Customer Reviews

Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History, Updated Edition

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One of the first books I read about Korea, Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History, illustrates the importance of interpreting history cautiously. Korean history, because of the division of the peninsula between two warring countries, is highly politicized. Cumings has been generally classified as a New Left historian and as sympathetic to the North Korean regime. The second charge is just mud-slinging, but the first generalization is still an active question in South Korean politics and academia.

First, since the book's publication in 1997, the Koreas have undergone many changes, both domestically and in their relations. South Korea's media and academic industries have also matured, and expression is more lively and open. There are more generalist and expert histories available on the market, so the importance of Cumings' work is easier to evaluate.

Cumings is generally a proponent of unification. This taints his history in several ways. First, Choson is depicted as a golden age of unified Korean power. Cumings also supports the Conservative Korean line, that foreigners wrecked Choson and downplays evidence of aristocratic factionalism and the weakness of the Korean central government. His discussion of the Japanese Occupation downplays the role of Korean businessmen in the Occupation economy and government. His account of the Korean War is heavy on politics and military leadership discussions, but spare on soldier's recollections. Cumings' sections on North Korean industrialization are competent, but since 1997 the subject has been better researched. Cumings still cannot compensate for the dearth of economic data, which plagues accounts to the present.

Cumings also burdens his account of Korean history with questionable social psychological opinions about the nature of Korean culture. He reinforces the conservative Korean view of the unique mission and origin of the Korean people as offspring of divine forces, a tactic the Koreans share with the Japanese. His account is subtly anti-global and anti-foreign. For this reason, his account is by Korean standards mainstream unificationist, but his open-minded treatment of North Korea notwithstanding, he is aligned with the forces of anti-globalization.

Not that the book does not contain valuable information about Korean history presented with colorful prose. However, what Cumings omits is damning. Most of ancient Korean history is omitted, which accentuates Choson at the expense of earlier dynasties. Discussions of religion are downplayed for politics and sociology. Cumings does not hide his bias, but readers need to examine his opinions well and use his footnotes for independent evaluation. And, by all means, read other newer books about Korea.

I loved this book and have read it twice from cover to cover in addition to refering to certain capters regularly. There is no other book that captures the colorful, tragic and compelling story of Korea's modern history half as well as Cuming's opus.

The book is a skillful blend of theory (he quotes Focault in the epigram), hard history and ideology. I especially enjoyed the juicy bits of gossip that more "serious" Korean histories always leave out. He writes about Kim Gu's womenizing, Sygman Rhee's paranoia and the CIA's dirty secrets.

The book has flaws that are glaring and annoying. Cumings details every attrocity that the dictators in South Korea committed, but writes only of the dubious "achievements" of North Korea, never mentioning things like how many of his own citizens Kim Il-son, North Korea's late "Dear Leader" sent to concentration camps. The harrowing accounts of North Korean defectors of life in the worker's paradise are a glaring and nearly unforgiveable.

I would be tempted to say that Cumings had two goals in mind in writing this book: getting in good with Pyoungyang (thus being assured his travel visas always get approved) and annoying the hell out of Seoul (thereby regaining the cult hero status he got in the 80s with his book on the origins of the Korean War with a new generation of South Korean college kids).

But, ultimately, I can't stay mad at Cumings. His story of Korea's painful 20th century is told with the verve and deftness of great literature.

It was very interesting to see rather different view on Korea. Maybe it's about time somebody getting away from the conventional view on modern Korean history as just "tragic". He discusses many aspects of modern Korean history, especially the outside influences from US, Japan and China. I agree on most of his points on modern history, however his knowledge on ancient Korean history is very questionable. Relationships among three East Asian nations: China, Korea and Japan were not as simple as the author suggests. For instance, Bruce Cumings over amplifies the effect of Japanese cultural influence on Korea while the truth is that till mid-19th century it was minimal if not zero. Until mid-19th century, Korea has been influenced by Japan militarily, but not culturally. Even after Imjinwaeran(the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592), unlike the usual situation where victims become the recipients of the aggressor's culture, it was reverse in this case. Japan became the recipient as she intentionally captured Korean scholars and artisans and brought them to Japan. However, it's not to say that Korea was never influenced by the Japanese culture. Ever since Japan became the military superpower in the 20th century and annexed Korea, Japanese culture has been the most influential for Korea. Once the author gets into relationship between Korea and China, it gets more problematic. But because it's so complicated I can't really explain it here.. Therefore, my point is: I recommend this book but read with caution on some historical facts..

