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The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation Is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture Paperback – August 5, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
An Amazon Best Book of the Month, August 2014: I always love a good immigrant story: a tale of a young person, transplanted from the “old country” and learning the ropes (and usually teaching them to her parents) in the new. But journalist Euny Hong’s The Birth of Korean Cool is that familiar tale’s obverse: at age 12, the Chicago-born American moved with her parents back to the South Korea of their birth. And like the displaced Hong herself, the Korea of 1985 grew up fast: it became, in short order, the nation of Samsung, of newly wealthy executives, and now, Hong contends, it has become the crown prince of Asian pop culture. A kind of memoir of a culture as well as of an individual life, Hong’s first nonfiction book (she previously wrote the novel Kept: A Comedy of Sex and Manners) mixes personal memoir with interviews and research to produce a rollicking, delightful, wise-guy story of how both she and her ancestral home became the cultural icons they are today. --Sara Nelson
Review
"Incisive and humorous… An excellent case study of calculated entrepreneurial moxie."—The New York Times Book Review
"Full of facts and entertaining to boot, it’s definitely a gem."—EntertainmentWeekly.com
"An insightful book…[Hong’s] brief chapter on Korea’s han against Japan is both the best and most concise explanation I’ve read of the two countries’ complicated and ancient feud."—Bloomberg Businessweek
"The rare book that’s hilariously funny and also makes you smarter about world economies."—Vulture
"An incisive, colorfully written account of South Korea’s cultural ascent."—Grantland
"Fabulously snarky…Hong is perfectly positioned to understand this complex Korean psyche while retaining enough distance (and cynicism) to evaluate it."—Helen Brown, The Telegraph (UK)
"Highly entertaining."—The Guardian (UK)
"Hong is a funny and uber-snarky observer and is as clever as clever can be...[As] laugh-out-loud funny and as spicy and memorable as the best homemade kimchi."—Library Journal
“A pleasing mix of Margaret Cho, Sarah Vowell and a pinch of Cory Doctorow.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Full of insight and shocking facts, The Birth Of Korean Cool is a hilarious, gutsy, eye-opening account of Korean drive and success. I couldn't put it down. Euny Hong is a force of nature.”—Amy Chua, Yale Law Professor and author of The Triple Package and Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
“If you’re not fascinated by Korea yet, you damn well should be. The most innovative country on earth deserves a hilarious and poignant account on the order of Euny Hong’s The Birth of Korean Cool. Her phat beats got Gangnam Style and then some.”—Gary Shteyngart
"Full of facts and entertaining to boot, it’s definitely a gem."—EntertainmentWeekly.com
"An insightful book…[Hong’s] brief chapter on Korea’s han against Japan is both the best and most concise explanation I’ve read of the two countries’ complicated and ancient feud."—Bloomberg Businessweek
"The rare book that’s hilariously funny and also makes you smarter about world economies."—Vulture
"An incisive, colorfully written account of South Korea’s cultural ascent."—Grantland
"Fabulously snarky…Hong is perfectly positioned to understand this complex Korean psyche while retaining enough distance (and cynicism) to evaluate it."—Helen Brown, The Telegraph (UK)
"Highly entertaining."—The Guardian (UK)
"Hong’s breezy book is a good place to begin to understand this rising nation."—The Times (London)
"A witty chronicle of how pop culture shaped South Korea’s meteoric rise from a war-torn nation to a technological giant."—The Forward
"Euny Hong playfully and insightfully dissects her native culture… There's much more to it than just ‘Gangnam Style.’"— Charleston City Paper
"The Birth of Korean Cool is a sparkling gem that falls into the must-read category… A satisfying and thought-provoking book by a first-rate journalist whose style is irresistible and informative all at once."—Pop Matters (Nine out of Ten Stars)
"It’s Hong’s voice, a funny, smart, often conflicted and witty combination of personal essay and observational journalism, which makes the book unique."—Clayton Moore, Kirkus Reviews
"Hong is a funny and uber-snarky observer and is as clever as clever can be...[As] laugh-out-loud funny and as spicy and memorable as the best homemade kimchi."—Library Journal
“A pleasing mix of Margaret Cho, Sarah Vowell and a pinch of Cory Doctorow.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Full of insight and shocking facts, The Birth Of Korean Cool is a hilarious, gutsy, eye-opening account of Korean drive and success. I couldn't put it down. Euny Hong is a force of nature.”—Amy Chua, Yale Law Professor and author of The Triple Package and Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
“If you’re not fascinated by Korea yet, you damn well should be. The most innovative country on earth deserves a hilarious and poignant account on the order of Euny Hong’s The Birth of Korean Cool. Her phat beats got Gangnam Style and then some.”—Gary Shteyngart
More About the Author
Euny Hong's latest book The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture will be published by Simon & Schuster in the UK and Picador in the US in 2014. She is a journalist and author with international experience in web, print, and television news. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal Europe, The International Herald Tribune, The New Republic, The Boston Globe, and The Forward, among others.
