Best products from r/korea
We found 60 comments on r/korea discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 196 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Korea's Twentieth-Century Odyssey: A Short History
- Pewter Pendant Design: Celtic Cross
- Celtic Meaning: Unity of Life
- Pendant Size: 1 1/8" Square
- Nickel & Lead Free Pewter Pendant
- Black Adjustable Corded Necklace
Features:
3. Korea's Development Under Park Chung Hee (Routledge/Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) East Asian Series)
4. The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation Is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture
Picador USA
9. Under the Black Umbrella: Voices from Colonial Korea, 1910–1945
Recounts of Korean interactions with the Japanese during colonial times.
10. Korean Essential Vocabulary 6000 for Foreigners: Korean-English
- Bundle includes: New Nintendo 3DS, Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer game via download, one Animal Crossing amiibo card, and two cover plates
- AC Adapter sold separately
- 3D Mode recommended for Ages 7+
Features:
11. Sources of Korean Tradition, Vol. 2: From the Sixteenth to the Twentieth Centuries
Columbia University Press
12. Sources of Korean Tradition, Vol. 1: From Early Times Through the 16th Century (Introduction to Asian Civilizations)
Columbia University Press
14. World Footbag Sir Hemp Hacky Sack Footbag, Black/Green/Grey/Red/Tan/Yellow
- Filled with sand
- Machine sewn 12-panel foot bag hacky sack
- Made of Super durable hemp outer cover material
- Machine washable
- Round for true kicks and soft for all delays stalls
- Included components: (1) Hacky Sack
Features:
15. World Footbag SandMaster Hacky Sack Footbag, Grey/Blue/White
Filled with sand for consistent kicks and easy delays (stalls)14-panel footbag (hacky sack) insures this model will stay extremely round for true kicks and delaysSuper soft, tough and washable synthetic suede outer cover materialTighter stitching and unique corner closures for durabilityNew and impr...
16. World Footbag Dirtbag Stellar Staller Hacky Sack Footbag
Filled with sand, steel ball bearings and plastic pellets for consistent kicks and easy delays (stalls)Light activated glow in the dark stars - absolute one-of-a-kind12-panel footbag (hacky sack) is ideal for freestyle fun, 24 hours a daySuper soft, tough and washable synthetic suede outer cover mat...
17. Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West
- Penguin Books
Features:
18. Nintendo New 2DS XL - White + Orange
- Gamers of all ages can play in style with the New Nintendo 2DS XL system. It gives you the power of the New Nintendo 3DS XL system in a streamlined
- Colorful accents add style, while the sleek clamshell design makes it comfortable to hold. A fast processor offers short loading times
- The C Stick brings enhanced controls (like intuitive camera control) to compatible games, while ZL and ZR buttons give you plenty of options
- You can play all Nintendo 3DSand most Nintendo DS games in 2D on this system. Compared to Nintendo 2DS systems
Features:
19. The Samsung Way: Transformational Management Strategies from the World Leader in Innovation and Design
- Sugar spoon made from 304 stainless steel
- A fun, decorative alternative to an everyday accessory
- The perfect gift for those who like to take sugars in their tea!
- Tea spoon measures 6 x 1.3 x 0.5 inch
- Applicable gift-giving occasions: Birthday, Advertising promotions, Anniversary celebration, Festival, Opening ceremony, Awards ceremony, Wedding, Business gifts, Household items
Features:
20. Delicol 6pcs Assorted Seamless Outdoor Sport Bandanna Headwrap Scarf Wrap(7 Color Choices) (Style 1)
- Magic seamless headwrap,light weight,absorbent,Breathable and dry quickly
- multi functions,can be used as headband,hairband,bandelet,hat,neckband,armband,waist band,skirt and so on.
- Ideal choice for outdoor activities, keeping vulnerable neck & face areas protected from UV, sunlight and dust.
- brand:Delicol,6 assorted color handwraps packed in one branded bag
- Great gift for anyone,multi color choices
Features:
Food Table manners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnWA1_ZSlFY
Drinking etiquette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plywvyKnU4Y
Bowing etiquette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJLrEzpzpYA
- Do not use your finger to point (it's rude)
- Learn how to introduce yourself in Korean (they will like you more)
Best phrases to survive once you get there
- Hello= anyonghasayo
- Excuse me (while asking for a waiter or waitress)= Choh Gi Yo
- Excuse me (while trying to get through people in a crowded subway or accidentally bumping)- Jom Shi Mon Yo
- I would like this please= Eee Gah Juseyo
- Beer please= Maekju Juseyo
- I don't speak Korean= Hanguk Mal Mote Heyo
- Where is the bathroom?= Haw Jang Shil Oh Dee Yay Yo
- Thank you= Kamsamnida (General), Komupsimnida (at a restaurant/general), Komawo (Informal with friends)
- Goodbye= Anyongheegasaeyo (When another person is leaving), Anyongheegaesaeyo (when you are leaving)
- Take me to (name of station) exit (exit #)= (name of station) yoke (exit #) baang chul goo
Example: Take me to Hongdae Station exit #7= Hongdae yoke pal baang chul goo. (Usually used in a taxi and your destination is near a subway.
