Showing results for "Korea" in World

Having spent centuries in the shadows of its neighbors China and Japan, Korea is now the object of considerable interest for radically different reasons - the South as an economic success story and for its vibrant popular culture; the North as the home to one of the world's most repressive regimes, at once both bizarre and menacing. Korea: A Very Short Introduction explores the history, culture, and society of a deeply divided region.

Korea was one of the last countries in Asia to be visited by Westerners, and its borders have remained largely unchanged since it was unified in the seventh century. Though it is one of the world's oldest and most ethnically homogeneous states, Korea was not born in a vacuum. Geographically isolated, the country was heavily influenced by powerful China and was often used as a bridge to the mainland by Japan. Calling themselves as "a shrimp among whales", Koreans borrowed elements of government, culture, and religion, all the while fiercely fighting to maintain independence.

North Korea remains the world's most opaque and enigmatic state, a hermit kingdom forged in the crucible of Japanese colonialism, the Korean War, and the Cold War. This show, hosted by Lucas and Luna, peels back the layers of secrecy to explore the full sweep of North Korean history from the ancient kingdom of Gojoseon to the Kim dynasty's nuclear brinkmanship. We delve into the rise of the Kim Il-sung personality cult, the brutal purges of the 1950s and 1960s, the devastating Arduous March famine of the 1990s, and the country's controversial Juche ideology. We examine the dynastic succession ...

In this book, former North Korea lead foreign service officer at the US embassy in Seoul, Patrick McEachern, unpacks the contentious and tangled relationship between the Koreas in an approachable question-and-answer format. Why have the two Koreas developed politically and economically in such radically different ways? What are the origins of a divided Korean Peninsula? Who rules the two Koreas? How have three generations of the authoritarian Kim dictatorship shaped North Korea?

The Story Real Korea tells the true, surprising stories behind Korea's most iconic companies, people, and turning points — in the storytelling style of a great documentary. Season one: Samsung. How did a company that started in 1938 selling dried fish and noodles end up making the memory inside the world's machines? We trace the wild pivots, the impossible bets, and the moment a chairman burned 150,000 phones. Independent, unofficial, and not affiliated with or endorsed by any company featured.

Andrei Lankov has gone where few outsiders have ever been. A native of the former Soviet Union, he lived as an exchange student in North Korea in the 1980s. He has studied it for his entire career, using his fluency in Korean and personal contacts to build a rich, nuanced understanding. In The Real North Korea, Lankov substitutes cold, clear analysis for the overheated rhetoric surrounding this opaque police state.

Of the many myths that emerged following the end of the Korean War, the prevailing one in the West was that of the absolute supremacy of US Air Force pilots and aircraft over their Soviet-supplied opponents. The claims of the 10:1 victory-loss ratio achieved by the US Air Force fighter pilots flying the North American F-86 Sabre against their communist adversaries, amongst other such fabrications, went unchallenged until the end of the Cold War, when Soviet records of the conflict were finally opened. From that point onwards, a very different story began to emerge.

Join us on an intriguing journey through Japan and Korea, where we delve into the rich tapestry of their governments, vibrant cultures, and unique agricultural practices. This immersive exploration offers a closer look at the people, their customs, and the spiritual beliefs that shape their lives. Whether you’re curious about the historical significance or the everyday experiences of these nations, this volume promises to enlighten and inspire. (Summary by Betty B)

From the mythic founding of Gojoseon to the nuclear standoff on the 38th parallel, the Korean Peninsula has been a crucible of dynastic ambition, foreign invasion, and fierce cultural identity. Lucas and Luna guide listeners through four thousand years of Korean history: the Three Kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla locked in centuries of warfare and cultural exchange with Tang China; the unifying Goryeo dynasty that gave the West its name for Korea; the Confucian revolution of Joseon, which produced the Hangul alphabet, the turtle ships of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and a rigid social order that...

