CULTURAL RESOURCES: KOREA

Culture Shock! A Guide to Customs and Etiquette: Korea, Times Editions Pte Ltd, Times Centre, 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 53196 and Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company, PO Box 10306, Portland, Oregon 97210 (503) 226-2402.

Communication Styles in Two Different Cultures: Korean and American by Myung- Seok Park, ISBN 89-348-0358-4 Paul Kim, Manager for International Programs, Korea, tells us that this book is about common problems in communication between Americans and . He said it made him “roll with laughter.” On the back cover the Korean author notes that, when he once made a speech praising one of his professors at a luncheon in her honor, he felt as if he had committed a crime. He had said, “I want to thank you for the energy you have devoted to us in spite of your great age.” He knew he had done something wrong when he saw the corners of his professor’s mouth twitch.

The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History by Don Obendorfer Paul Kim also recommends this book. He said it gives good insights into the reasons for the present tensions between North and , explains why the country is still separated and has been unable to re-unite, and explains the different thought patterns between North and South Koreans.

Foster, Jenny, Stewart, Frank, and Fenkl, Heinz, editors, The Century of the Tiger: One Hundred Years of Korean Culture in America, 1903-2003. University of Hawaii Press, 2003. ISBN 0-8248-2644-2 “An outstanding collection of stories and pictures [that] describes the unique and abiding relationship between the United States and Korea through the decades…an extraordinarily beautiful book…a wonderful gift, especially for a Korean adoptee who longs to know ‘who I am and where did I come from.’” (Susan Cox, Vice President, Public Policy and External Affairs)

To learn about current events in Korea you will want to review these three large and popular newspapers: : http://times.hankooki.com/ The Korean Herald: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/index.asp The Chosun Ilbo: http://english.chosun.com/

To learn about the Korean American community in the US, including the adoptee community, you might want to subscribe to The Korean Quarterly: http://www.koreanquarterly.org

Last updated: 12/30/05