Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Yoo brings both clarity and nuance to the complex, interwoven histories of the two Koreas since 1945. . . . Although the main lines of contemporary Korean history are familiar, even specialists will learn a lot from this book." * Foreign Affairs *
"Theodore Jun Yoo’s “microhistory” of both Koreas focuses on the personal experiences of ordinary people. In seven chapters, examining the decades from the late 1940s to today, Yoo skillfully weaves a story of the two Koreas by drawing on a range of social and cultural artefacts — including art, film and literature — to convey the experiences of ordinary Koreans while providing a comprehensive account of the key political, economic and diplomatic developments of the post-war period." * Global Asia *
"An interesting and engaging introduction of Korean history that covers a wide range of topics for a popular audience." * International Social Science Review *
“Theodore Jun Yoo takes a fresh historiographical approach and recounts events on the peninsula through multiple life stories. . . .
The Koreas maps out a broad geographical scope, tracing the far-reaching effects of national division from 1953 to the 2018 inter-Korea summits.” * Journal of Asian Studies *
"A masterful exploration of the social and cultural fabric of Northern and Southern societies. The author’s interesting examples and personal stories make the book an engaging and moving read." * Pacific Affairs *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Chronology
Introduction: Land of Exile
1 Out of the Ashes of War: The 1950s
2 Dependent Capitalist Development or a Path of Self-Reliance?
3 Sex, Hair, and Flower Power: The 1970s
4 The Long 1980s
5 Civilian Rule and the End of a Dynasty
6 Kim-chic or the Axis of Evil? Korea and the World
7 Korea in the World
Epilogue: The Land of Morning Calm
Bibliography
Index
