Korean Mind: Understanding Contemporary Korean Culture

Description

Delve into this exploration of what it means to be Korean. South Korea is now an economic and technological superpower - but how, as a country, did they rebound so quickly from war and political unrest? And how can that success be replicated in other cultures? The answers lie in understanding the beliefs that Koreans hold dear and the values they find significant, as well as how they all developed. In his book The Korean Mind, scholar Boye Lafayette De Mente clearly identifies the building blocks that make up the modern Korean identity. Organised alphabetically by topic, De Mente puts into context the many 'cultural code words' that explain why Korea is the country it is today. Readers will soon find that their meaning goes far beyond the superficial English translation. The Korean Mind provides all the background and insight necessary for those eager to learn the secrets of a burgeoning, yet little-understood country.

Boye Lafayette De Mente first went to Korea in 1949 as a member of a U.S. military intelligence agency, and was involved with the country for more than six decades as a student, journalist, editor, lecturer, and writer. He is the author of more than thirty books including Survival Korean, The Korean Way in Business and Etiquette Guide to Korea. Laura Kingdon is a graduate of Yonsei University's Korean Language Institute. She has designed curricula and taught English as a Second Language to students of all ages, ranging from university students in Kazakhstan to elementary school children in Korea.