A South Korean college student recently told me that he learned more about his own culture from the works of Bruce Cumings than from any number of Korean scholars. I believe it. Cumings knows and loves Korea, his passion and insight coloring every page of this book. Cumings can name all the significant players in modern Korea and how they fit into the nation's long, proud and tragic history. He rightly is anguished and disappointed by America's role in dividing the Korean peninsula and in keeping it divided (even if I think he exaggerates America's sins and significantly under-emphasizes North Korea's). This is a deeply personal book, too: Cumings includes observations from his own experiences in Korea and from his own family (his wife is Korean). In the hands of a less skilled writer and thinker, these personal insights might be a distraction; in this case, they enrich the book immeasurably. The virtues of Korea's Place in the Sun easily outweigh the vices, which (for this reader anyway) include Cumings' unrelentingly leftist politics. In short, Korea's Place in the Sun is an informed, passionate, opinionated and well-written introduction to a country (two countries, sadly) we should all know a lot more about.

This book is important in that it draws focus on things not usually considered by people in the west, particularly by Americans. The first of these is the overall importance of Korean history and politics to Koreans themselves. In this sense, the book allows non-Koreans to gain a greater perspective of how Koreans might view their own country and its place in the world, a tremendously important point in understanding how America should act toward both the South and North.

Secondly, the book offers a stinging critique of the United States in its dealings with North Korea. Many readers may find Cumings' approach biased because of the degree of criticism he directs at America, while--in my opinion--somewhat glossing over the brutality of the North in its treatment of its own people; however, the book offers an alternative, non-traditional viewpoint, which is important to at least consider. The potential tragedy of the existing tensions on the Korean peninsula make it essential to view the problem from as many angles as possible in seeking a solution.

Finally, the book also provides an informative look at the long rich history of Korea. Those readers having an interest in Korean history will certainly appreciate it for this reason alone. Korea's Place in the Sun is a great starting point in exploring and understanding the Land of the Morning Calm.

This book was easy to read and offered valuable insights on modern Korean history, and presented a lot of useful and interesting information. However, the author interjects entirely too much of his own rather extreme political opinion into the text, making the dissenting reader feel alienated when trying to read the other more pertinent information in the text. These comments are peripheral to the message of the text, and serve only to advertise what the author thinks about US domestic affairs, and other issues esentially unrelated to Korea. I think he gives a well-documented fair and balanced critique of both Korean regimes, but it is the frequent off-the-cuff political remark (not to mention the elitist comment that Americans might be better off if we placed our scholars in higher esteem) that were very distracting and annoying while trying to read this otherwise timely and well-written book.

What makes this book GREAT is Cummings' ability to artfully and intelligently convey the cultural and historical flavor of Korea! He does this amazingly with honesty, insight and intelligence. This is what makes this book one of the best books about Korea. If you're interested in kearning about Korean culture, people history this is a good book to start.

The portions of the book when Cummings tells the story of Chosun Kings, Korea's troubled relations with Japan, or the last chapter describing personal experiences with his wife's family to illustrate Korean characteristics is gold. He weaves all of it to convey a heartful description of Korea and its people that's insightfully authentic and genuine.

The politics of the book and its treatment of events leading up to Korean War is may be left of center for some but it's still well-written. If you want to learn about politics and Korean War, etc., you're going to have to read other books.

If you want to get a genuine feel of Korean culture, history and insight into the character of Korean people, read this book.