Joseon era:
I prefer the 'Review' more, but it might come across as a little dry. I feel that it does a fair job of discussing a number of topics related to the creation and running of the Joseon Dynasty, breaking the dynasty up into smaller components and then focusing on some areas (arts, military, cultural practices) within those smaller time frames. 'Sources' for me came across as more academic than 'Review' but you might enjoy it more. 'Sources' includes translations of primary sources, which is helpful, while 'Review' includes images such as paintings and maps.
General:
A comic book that goes into the 'making' of Korea and Korean culture. I have some reservations about this one but if you don't take it too seriously it can be a fun and easy way to get introduced to a number of topics related to Korea.
'Modern' Korea:
Lankov's book is a collection of newspaper articles he wrote entertaining subjects like the story of Korea's first automobiles, the introduction of the first telephones, etc. Easy to digest and they offer a glimpse of what society was like at each point in time; not a 'serious' book on Korean history, though. Neff's book was a chore to get through and it felt like no editing had gone into the book before publishing. If I'm not mistaken this also started out as a series of articles for one of the local newspapers; the transition from article to book did not go quite as well.
It's probably been 10 years since I read the books from Breen, Oberdorfer and Cummings, which makes it a little difficult to write a lot about them. Cummings I know gets criticized for being pro-North Korea in his writing, so that's something to keep in mind, while Oberdorfer I think was a correspondent living in Korea so may have a more 'eyewitness' approach to some of the events. Bird's book is a description of her travels in Korea during the Joseon period and I remember it being an interesting read. Not a balanced historical account by any means - and it obviously suffers from being written from an outside perspective at a time when ethnocentrism was more prevalent - but it may be an alternative to consider. You should be able to find a .pdf copy of that one online.
Haven't read this one, but I've seen others mention it in the past. It's another first-person account from Korea at the cusp of the 20th century, this time from the perspective of a medical missionary. Again, not an objective history book, but if you prefer first-person narratives it may at least be worth a look. A .pdf copy has been published online, this one by the University of Oregon.
Edit: One I forgot to mention, but which I've also heard is used in some English-language classes on Korean history/studies:
This is a list that I saved (from reddit a while back. I wish I could give credit to the original poster, but the person who posted it also quoted the list. So whoever compiled this list. KUDOS! I wish I could give you credit:
>So the broader history book is A New History of Korea and starts very very far back. It will provide a general overview of Korean history. As for modern history if you don't know much about Korea's modern history a good place to start is Korea's 20th Century Odyssey. It starts in around the 1890s and if I remember correctly ends with the democracy movements of the 1980s. It very clearly divides the different periods of Korea's 20th century experience e.g. the colonial period, the war and the Park Chung-Hee regime. It is a very good starting point. If you want to have a deeper understanding of the colonial period there are two books I would recommend, the first being Colonial Modernity in Korea which covers a lot of the developments in Korea during the colonial period. Another book I want to recommend is Under the Black Umbrella which is a collection of first hand experiences and stories of people who lived during the colonial period. As for the Park Chung-Hee period there are two suggestions I have but they mostly focus more on economic policy and development. The first book is Korea's Development Under Park Chung-Hee and the second book is Reassessing the Park Chung-Hee Era. Both are pretty high in economic content but the second book does also have a lot of content focusing on political developments. If you read a few of these you will have a good understanding of Korean modern history.
Ha-Joon Chang, The East Asian Development Experience: The Miracle, the Crisis and the Future (2007)
This title isn't entirely about South Korea, but it is written by a well-know Korean-born Cambridge economist and offers a non-Marxist heterodox perspective on East Asia in general and has a lot about South Korea. Might be worth checking out for you. But you may already know about this one, since Chang is fairly famous. He has more works that specifically focus on South Korea, but I'm not sure if they're translated into English.
