Korea: A Walk Through the Land of Miracles

Korea: A Walk Through the Land of Miracles by Simon Winchester

Simon Winchester attempted to duplicate a walk through Korea. He wasn't able to complete the portion in North Korea, however, he did ask and was granted permission to visit the north at a later date. Along his walk, he meets with many Koreans (as well as some ex-patriots.) Korea was still a very traditional society with a strong emphasis on saving face. There are bits covering people engaged in activities ranging from diving for seafood to processing ginseng. South Korea at the time was just at the start of its big economic growth spurt. There were some hints of that at the time. However, the society was still very closed. It has changed a lot from the time it was written.