(Part 3) Best korean history books according to redditors

Joseon era:

• A Review of Korean History, Vol.2: Joseon Era; Woo, Han Young (2010)
  
• Sources of Korean Tradition, Vol. 1: From Early Times Through the 16th Century (Introduction to Asian Civilizations); Lee, Peter H. (ed) (1996)
  
• Sources of Korean Tradition, Vol. 2: From the Sixteenth to the Twentieth Centuries; Lee, Peter H. (ed) (1996)
  
  I prefer the 'Review' more, but it might come across as a little dry. I feel that it does a fair job of discussing a number of topics related to the creation and running of the Joseon Dynasty, breaking the dynasty up into smaller components and then focusing on some areas (arts, military, cultural practices) within those smaller time frames. 'Sources' for me came across as more academic than 'Review' but you might enjoy it more. 'Sources' includes translations of primary sources, which is helpful, while 'Review' includes images such as paintings and maps.
  
  General:
  
  
• Korea Unmasked: In Search of the Country, the Society and the People; Rhie Won-bok (2005)
  
  A comic book that goes into the 'making' of Korea and Korean culture. I have some reservations about this one but if you don't take it too seriously it can be a fun and easy way to get introduced to a number of topics related to Korea.
  
  'Modern' Korea:
  
  
• The Dawn of Modern Korea; Lankov, Andrei (2007)
  
• Korea Through Western Eyes, Book, Written in English; Neff, Robert (2009)
  
• The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History; Oberdorfer, Don (2013)
  
• Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History; Cummings, Bruce (2005)
  
• The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies; Breen, Michael (2014)
  
• Korea And Her Neighbours...; Bird, Isabella (2011; original 1897)
  
  Lankov's book is a collection of newspaper articles he wrote entertaining subjects like the story of Korea's first automobiles, the introduction of the first telephones, etc. Easy to digest and they offer a glimpse of what society was like at each point in time; not a 'serious' book on Korean history, though. Neff's book was a chore to get through and it felt like no editing had gone into the book before publishing. If I'm not mistaken this also started out as a series of articles for one of the local newspapers; the transition from article to book did not go quite as well.
  
  It's probably been 10 years since I read the books from Breen, Oberdorfer and Cummings, which makes it a little difficult to write a lot about them. Cummings I know gets criticized for being pro-North Korea in his writing, so that's something to keep in mind, while Oberdorfer I think was a correspondent living in Korea so may have a more 'eyewitness' approach to some of the events. Bird's book is a description of her travels in Korea during the Joseon period and I remember it being an interesting read. Not a balanced historical account by any means - and it obviously suffers from being written from an outside perspective at a time when ethnocentrism was more prevalent - but it may be an alternative to consider. You should be able to find a .pdf copy of that one online.
  
  
• Fifteen Years Among The Top-Knots: Or Life In Korea; Underwood, Lillias H. (2007, original 1904)
  
  Haven't read this one, but I've seen others mention it in the past. It's another first-person account from Korea at the cusp of the 20th century, this time from the perspective of a medical missionary. Again, not an objective history book, but if you prefer first-person narratives it may at least be worth a look. A .pdf copy has been published online, this one by the University of Oregon.
  
  Edit: One I forgot to mention, but which I've also heard is used in some English-language classes on Korean history/studies:
  
  
• Korea Old and New: A History; Eckert, Carter J. (1991) (I just noticed this is also mentioned by seaturtles7777)

Generally non government sources place the number killed near 2000.

Asia's unknown uprising is a decent source for English information about South Korea during the period

https://www.amazon.com/Asias-Uprisings-Korean-Movements-Century/dp/1604864575

Please, please, do not try to teach yourself martial arts. Much of martial arts are about training a movement over and over again so that it becomes muscle memory. There are lot of subtle things going on in even simple techniques that you will miss by trying to teach yourself from watching a video, or reading text/looking at pictures. If you start to teach yourself to do the wrong thing, you'll only have to spend more time unlearning it when you start getting proper instruction.

If you're interested in things like history, and such then by all means plow forward. There are two books I can recommend: A Killing Art, and also Korean Martial Arts Handbook which contains a wealth of information on Korean arts in general, and a whole lot on the history and creation of Tae Kwon Do.

Also recommend "A History of Korea:From Antiquity to the Present" by Michael J. Seth.

https://www.amazon.com/History-Korea-Antiquity-Present/dp/0742567168/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1474510319&sr=8-6&keywords=michael+j+seth

If you honestly believe that, I would suggest reading this book.

Their political system is incredibly dysfunctional and their economy ceases to function as a result. This type of political system has no place in modern times and is leading to the starvation and deprivation of the N. Korean people. I think this book might change your opinion that they have a relevant political system.

These are really the only three academic books in English covering the Korean language and Korean linguistics that I know of. I've read all three and actually had Prof. Ramsey as an instructor/adviser/mentor. Some of the information in the last two is a little dated (language changes constantly after all), but all are definitely worth reading.

http://www.amazon.com/History-Korean-Language-Ki-Moon-Lee/dp/0521661897/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376282744&sr=8-1&keywords=A+History+of+the+Korean+Language

http://www.amazon.com/The-Korean-Language-Cambridge-Surveys/dp/0521369436/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376282775&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Korean+Language

http://www.amazon.com/Korean-Language-Suny-Series-Studies/dp/0791448320/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376282775&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Korean+Language

EDIT: I should add that these books do cover the creation of Hangul and changes in Korean orthography.