I was warned against Prf. Cumings and his "unwholesome" views by some credible and respectable people. But when I asked them if they had actually read this work, I found out, as I had already suspected, that not one of them had! Naturally, I HAD TO satisfy my curiosity about this infamous author. AND I AM SO GLAD I DID. I know more for having read it. And reading it was so enjoyable.

Indeed, one of the most impressive aspects of this book is that it is so WELL WRITTEN. His prose is stylish and elegant. Do not expect of him the tedious and ponderous grandiosity adopted by the run-of-the-mill historians. His sentences are precise, energetic, and fluid.

And what's more, I was charmed by his irrepressible wit. Indeed, it rendered reading through the all too many dreadful passages in Korea's history somewhat less unpleasant. Yes, he is definitely opinionated (and isn't that the whole point of a historian's writing about alleged facts anyway?) but very charmingly so. His refreshing candor and avowed passions for his beloved subject is disarming, and touching.

As for the contents, they were shocking, to say the least. Take it from a Korean American who attended the draconian South Korean schools during the Park Chung-Hee regime; one becomes VERY skeptical when it comes to Korean "history". And I say as a skeptic that he has dug up some interesting facts, and I do believe that he did not manufacture them. Compared to the sloppily documented (if at all) slop they gave me in schools and the sleazy, bogus stuff circulating in Korean periodicals and papers, this version of history is far more plausible. And definitely possible - actually, make that probable - and certainly more compellingly presented.

Also of interests are his sources. He cites many works I had never heard of before, for some reason or other. And there are many. Just for these alone this book should be highly recommended.

*** Warning! You may get royally ticked off, especially if you are of Korean heritage or naive enough to trust that justice and wisdom prevail in this world.

And I'd like to add, as a Korean American, that it is a wonderful change to actually read a book on Korea by a non Korean-born person who actually does "know all about Korea". I am particularly appreciative of the fact that he kept taking words right out of my mouth regarding the patronizing Western attitudes, especially from the likes of Beatrice Webb, who kept calling the Korean race "horrid", "low vertebrates," etc. When I emigrated to this country in '79, the only books I could find in my school library on Korea were written by people such as she. I was twelve and I shook with an impotent rage when I came across such ignorant remarks from such half-educated, narrow-minded, "Christians" abroad, out to "help" a benighted yellow race but only succeeding in blinding people back home about what was really out there - people just like them struggling to modernize.

This book will provide you with a comprehensive overview about Korea. The book starts with the beginning of the Korean people and takes the reader to the present. Mr. Cumings was a longtime resident and very knowledgeable about Korean history and culture. I found his writing to be very entertaining and informative. As I currently live in Korea, I was very shocked to discover the state of politics of the Republic of Korea after the Korean War. Most people not familiar with Korea are very surprised when they discover that much of post war period was dominated with dictatorships and military coups. I recommend this book if you do not have any knowledge of Korea or even if you have studied Korean history before. However, if you are looking for a book that details modern Korea, especially with an emphasis on post war Korea, I recommend "The Two Koreas" by Oberdorfer. Both books are great and will provide you with personal accounts from the authors during the tumultuous post war period.

Selectively detailed almost to a fault. 'Korea's Place in the Sun' is an incredibly long read that I was hungry for but unfortunately, it's also overwhelmingly subjective at times. I strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with ancient and modern Korean history prior to reading this book because Cumings doesn't slow down for the casual reader. Recommended for anyone interested in more than a intro course on Korean history. However, be forewarned that this particular author is controversially subjective in his selective (mis)interpretations of Korean history.

His obvious North Korean apologetic stance aside, Cumings makes especially moving descriptions of the Korean war and demystifies the so-called Miracle on the Han economic movement into practical terms. His take on the Korean War is eye-opening and certainly the highlight of the book as it is one of his strengths. Ironically, though, I prefer his coverage of the Korean War in this book rather than his most recent title.

However biased it may be, this book is exactly what it claims to be: a one volume course on Korean history. it just may not be the most well-agreed upon history out there. Get ready for a level of detail that borders so much on muck-racking that might scare you. Take notes because Mr. Cumings is not afraid to cite his sources, although you might be wondering where the balance is in his arguments.