A Geek in Korea - by Daniel Tudor (Paperback)

About the Book

"A Geek in Korea reinvents the culture guide for the Internet age. Packed with articles and photographs, it covers all the touchstones of Korean culture--from Buddhism and Confucianism to chapters on the traditional arts and disciplines like Taekwondo. There are chapters on cultural code words and norms; personal relationships; business and technology; and symbols and practices that are peculiarly Korean. A number of chapters are devoted to Korean pop culture, with attention to the stars, idols, and urban subcultures associated with them. For visitors to Korea, the author includes a mini-guide to his favorite neighborhoods in Seoul and other places of outstanding interest."--Publisher description.

Book Synopsis

For every fan of K-Pop music, Korean Wave dramas and Kimchi--or anyone intrigued by Korea and Korean culture--A Geek in Korea is a hip, new guide to the land of the Samsung smartphone and Gangnam Style.

Author Dan Tudor first arrived in Korea on the eve of the 2002 World Cup when South Korea played Italy in the finals. What he saw inspired him to return and work in Korea. Tudor served as The Economist magazine's Korea correspondent for three years and writes regular columns for the national daily Joongang Ilbo newspaper. Along the way, he has developed a great love and admiration for Korean culture and the Korean people.

A Geek in Korea reinvents the culture guide for the Internet age. Packed with articles and photographs, it covers all the touchstones of Korean culture--from Buddhism and Confucianism to chapters on the traditional arts and disciplines like Taekwondo. There are chapters on cultural code words and norms; personal relationships; business and technology; and symbols and practices that are peculiarly Korean. A number of chapters are devoted to Korean pop culture, with attention to the stars, idols, and urban subcultures associated with them. For visitors to Korea, the author includes a mini-guide to his favorite neighborhoods in Seoul and other places of outstanding interest.

Spotlighting the originality and creativity of the Koreans, debunking myths about them, and answering nagging questions like why they're so obsessed with education and success--Tudor has created the perfect book for the growing ranks of Koreaphiles in this inspired, insightful, and highly informative guide.

Review Quotes

...in a format lush with photographs for everything that he covers, he writes engagingly of traditional customs, of Koreans' love of partying and drinking, of the emphasis on hard work, the zest for sports, the rise of Christianity and, centuries earlier, Buddhism. --World Tribune

...the book offers a broad view of Korea. A colorful book that is photo-heavy, A Geek in Korea pays much attention to popular culture in Korea, including films, of which Tudor is a big fan. --The Korean Herald

A Geek in Korea is basically the ultimate illustrated in beautiful pictures guide to everything about Korea, and when I say EVERYTHING, I truly mean that. It has history, who Koreans are, the science to Kpop (which is my favorite chapter) a look at Korea's internet mania, basically everything a Korean-learner or Korean-anything enthusiast would want to know. -- Korean Notebook blog

Daniel Tudor has a fine understanding of contemporary South Korea and a flair for storytelling. His narrative of the nation's landscape is an earnest, investigative tale that seeks to undercover the truth of this often misunderstood country. --Krys Lee, author of Drifting House, a critically acclaimed collection of stories portraying the Korean experience

If you want to understand Korea, Daniel Tudor is a must-read author. His passion for the peninsula runs deep, and his writing is prolific and insightful. For a society that outsiders often struggle to grasp, Tudor has pieced together a remarkably accessible story. --Geoffrey Cain, Korea correspondent for Global Post

Published by Tuttle Publishing last year, 'Geek' reinvents the culture guide for the Internet age. Packed with articles and interviews, it covers all the touchstones of Korean culture -- from Buddhism and Confucianism to the traditional arts of pottery and disciplines like taekwondo. --Shanghai Daily

The book's format is fun...as it's a mini-encyclopedia of sorts with short articles or snippets on various topics, with big, beautiful photos. --Mom Home Guide blog

The first impression, judging by a vivid array of pictures in the book, is that Korea is a partying place, with K-Pop music, video-gaming emporiums, and sumptuous restaurants. But it is, of course, much more than that. It is one of the most competitive societies in the world: Eighty percent of its youth graduate from college. There are 500,000 graduates a year for whom only 100,000 jobs await. --Foreword Reviews

About the Author

Daniel Tudor is from Manchester, England, and graduated with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. He has lived in Seoul, Korea for many years, and served as The Economist's Korea Correspondent from 2010-2013. His first book, 'Korea: The Impossible Country' received strong praise and has also been translated into Korean, Chinese, Polish, and Thai. Daniel is a regular columnist for a Korean newspaper, the Joongang Ilbo, and has commented on Korea-related topics many times for the BBC, Al Jazeera, and others. He is also co-founder of The Booth, a small chain of craft beer pubs.