Here are my recommendations for readings on Korean history. The list is somewhat heavy on Chosŏn (1392-1910) history mainly because it is my main research interest. If you are interested on more readings on Chosŏn history, feel free to shoot me a message.

Textbook Histories

• Eckert, Carter J. et al. Korea Old and New: A History. Seoul: Ilchokak, 1990.
  
• Seth, Michael J. A History of Korea: From Antiquity to the Present. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011.
  
  Academic Monographs
  
  
• Duncan, John B. The Origins of the Chosŏn Dynasty. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2000
  
  • Solid study on the nature of the 1392 dynastic transition. Duncan looks at the prevalence of Koryŏ (918-1392) elites in the new Chosŏn government as evidence of systemic continuity. The main argument covers the late Silla (668-918,) Koryŏ, and Chŏson eras.
    
• Deuchler, Martina. The Confucian Transformation of Korea: A Study of Society and Ideology. Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center, 1992.
  
  • Description available in the reading list.
    
• Yi Tae-jin. The Dynamics of Confucianism and Modernization in Korean History. Ithaca: Cornell University East Asia Program, 2007.
  
  • Translation of a number of scholarly articles written by professor Yi Taejin (Seoul National University) on the issue of Neo-Confucianism and development in Chosŏn history. The final chapters provide an interesting rebuke of Japanese colonialist and Korean nationalist historiography.
    
• Palais, James B. Confucian Statecraft and Institutions: Yu Hyŏngwŏn and the Late Chosŏn Dynasty. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996.
  
  • Monumental study of Yu Hyŏngwŏn's (Pan'gye) Pan'gye surok. In it, Palais discusses intellectual developments in the late Chosŏn period that challenged orthodox Zheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.
    
• Eckert, Carter. Offspring of Empire: The Koch'ang Kims and the Colonial Origins of Korean Capitalism, 1876-1945.Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996.
  
  • Study on the Koch'ang Kim family, owners of the Kyŏnbang Spinning and Weaving Company. The monograph raises the issues of the Japanese "modernization" of peninsular economy during colonial times, Korean collaborators with the Japanese administration, as well as Korea's place in the larger Japanese imperial structure.
    
• Cumings, Bruce. The Origins of the Korean War, Vol. I.Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1981.
  
  • Seminal study on the causes of the Korean War (1950-1953.) Cumings proposes that the Korean War cannot be simply understood as a provocation by the North. Instead, Cumings argues that division by the Allied Powers in 1945 led to armed conflict.
    
    Primary Sources
    
    
• Lee, Peter H. and Wm. Theodore de Bary, ed. Sources of Korean Tradition, Vol. I: From Early Times Through the Seventeenth Century. New York: Columbia University Press, 1997. and Ch'oe, Yŏng-ho and Wm. Theodore de Bary, ed. Sources of Korean Tradition, Vol II: From the Sixteenth to the Twentieth Centuries. New York: Columbia University Press, 1997.
  
  • Anthologies of translated primary sources. The sourcebooks include literature ranging from official dynastic histories, philosophical treatises, and memorials to the throne to private correspondence, political manifestos, and speeches.
    
• Choi Byonghyon, trans. The Annals of King Taejo. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2014.
  
  • Complete translation into English of the Veritable Records of King T'aejo (r. 1392-1398.) The Veritable Records (K. *Chosŏn wangjo sillok*) are the posthumously-compiled official records kept for every Chosŏn monarch. They register court activities, diplomatic writings, as well as other administrative affairs.
    
• JaHyun Kim Haboush, trans. The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996.
  
  • Translation of Lady Hyegyŏng's (1735-1816) four memoirs. Lady Hyegyŏng was the consort of Crown Prince Sado (1735-1762,) the son and heir of King Yŏngjo (r. 1724-1776.) Crown Prince Sado was locked on a rice chest until his death on the orders of his father.

Aside from the General's books the main two would be:

A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do, Alex Gillis

From Creation to Unification: The Complete Histories of the Ch'ang Hon (ITF) Patterns, Stuart Anslow

http://www.amazon.com/North-Korea-Another-Bruce-Cumings/dp/156584873X

Bruce Cummings is one of the foremost experts on North Korea in the west. He documents many of his experiences on his numerous journeys to the north.

If you get the chance, I'd really recommend taking a military DMZ tour. I went once, might have to dig up a photo... That's me and my ex at the Panmunjeom, That picture was taken about 50 feet from the border of North Korea. This was probably about... Two weeks or so after the Taepodong-2 launch, which caused quite a lot of tension.

The tunnel trip was really, really cool though. South Korea discovered a handful of secret tunnels dug under the DMZ that were meant to be the ingress for an invasion force. It was pretty awesome, actually, and a little scary that they managed to dig 15 or so of them, and we've only found a handful.

