a citizen and a foreigner. She writes with humor and candor about growing up in South Korea during the 80s (when it was very much not cool): her shock at learning that their toilets were the squatting kind, eating cookies made out of caramelized sugar and baking soda, experiencing mandatory school thrashings, and other delightful discoveries.
Interesting and well-researched, the book is informative without being dry or boring. Hong interviews people in various aspects of South Korean government and society, such as the director of Popular Culture Industry Division and education officials as well as a boy band member and a South Korean American adoptee.
The only drawback to the author’s snappy writing style is the lightweight treatment of a few topics that warrant a deeper investigation. For example, South Korea has the world’s highest rate of plastic surgery, but this fascinating national preoccupation and its causes are only briefly discussed. This is a quick read, so do not go in expecting an in-depth, scholarly take on South Korean history and modern development.
“The Birth of Korean Cool” is a very readable, witty look at contemporary Korea with the personal feel of a memoir, and it is recommended for anyone with an interest in Korean culture.
This was a fascinating look into the unfolding story of Korea. I visited South Korea last summer and was intrigued with the culture and people. Hong's book helped me understand the back story of many cultural norms I noticed. I loved Korea. Clean, efficient, kind, safe and welcoming. Amazing what they have accomplished in a mere 50 years. Hong states, "Ultimately what it boils down to is that even if Koreans disagree with the government, or are resentful of corporate greed, they think of themselves as citizens of a republic in the sense that Plato intended, wherein citizens believe that the well-being of those around you contributes to your own well being. This idea is very much alive in Korea. That's why every school in the nation follows the same curriculum; that's why school is so difficult. Even the most elitist of Koreans believe that everyone has the right to a quality education. Call it enlightened self- interest, if you like. Koreans know from experience that everyone must rise together, or not at all." We could learn a few things from South Korea.
Fun read. I learned quite a bit about Hallyu and the Korean entertainment industry.
Trochę lepsza od innej książki autorki którą czytałam (Nunchi) ale wciąż do bólu amerykańska. Czytelnicy którzy dopiero chcą dowiedzieć się czegoś o Korei mogą skończyć z błędnym mniemaniem na jej temat. Tłumaczenie kuleje - na przykład lody Melona stały się batonami z melonem. Można się z tej książki trochę nowych rzeczy dowiedzieć, ale lepiej mieć do tego przynajmniej podstawową wiedzę na temat hallyu. Należy też wziąć pod uwagę że książka jest z roku 2014 i teraz jest już w wielu aspektach przedawniona (jednak dzięki temu można porównać jakie były oczekiwania wobec hallyu na przyszłość, a co faktycznie się wydarzyło). Na Legimi podczas oceniania danego tytułu dwie gwiazdki są podpisane "z braku laku..." i to idealnie opisuje tę pozycję.
I thoroughly enjoyed Euny Hong’s view on what has lead Korean pop culture to explode in popularity. She has a unique perspective having started her life in America with Korean heritage and then moving to South Korea as an adolescent. She delves into S. Korea’s history, politics, religion and culture to show how those things have shaped both the country itself and one of its biggest industries- Hallyu. I admit that before I got into K-Drama’s and then BTS, I knew next to nothing about South Korea, so this book was highly informative and interesting. It’s not a dry book of facts, but written from Euny Hong’s personal experience growing up during the country’s most transitional periods. I found it fascinating how much went into building a pop culture empire in such a short period of time and how that has in turn has had such a positive impact on the country as a whole. Certainly worth checking out if your a Hallyu fan or even just interested in South Korea and what makes this small nation tick.
It started out strong but got a bit repetitive. It was a light, breezy read that taught me a lot about Korean culture, but I wish Hong had written more about her own life, which sounds fascinating.
An absolutely fantastic book. I learned a TON while reading it, and it wasn’t a difficult read, either, so I devoured it. Super informative and I highly recommend it to literally everyone.