The Two Koreas: Revised And Updated A Contemporary History Paperback – December 6, 2001

I borrowed this book from the library during my visit to the US. My mom became hospitalized and so I read this book next to her bed while she rested. I wasn't able to finish it before returning to Korea so I bought this book here on Amazon. It gave me a very good understanding of the history of the Korean Peninsula, especially related to the Korean War.

very informative material.

Don Oberdorfer's "The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History" is the perfect first book for anyone interested in the history and trauma in Korea over the last 50 years. This text was required reading in a graduate-level course on the Government and Security in Korea.Oberdorfer knows Korea. From his first visit in 1953 as an Army Lieutenant through his interviews of the presidential candidates before the 1987 election, and his visit to Pyongyang in 1991, Oberdorfer continually followed Korean politics - mostly from the seat of a press member for the Washington Post. As he recounts in the text, Oberdorfer was sitting in the National Theater in Seoul on August 15th, 1974 when the shots rang out at ROK President Park Chung Hee, killing the ROK First Lady, the president survived. This personal touch of first hand accounts, compiled with interviews of major actors in Korean politics (both U.S., North Korean, and South Korean), is seamlessly rolled together in a readable narrative that draws the reader into this contemporary history.The text covers the inside stories and under-the-table events which occurred between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from mostly first hand sources in the form of interviews with the participants.I highly recommend this book for anyone studying Korea, Asian politics, or the military situation on the Korean peninsula. A 40-page notes and sources section serves the reader with the basis for Oberdorfer's statements and claims, and lends itself to more in depth research of the primary sources.

Very helpful to understand US policy in Korea and it's effect on current US/South Korea relations, as well as the current crisis. Covers a good bit of modern Korean history along with events in Europe, China, Russia and the US during the same time period. Well worth the time spent reading, certainly not dry, however also not sensationalized.

This is a readable and easy-going introduction to the recent political history of the Korean peninsula. The authors journalistic style is lightly entertaining, as he beats a path through the intrigues and inner workings of top-level meetings, defections, diplomacy and sabre-rattlings. He manages to make the period in question actually sound vitally interesting. In reality anybody with a longer perspective on the coutry knows that the events described are the same-old, timeworn brinkmanship, bluffs and hot air of domestic Korean affairs. The sort of fare that sounds exciting to outsiders but is viewed as barely noteworthy by the actual residents of the country.It is true that he does not delve into Korean sources, and that he seems to lack a deep feel for the heartbeat of the culture. This is essentially an American view, the reportage of an outsider. Despite this he has had intimate access to the events he discusses, and he has met most South Korean presidents in person. His personal anecdotes bring an immediacy to the picture.This dynamic country changes rapidly, however, and any book on Korea quickly becomes out of date.

I looked at this book as an introduction to the broad strokes of modern Korean history, and for my purposes it worked wonderfully. I learned a lot, and the book brought a lot of new questions into my mind.That being said, I went immediately from this book to Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History, Updated Edition. And I mean within a few hours of finishing The Two Koreas. Cuming's book is far more expansive and goes back farther into history, but I am very glad I read The Two Korea's first, so that I would have the big picture in mind while reading Cumings.Also, I agree with other reviewers that said the author bringing in his personal stories got a little annoying and there could have been more natural ways to introduce the same information.So for people just looking for a light overview of the topic, I would recommend this book. But for those looking to delve deeper into Korean politics and culture, it will not be sufficient.

I read this book in preparation for working in Korea. The author was well placed as a journalist during the actual events reported here and has terrific access to high ranking Korean and US officials. Fascinating detail, very readable. The latest edition includes new chapters written by an assistant author and is recommended over the previous version (which is still very good, just not complete with respect to recent history).

Anyone who wants to brush up on the issues surrounding North and South Korea would do well to pick up this volume. It is well written and actually enjoyable to read. You will also pick up a lot of historical tidbits from the era from the author who was actually there as a reporter. Especially interesting were his observations of North Korea made during a trip there.