EDIT: I forgot the best part: For lunch, we ate that the nearest Popeye's Chicken to North Korea. That's achievement-worthy.

I'd say stick with the Seoul - Gyeonggi-do area then, there's more than enough to keep you busy. The national museum is quite good, and the Seoul Arts Center occasionally has world class exhibitions. Check out the Seoul guide by Robert Koehler, it's the best there is and will have a ton of cool stuff.

Edit: You know what? I'd send copies of that guide to key people in the wedding party right now. Just thumbing through it is like a trip in its own right. It really is a great insight into Seoul that gets crowded out by all the Lonely Planet guides.

If you want a thorough analysis of Hangeul, I'd get a copy of The Korean Alphabet of 1446. Some of it can be somewhat dense, but there's a ton of really interesting info.

There's also The History and Future of Hangeul which is a fun read. The author is kinda angry (it is also translated), but has some entertaining ideas in it.

Among other reasons, during the late 1800's Japan and China began competing fiercely for influence over Korea. There were pro-Japanese coups which were overturned by Chinese troops.

A rebellion in Korea in 1894 provided Japan and China with the excuse to send troops to Korea.

On July 25, 1894 Japanese ships attacked and sunk Chinese troop transports heading to Korea. The first Sino-Japanese war was brief and was a total humiliating defeat for the Chinese. As you can imagine, this did not endue them to the Japanese.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sino-Japanese_War

For their part the Japanese were thoroughly interested in modernizing and copying the success of the West Which put them at odds with conservative, anti-western factions (to simplify) in China and Korea.

It also meant that they viewed imperial conquest as a legitimate tool of foreign policy. Imperial conquest was very much in vogue then and just as the Europeans claimed to be acting in the best interests of the Africans the Japanese claimed to be acting in the best interests of the Koreans and Chinese.

The Europeans and Americans agreed and generally viewed Japan's rise to power favorably, (failing to condemn even the 1931 invasion of Manchuria) many other people in Asia did not.

Source: [Everlasting Flower: A History of Korea] (http://www.amazon.com/Everlasting-Flower-A-History-Korea/dp/1861893353)

1984 - but seriously perhaps this is what you are looking for

That is a good question. I read plenty before going. Even having a degree in Asian Politics and having read plenty I found that many of them did not capture the society very well.
Bruce Cumings "North Korea: Another Country" http://www.amazon.com/North-Korea-Another-Bruce-Cumings/dp/156584940X

This book is accused of pro-DPRK bias. I would call it more getting a better understanding of internal thinking. He explained it better than most. His latest book "The Korean War" is a great look at the war in most brutal terms.

Many of the books have great parts such as Hassig and Oh's "The Hidden People" but some of it does not quite make sense. If you read enough of this stuff you see that they have to cite the same sources.

Brad Martin's "Under the Loving Care" is a journalist's view and he pulls everything together, some of it is not credible. I think the book needed editing, say 20% left on the floor.

Andrei Lankov's "North of the DMZ" is a good book. He is a Kim Il-sung University graduate. I do not agree with all of it but he lived it. I read his commentaries and it is much better than most.

This is a tough subject, a closed country and a difficult society to understand. So few have been there and even fewer more than once. I do think we are getting a better view of what goes on as the place opens up - slowly but things are changing.

Read about the book here.

If you haven't already, check out Culture Shock: Korea. Like the reviews say, it's a bit dated but it may help when you visit. Are your parents going too or will you be on your own?

I'm half Korean and have only had very limited contact with my mom's side of the family since she died in 1990. Reading about the racism and apparent snobbishness in Korean culture scares me and I'm reluctant to go. I totally understand how you feel!

If you want to learn at least a little Korean before you go I'd recommend Rosetta Stone if you can drop the cash or koreanclass101.com if you only want to spend a little.

I read this book & would highly recommend it for historical perspective. I agree with the other poster that this will be Sunshine Policy v2 (only probably with an accelerated timescale, just like everything else these days).

Biggest takeaway for me from that book is just how rationally North Korea acts. Everything they do makes perfect sense, they're just assholes.

Also, that there's really no good path forward, just various shades of bad paths forward. Our best hope IMHO is to slowly turn the population on to the oppression they face.


The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1511383941/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-VQNAb68GHBPM

"The New Koreans" is a recent publication (copyrighted 2017, although the narrative ends right before the juiciest moment of the decade, choigate, so more like 2016) that goes deep into korea's past and present. Even some points I never considered before.

However, read it with a grain of salt, because some of the things it says are just flat out wrong or biased (like claiming that korea's panic over pyramid scheme con artistry were an act of protectionism against western soap products, and implying that comfort women issue is nothing to bat an eye about because Joseon was a patriarchal society at the time. REALLY? ).

The summary says it outlines the three miracles of korea, each reportedly blew the author's mind as it happened. Economic miracle of the 70s, then democratic miracle of the 90s, then the miracle of breaking out in the world stage as a cultural powerhouse in the last decade. He doesn't really go into the last part in detail, and I can't blame him because he's been alive since the days of Park Chung Hee.

If you want a nice, entertaining and also informative reading on the cultural part, then pick up Birth of Korean Cool