Customer Reviews

Culture Shock! Korea

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read this entire book prior to going to Korea in Nov 2002, and it was very good preparation for a very different culture, one that I already thought I knew pretty well. On the other hand, it did little to prepare me for the fact that a major cultural shift is occurring in Korea, with modern Korea blending western and eastern cultures. For example, respect of elders is still a (very nice) part of the culture, while knowledge of English and western pop culture is much more common among the younger folk. Even the "outdated" information in this book gives insight on today's customs, which seem to be evolving on a year-to-year basis; thus, I forgive this book for not being really current, or the authors omission of the culture of the younger generation. Yes, some sections were too outdated, silly, and based on uncommon experiences (see the cute 'cultural quiz' in the back), but I think it's probably the best book out there regarding the 'culture shock' you will experience.
Things that need to be included: A better understanding of the agrarian history of Korea will prepare one for the sights of cabbage and rice fields interspersed within the city, and the fact that bul-go-gi or kal-bi (bbq beef) is much more expensive than your typical vegetable dish. There should be more useful expressions in the back of the book. For example, here is a typical conversation: "Hello. Where is the bathroom? I don't speak Korean. Do you speak English? Thank you." The Olympics 1988 and World Cup 2002 have made the cities much more tourist- and western- friendly. However, there are negative views towards the American presence, especially since there have been some highly publicized tragedies involving the US military recently. Tap water quality (applying western standards) has improved greatly in the major cities, but still remains an issue in the rural areas. You need to combine this book with an updated travel guide (and more knowledge of current events) for the best preparation.

I read this book before moving to Korea. The book prepared me for SOME of the differences between Koreans and Westerners, but some of the information was extremely outdated. The book is good for people to get a general idea of the culture in Korea, but Culture Shock!: Korea, needs to be updated. Most of the information on the relationships between men and women in Korea is just plain wrong.

As other reviewers have mentioned, some of the information in this book is dated-- but these days that's almost impossible to avoid. Society is currently changing so rapidly in Korea that even something written a year ago would be outdated now. Also, many of the customs and rules listed are still applicable but not quite as important as the book suggests. Nevertheless, this book should still be required reading before ANY trip to Korea, short- or long-term. It'll give you a much better perspective on where Korean culture has been and where it's going now. Once you arrive you may find yourself overprepared with this book-- but that's much better than the other way around.

This book answers many common questions about Korean culture. With humor, insight, and understanding, it explains why Koreans do the things they do, especially those things that boggle foreigners staying in Korea (the scoop on personal space, ettiquette with strangers, formal language, work relationships, etc.).

It is, understandibly, OUTDATED. (I believe there is an updated version available, which I haven't read yet.) Read it anyway, if you are going to Korea. You will be prepared for the cultural conflicts you run into; You just might not run into as many differences as the book lead you to expect.

Highly recommended!

For being an introductory read, this book rocks my socks. I highly recommend this book for beginners of the language, expatriates, Koreanists, people with Korean travel plans, and anyone doing business in any form with Koreans. It's that good. I've read my share of culture books and resources but I feel that this book (namely, this edition) demystifies several Korean cultural idiosyncrasies in a clear way that is easy for anyone to understand.

I applaud the authors for including a do-and-don't list. I feel that this helps clear up some questions left by other resources. It's true, most things Korean-related (as with any culture) usually aren't cut-and-dry and objective enough to make a list but I still feel that the authors were tasteful and appropriate in their advice.

This book kind of reminds me of a cross between Moon Handbooks - Korea and Culture Smart! Korea rolled into one. There's useful info on holidays, work ethic, psyche, travel destinations, and living abroad. This book deserves a look. It's a quick read with pleasing aesthetics and well-divided topics.

You'll thank yourself later for this one.

I have a lot of Korean friends and I wanted to better understand them so my search for a more knowledge of their culture led me to this book. I was fascinated by it. However, since my copy of the book was last revised in 2000 I wondered if some of the material might be out of date. Some of it didn't seem to agree with the images shown in most Korean television soap operas and popular music shows I also watch. After finishing the book I decided to ask some of my Korean friends if the material I had questions about was indeed out of date. One such question was whether most of South Korea still has public restrooms shared by men and women at the same time. The book said women walk nonchalantly past the backs of men using the urinals on their way to use a stall with a door. Once inside a public restroom's bathroom stall there will often be no toilet, simply a hole in the tile floor over which to squat like I've often found in Paris and other regions of France.
I asked several of my Korean friends and was surprised to learn that the book is perfectly accurate on both those facts. Other of my doubts included the almost universal adherence to Korean shaman fortunetellers (Mudands) and their advice (kuts and kosas). And the fact that most dining is done in near silence with everyone paying close attention to just eating and not talking. That's still very much the case according to my friends from South Korea. Heavy drinking is also a universal fact among Korean men. It's part of all social and business dealings.
That said I found this book very, very helpful. It was more helpful than a couple of the travel guides I own that are more recent because it goes into depth about why things are done the way they are in modern Korea. People act differently and it often takes a lifetime to understand the proper ways Korea citizens treat each other and why. Business relationships are often permanent and based more on which grade school a person attended with his associates than skill at performing a certain job. Family, school and military connections are more important to business relationships than performance. Saving face is of major importance in Korea. Friendships are formal and a normal part of business and networking. Relationships between different social and business classes are very structured. One doesn't have to study much of the language to understand why the Korean word for "yes" sounds like "no" in most other languages and the method of saying "no" requires several phrases. Saying "no" in Korean is a major skill requiring much diplomacy and practice. We Americans would consider the way "no" is used in Korea as "beating around the bush" and avoiding answering the question.
For any Westerner who hopes to understand modern day Korea this book is a good primer. Just watching Korean television doesn't give a true picture of the nation. The Korean Soap Operas go out of their way to show the most modern, most perfect image of a booming Modern Korea. Korean television's popular music shows give no hint of the standard of living and are every bit as slick as the same kind of shows shown in the USA. The plots of the soap operas still reflect the history and cultural ways of Korea. Reading this book greatly increased my ability to understand much of what I watch on Korean television and why some of the plots and humor seem so convoluted.
Kipling said something to the effect that "East is east and west is West and Never Do The Two Meet." His advice is still right on the mark. You can take the Koreans out of Korea, but you can't take Korea out of the Koreans. Korea has a rich and fascinating history. It had invented and was using movable type to print more than two centuries before Guttenberg introduced his movable type printing press to the western world.

I found very few inconsistencies between my experiences (living in Korea for nearly two months in the summer of 2000) and what I read in the book - even the parts about men and women. Having read it and having it with me made me feel so much more comfortable so many times because I knew what to do and what to expect. I strongly recommend it.

This book was OK, but I wish that I had just spent my money on a good travel guide (Moon Handbook Guide to S. Korea by Robert Nilsen) because most of the information was superficial. Worth a look into if you are in a bookstore or library, but otherwise I would just save my money.

I am teaching in Korea for a year. This book prepared me for what to expect when I got here. There is a lot of useful information for visitors. Korea's etiquette is so different from North America's that its necessary to be prepared before coming here! This book really helps prepare for the unexpected differences.

This book gives an excellent overview of life in Korea and Korean views. It is a MUST read for anyone who will be visiting Korea, especially for extended stays. It also would be helpful for anyone living in or near a large Korean population in America. I highly recomend it along with any of it's counterparts in the Culture Shock Series.