How did a nation devastated by the Korean War transform into a global economic and cultural powerhouse? Lucas and Luna trace South Korea's extraordinary arc from the fall of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) through Japanese colonial rule, the division at the 38th parallel, the Korean War (1950–1953), and the authoritarian development era under Park Chung-hee. They explore the chaebol conglomerates (Samsung, Hyundai), the democratization movement of 1987, and the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Cultural topics include the Hallyu wave (K-pop, K-drama, cinema), the debate over comfort women, the ...

North Korea is one of the most troubled societies on earth. The country's 24 million people live under a violent dictatorship led by a single family, which relentlessly pursues the development of nuclear arms, which periodically incites risky military clashes with the larger, richer, liberal South, and which forces each and every person to play a role in the "theater state" even as it pays little more than lip service to the wellbeing of the overwhelming majority.

Journey with Isabella L. Bird, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, as she delves into the heart of Korea from 1894 to 1897. Renowned for her engaging style, Bird takes readers on a vivid adventure through both North and South Korea, offering a rich tapestry of the landscapes, people, and customs of the then Hermit Kingdom. Bird’s exploration coincided with a period of tremendous upheaval in Korea, a time when Japan occupied the nation and relationships deteriorated, prompting her to flee to Manchuria and later Russia. She returned to a drastically changed Korea, where she ...

As the tide turned in the Korean War, UN leaders faced critical questions about the future of the conflict. The dynamic ROK leader made it clear he had no intention of reverting to the pre-invasion status quo, aiming instead to unify Korea by advancing to the Manchurian border. With the Communists violation of the 38th Parallel, this arbitrary line—originally a division between Soviet and American occupation zones—was rendered meaningless. On September 26, CINCUNC tasked the Joint Special Plans and Operations Group (JSPOG) with creating a strategy for operations beyond the border. The ...

In March 1952, the 1st Marine Division made a strategic redeployment from the East-Central front to the vital West Korea sector. Stretching nearly 35 miles, this area anchored the far western end of I Corps, playing a crucial role in the Eighth Armys defensive line. Here, the Marines stood firm against the enemys attempts to advance toward Seoul, the South Korean capital. Just northwest of their Main Line of Resistance, a mere five miles away, lay Panmunjom, where sporadic truce negotiations unfolded. - Summary by L. F. Chapman, Jr.

On June 25, 1950, most Americans were unaware that civil strife had erupted in Korea, a distant peninsula that would soon witness one of the most significant military endeavors in U.S. history. Renowned for their amphibious capabilities, the Marines of the 1st Brigade were tasked with demonstrating their adaptability in challenging ground combat. Throughout the fierce battles within the Pusan Perimeter—advancing south towards Sachon and engaging twice along the Naktong River—these brave Marine units relentlessly pressed their assault against the enemy. Remarkably, they held their ground ...

In the fourth installment of our five-volume series on U.S. Marine operations during the Korean War, we delve into the critical events from December 1950 through March 1952. This volume focuses on the 1st Marine Division and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as they navigated complex operations under Eighth Army control and alongside IX Corps and X Corps. From the rest period in the Masan “bean patch” to intense guerrilla hunts and the fierce fighting in the Punchbowl, this account captures the resilience and determination of the Marines during a pivotal time in history. Join us as we explore ...

The Inchon Landing stands as a pivotal moment in military history, showcasing an audacious amphibious operation that was meticulously planned and executed with remarkable precision. This bold strategy involved a calculated risk—diverting forces from the Pusan Perimeter to strike decisively at the enemys rear. Faced with challenging weather and treacherous geography, the operation culminated in fierce combat within the heart of Seoul. Join us as we delve into this extraordinary campaign, highlighted by insights from Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. and Aaron Bennett.

Interviewing academics, professionals and other experts, Korea Now is a podcast where Jed Lea-Henry digs into historical and current issues relating to the two Koreas. Jed Lea-Henry's podcast, and other work, can be found at http://www.jedleahenry.org/

Yay

The Making of Modern South Korea - Stories of South Korea's modern and contemporary history.