Bruce Cumings, Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History (2005)
This one is more about general history of the Korean peninsula, but it still has a fairly extensive section devoted to the post-war economic development of the Korean peninsula, especially the similar yet ultimately divergent economic paths of the two Koreas. For all its detractors, it is definitely a classic in Korean historiography written in the English language, so if you haven't heard of it yet, it is definitely worth checking out.
Atul Kohli, State-Directed Development: Political Power and Industrialization in the Global Periphery (2004)
This one is also a comparative historical study, but it devotes almost a third of its length on South Korea, and provides a very good overview of the link between colonization and economic development in South Korea, in addition to covering the latter years of modern Korean history. It is written by a Princeton political scientist that has extensive knowledge of comparative economic development, so it would be worth a look as well.
One note of caution though is that, if you really want to understand the post-war South Korean economic history, you also have to have some background on the economic impact of Japanese colonization (and this topic is a very, very, very, very contentious one in modern Korean history). The last one may be of help on this count.
according to a really informative and entertaining book I picked up, korean entertainment firms acknowledge the fact that geniuses that can sing and dance in perfect sync like Michael Jackson only surface once in a hundred years, and that members of the Beetles can't meet in the garage and start their own band in korea, because everyone is busy studying, and preparing for their futures instead of practicing guitare. So that's why they train potential idols since elementary school, grooming them for the stage for 10 years! Imagine the risks and dedication involved for such a long-term investment. There are different things to respect for everything. It follows the korean belief that success should be a result of hard work and selfless dedication, not birthright or genetics. BTW the stage is really where these artists shine. You get choreography and moves you never seen in music videos. Personally, I prefer dance practice videos like this over the official music vids any day because they show the work they put into making a simple stage into a living storytelling arena.
I'd suggest this book for a great holistic and logical overview of pretty much the whole language and an excellent reference moving forward..well worth the money and from what I've seen, one of a kind.
https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Korean-Language-Bruce-McDonough/dp/1514717328
in the appendices of this book is a good recommended book list too. it's a very good place to start, i think.
for vocab, i'd just get this book: https://www.amazon.com/Korean-Essential-Vocabulary-6000-Foreigners/dp/8955184891 and focus on the "A"-level words first, then the "B", then the "C" later. I can tell you that at least 97% of the words in this book are useful and contemporarily used....i have used this as my main vocab list and used many of these words in speaking and writing with no real problems.
Here are a few books I recommended to someone else that you might find useful
>So the broader history book is A New History of Korea and starts very very far back. It will provide a general overview of Korean history. As for modern history if you don't know much about Korea's modern history a good place to start is Korea's 20th Century Odyssey. It starts in around the 1890s and if I remember correctly ends with the democracy movements of the 1980s. It very clearly divides the different periods of Korea's 20th century experience e.g. the colonial period, the war and the Park Chung-Hee regime. It is a very good starting point. If you want to have a deeper understanding of the colonial period there are two books I would recommend, the first being Colonial Modernity in Korea which covers a lot of the developments in Korea during the colonial period. Another book I want to recommend is Under the Black Umbrella which is a collection of first hand experiences and stories of people who lived during the colonial period. As for the Park Chung-Hee period there are two suggestions I have but they mostly focus more on economic policy and development. The first book is Korea's Development Under Park Chung-Hee and the second book is Reassessing the Park Chung-Hee Era. Both are pretty high in economic content but the second book does also have a lot of content focusing on political developments. If you read a few of these you will have a good understanding of Korean modern history.
"The New Koreans" is a recent publication (copyrighted 2017, although the narrative ends right before the juiciest moment of the decade, choigate, so more like 2016) that goes deep into korea's past and present. Even some points I never considered before.
However, read it with a grain of salt, because some of the things it says are just flat out wrong or biased (like claiming that korea's panic over pyramid scheme con artistry were an act of protectionism against western soap products, and implying that comfort women issue is nothing to bat an eye about because Joseon was a patriarchal society at the time. REALLY? ).
The summary says it outlines the three miracles of korea, each reportedly blew the author's mind as it happened. Economic miracle of the 70s, then democratic miracle of the 90s, then the miracle of breaking out in the world stage as a cultural powerhouse in the last decade. He doesn't really go into the last part in detail, and I can't blame him because he's been alive since the days of Park Chung Hee.
If you want a nice, entertaining and also informative reading on the cultural part, then pick up Birth of Korean Cool
You should use this subreddit instead: https://www.reddit.com/r/Korean/
I think the best advice is don't procrastinate pronunciation. Korean is extremely difficult to pronounce despite being easy to read. Learning pronunciation will make it much easier to retain new vocabulary and grammar. If you don't learn proper pronunciation then yeah you can load vocab and grammar into your short term memory. But it will never get converted to long term memory.