Her debut novel, Kept: A Comedy of Sex and Manners, the story of a group of young New York aristocrats unable to accept their obsolescence, was published by Simon and Schuster US, in August 2006, to great acclaim. It was also translated into German.
Before moving to New York in 2012, Euny lived in Paris for six years, where she served as web editor at France 24, the "French CNN." She also made frequent television appearances.
Previously she was a TV Columnist at the Financial Times Weekend, US Edition. She is also the recipient of a Fulbright Young Journalists' Grant. She spent her childhood between the US and Seoul, Korea, and has also lived in Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany.
She graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Philosophy. While at Yale, she co-founded Rumpus, a very puerile campus humor magazine that remains in operation. She holds a Higher Certificate from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust in the UK but she seriously doubts that being a sommelier would be a good fallback option. She is fluent in English, French, German, and Korean.
Her debut novel, Kept: A Comedy of Sex and Manners, the story of a group of young New York aristocrats unable to accept their obsolescence, was published by Simon and Schuster US, in August 2006, to great acclaim. It was also translated into German.
Before moving to New York in 2012, Euny lived in Paris for six years, where she served as web editor at France 24, the "French CNN." She also made frequent television appearances.
Previously she was a TV Columnist at the Financial Times Weekend, US Edition. She is also the recipient of a Fulbright Young Journalists' Grant. She spent her childhood between the US and Seoul, Korea, and has also lived in Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany.
She graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Philosophy. While at Yale, she co-founded Rumpus, a very puerile campus humor magazine that remains in operation. She holds a Higher Certificate from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust in the UK but she seriously doubts that being a sommelier would be a good fallback option. She is fluent in English, French, German, and Korean.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By
Coral Russell
on August 5, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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As someone who isn't Korean but has lived in Korea, eats their food, reads their literature, watches their movies and dramas this book held so many great surprises and information. This is what I wanted to know about Korea but didn't know to ask. After finishing this this book I'm hooked on Kpop too. Hong does a fantastic job of weaving relevant history and Korean culture with the new wave of Korean entertainment industry that has swept Asia and is now creeping onto the shores of the US. A must read for anyone interested in Korea.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By
John
on August 6, 2014
Format: Paperback
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This book is about the ascent of the South Korean culture, extending from the lows of the 1980's to the latest explosion of Korean culture throughout the world. KPop, Psy's Gangnam Style, and the widespread popularity of Korean dramas are just some of the hot topics that Hong covers in an engaging and interesting way. Hong was born in the U.S. then moved to Korea in the 1980's. This gives her a somewhat unique point-of-view, as she describes how the government of South Korea focuses many of its ample resources into promoting the widespread expansion of Korean culture throughout the world. Did you know that South Korean dramas are dubbed into Spanish and sent to countries as far away as Chile?
One of the more interesting chapters of this book is her explanation of how the South Korean animosity towards to the Japanese, referred to as han, drives the country to excel in many different areas. This is a quick and fun read with a great combination of Korean history, autobiographical experiences, and dissection of policy.
Han's book can be complimented by two other prominent, but very different books by Korean Americans that are also worth checking out. Anthony Youn, MD is a doc whose memoir In Stitches describes in hilarious, but 'oh-so-true' detail how it's like to be raised by old-school, Korean parents who attempt to force him to become a physician.
Roy Choi's L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food describes the ascent of the L.A. Korean food truck scene, from a chef who is a big part of it. The recipes in this book are fabulous as well.
One of the more interesting chapters of this book is her explanation of how the South Korean animosity towards to the Japanese, referred to as han, drives the country to excel in many different areas. This is a quick and fun read with a great combination of Korean history, autobiographical experiences, and dissection of policy.
Han's book can be complimented by two other prominent, but very different books by Korean Americans that are also worth checking out. Anthony Youn, MD is a doc whose memoir In Stitches describes in hilarious, but 'oh-so-true' detail how it's like to be raised by old-school, Korean parents who attempt to force him to become a physician.
Roy Choi's L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food describes the ascent of the L.A. Korean food truck scene, from a chef who is a big part of it. The recipes in this book are fabulous as well.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By
Stephen Yu
on August 15, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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Amazon's targeted email marketing definitely works, and I one-clicked this book's icon through my Kindle app in the middle of the night (it is too easy to purchase books these days, requiring less than a minute to download). As a Korean-American who is very familiar with both cultures, I can testify that the most of this book's content is dead-on accurate, with just the right amount of sarcasm and humor (though I am more sarcastic than average to begin with).
