A Brief History of Korea: Isolation, War, Despotism and Revival: The Fascinating Story of a Resilient But Divided People Review

The intriguing and colourful cover page catches the eye of the reader along with a fascinating subtitle. The cover pictures show part of old Korea and parts of the modern-day Korea as an evolution

In the preliminary stages of the book, the author clearly outlines the major developments in the early stages of Korean history and the significant attempt by the Chinese to undermine Korean independence and integrate Korea into its empire.  

The ambitions of Silla, after unifying Korea after 300 years of war, were described in a way that allowed the reader to recognise the methods of gaining power and popularity around the land by linking it to those practised by politicians and kingdoms across the globe. The author identifies a significant figure in Yi Seonggye and gives us an insight into his hatred, which eventually drove him to create something that would change Korean life, exemplifying the manner in which Korea was re-established into a formidable cultural force.  

The author tells us about when Korea was forced to open its doors to its neighbours and trade with them. Michael J. Seth does not fall into the trap of framing the Japanese as the villains and he just tells us the facts without an opinion.

At a later stage of the book, it tells us about how the North and South were supported by different countries – the war being one of many proxy wars between the USA and the Soviet Union. It tells us, in a way easy to understand, about Kim Il Sung and how he rose up the Red Army’s ranks to eventually become the first Dictator of the North.

The next chapter tells us about how North Korea rose economically, leaving the USA, who still gave South Korea money to grow, in the dust. Despite this, the chapter shows how the North Koreans thought of its southern cousins as corrupt, dirty Southerners, and exemplifies the thriving early years of the North. It also tells us excellently about how much the North tried to unify using terrible methods. These include trying to assassinate a few South Korean Prime ministers, once even fatally wounding the Prime Minister’s wife, with a bullets intended to strike the Prime minister himself. She would later go on to die at that hall.

Following that they tell us the exact opposite of what the one before did. It tells us about the downfall of North Korea under Kim Jong Il and the tragic famine which killed approximately 1,000,000 people. This called for Kim Jong Il to ask for food aid from the international community. This prompt countries like America and surprisingly South Korea to chip in with some donations.

As the text progresses are enlightened about South Korea’s rise and how they maintained it. The south’s rise was because, unlike its Northern counterparts only trading to its allies, the South opened its doors to every country and started a democracy.

Finally, the last section of the book talks about the challenges South Korea faces today. From the ratio of Men to Woman to the Nuclear testing of Kim Jong Un South Korea has survived pain and it will continue to come, but the resilient people of the South will get through it.

Although the remaining chapters underpin a deep understanding of Korea’s chronology, he occasionally, without warning, skips back and forth across a few centuries, which discombobulates the reader’s train of thought, like dropping a rock into the natural flow of river.  

Overall, this read gives the reader a comprehensive understanding of what shaped Korea over the ages and how the Korean mind perceives its identity and its relation to its neighbours.