There's two learning tracks. The free track, and the paid track.
Here's the free track: ($0)
Here's the paid track: ($55)
The paid track will get you there quicker. But manage your expectations. On average it takes approximately 2200 hours of studying to become proficient in Korean, compared to 500 hours for Spanish. You will probably need to spend 4x the amount of effort to learn a new word or grammar point in Korean than you did with Spanish. It's definitely a challenge, but if you succeed you'll have a very unique skill.
I recommend you read Camp 14 (https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Camp-14-Remarkable-Odyssey/dp/0143122916) if you haven't already. You will realize how little you actually saw, compared to harsh realities many people face.
Do you have a picture of the slaves? I'd like to see that..sounds fascinating.
Also, in South Korea, there is nothing stopping anyone from visiting the some of the poor rural areas, some of which can be viewed from public trains. I got drunk one night in Seoul and wandered into some pretty nasty areas north of the river...that was pretty eye-opening.
That is a major difference between a free country and a fascist (or whatever word you want to use) one.
Just sayin'...anyways I'm glad you got a lot out of your trip and appreciate you sharing with the reddit community.
I don't know of one book that fits all of those descriptions, but individually, here is a sampling of the books I have in my collection.
Korea Old and New : History
Korea's Place in the Sun, by Bruce Cumings
The Park Chung Hee Era, edited by Byung-Kook Kim and Ezra F. Vogel
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I hope these help!
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A New History of Korea by Ki-Baik Lee has been my favorite introduction to Korea and Korean history to date. It is missing modern (post 1960) history, so you'll need to supplement it, but it is otherwise great.
Korea's place in the sun by Bruce Cummings and Korea's 20th century Odyssey by Michael Robinson are both good overviews of modern Korean history starting in the late 19th century.
Sources of Korean tradition is a good collection of primary sources with background and analysis.
This is a pretty good collection, https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Burning-Bright-Truths-Korean/dp/1565910036
Also, the Samgukyusa is one of the oldest sources that has a fair number of folk stories in it. There's one edition, titled, Overlooked Historical Records of the Three Korean Kingdoms , and another older one titled just "Samguk yusa," iirc. Both are okay, but they both have their issues.
I'd recommend increasing your price range. For a few more dollars, excluding shipping, there are a few bags that Amazon will ship to South Korea:
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Stellar Staller (contains sand, plastic, and steel pellets)
https://www.amazon.com/World-Footbag-Dirtbag-Stellar-Staller/dp/B00EVJU48Y/ref=sr_1_25?keywords=hacky+sack&qid=1551009575&s=gateway&sr=8-25
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Sir Hemp Hacky Sack (contains sand)
https://www.amazon.com/World-Footbag-Hacky-Black-Yellow/dp/B01CEEO8ZM/ref=sr_1_27?keywords=hacky+sack&qid=1551009575&s=gateway&sr=8-27
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SandMaster Hacky Sack
https://www.amazon.com/World-Footbag-SandMaster-Hacky-Sack/dp/B00EVJU1SC/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=hacky+sack&qid=1551010064&refinements=p_89%3AWorld+Footbag&rnid=2528832011&s=gateway&sr=8-8
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Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History is amazing. You can find it at What the Book bookstore.
https://www.coupang.com/np/search?component=&q=nintendo+2ds+xl&channel=auto
Not sure what you mean? It's absolutely available on coupang.
Though if you don't speak Korean, you will have to hack it. They are region locked.
https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B075BD7RYX/ref=sr_1_4?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=nintendo%2B2ds&qid=1573340073&sr=8-4&th=1
I recommend it from Amazon. It is bellow 200 USD so no import fees.
I recommend this book for those who want to know about the unique business strategies some of korean chaebols used to achieve an extremely diversified portfolio without sacrificing diseconomies of scale
Sources of Korean Tradition is a good place to start, but it is a hefty 2 volume work.
http://www.amazon.com/Sources-Korean-Tradition-Vol-Civilizations/dp/0231105673/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376104890&sr=8-1&keywords=sources+of+korean+tradition
Early Korean Literature by David McCann is a slimmer volume, and more accessible.
http://www.amazon.com/Early-Korean-Literature-David-McCann/dp/023111947X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376105046&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=david+mccann+traditional+korean
These do not have anything on urban myths/paranormal. I'll PM if I find anything.
When I studied at Yonsei, we had to read Korea Old and New. It's filled with great information, but it is not the most exciting history book I've read...