It is a must-read for Americans with Korean blood who might always have wondered about the corky nature of Korean culture and things their parents (or grandparents) are obsessed about. For Americans who have more than just curiosity about the Korean culture in general, this book provides very unique perspective that cannot be found in other books about Korea, and it will make you smile every few pages along the way, too. The author chose her words very carefully, and such craftsmanship comes through each paragraph.
This author was born and raised in the States and moved to Korea with her parents in 1985 and attended middle school and high school in posh district of now infamous Gangnam. That is great for me personally, as I moved to the States in 1983 and missed much of Korea's recent economic and cultural transformation up close. I am still very familiar with most of the subject matters touched in this book, but I have to admit that I have learn a few things, and I laughed out loud like a mad man more than a few times.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about Korean culture beyond the scenes in Psy's music videos.
It is a must-read for Americans with Korean blood who might always have wondered about the corky nature of Korean culture and things their parents (or grandparents) are obsessed about. For Americans who have more than just curiosity about the Korean culture in general, this book provides very unique perspective that cannot be found in other books about Korea, and it will make you smile every few pages along the way, too. The author chose her words very carefully, and such craftsmanship comes through each paragraph.
This author was born and raised in the States and moved to Korea with her parents in 1985 and attended middle school and high school in posh district of now infamous Gangnam. That is great for me personally, as I moved to the States in 1983 and missed much of Korea's recent economic and cultural transformation up close. I am still very familiar with most of the subject matters touched in this book, but I have to admit that I have learn a few things, and I laughed out loud like a mad man more than a few times.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about Korean culture beyond the scenes in Psy's music videos.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By
Comrade_Bazarov
on August 21, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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Interesting book covering the remarkable transformation of Korea from relative poverty (in the 1980's) to a major Asian economy now. The author is a Korean American who moved back to Korea with her parents in 1985, to the (in)famous Gangnam neighborhood of Seoul.
Her main thesis is that 'han' (a Korean term roughly meaning the collective fury against fate) and national shame are the two biggest factors in transforming Korea. These two qualities compelled the government to function as a giant corporation with 50 million employees (as she puts it) to consciously rebrand Korea's image abroad.
Consequently it invested money in pop culture, actively encouraging formation and dissemination of K-pop acts, Korean soap operas, and Korean films, all of which enjoy very high popularity in Japan, Europe and parts of Asia today. Samsung, today an international tech giant, was once reviled as 'Samsuck' and also made a herculean effort to improve the quality of its products.
I learned some pretty cool new info from the book. For e.g.: way before Psy became an international icon on the heels of 'Gangnam Style', a trio of sisters called the Kim sisters were highly successful entertainers in the 1960's, appearing in Vegas and on the Ed Sullivan show dozens of times.
The author criticizes Korean culture, mainly for what she sees as repression of originality and putting undue emphasis on hierarchy and elaborate rituals. But she also acknowledges that this 'voluntary coercion' has probably made the country's rise easier.
Of course with a book that makes bold claims such as these, you are bound to find tenuous arguments and strawmen. If you remind yourself that this is not a serious treatise but an entertaining book that offers good socio-cultural commentary, you will find it enjoyable.
Her main thesis is that 'han' (a Korean term roughly meaning the collective fury against fate) and national shame are the two biggest factors in transforming Korea. These two qualities compelled the government to function as a giant corporation with 50 million employees (as she puts it) to consciously rebrand Korea's image abroad.
Consequently it invested money in pop culture, actively encouraging formation and dissemination of K-pop acts, Korean soap operas, and Korean films, all of which enjoy very high popularity in Japan, Europe and parts of Asia today. Samsung, today an international tech giant, was once reviled as 'Samsuck' and also made a herculean effort to improve the quality of its products.
I learned some pretty cool new info from the book. For e.g.: way before Psy became an international icon on the heels of 'Gangnam Style', a trio of sisters called the Kim sisters were highly successful entertainers in the 1960's, appearing in Vegas and on the Ed Sullivan show dozens of times.
The author criticizes Korean culture, mainly for what she sees as repression of originality and putting undue emphasis on hierarchy and elaborate rituals. But she also acknowledges that this 'voluntary coercion' has probably made the country's rise easier.
Of course with a book that makes bold claims such as these, you are bound to find tenuous arguments and strawmen. If you remind yourself that this is not a serious treatise but an entertaining book that offers good socio-cultural commentary, you will find it enjoyable.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
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