SOUTH KOREA 101: The Culture, Etiquette, Rules and Customs

by Mancho Soto

South Korea 101 is a book that shares with you practical information that holds great value in better understanding the Korean mindset and culture! If you have an interest in Korea and Korean people then this book will bring you tremendous value. I cover subjects how to eat spicy foods, how to not get run over by vehicles in Korea, dating in Korea and many MORE!I share insight with you about Korea that I gathered from living there for almost a decade. I love Korea and Korea is a big part of my life. With this book, you'll be able to make a better life with Korea and Koreans!

Genres: Nonfiction, Asia

63 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2019

Reviews

[Nádia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooo many good inside views, I can now understand more some traits/actions/phrases/reasons for doing things in a certain way. For me its 4.5* only wish the book to be more expansive, somethings were left out - and I know little but it was not mentioned that mandatory military service must be done until youre 30. So I wish that the book give even more info.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5 I don't know what I was expecting, but not what was delivered. I think I was hoping for a book that talked objectively about Korean culture, manners, and customs as the title promised, but rather it is a book with random numbered paragraphs that contain minimal information and personal anecdotes. A lot of the notes on Korean culture are things I have known for years simply from Youtube or watching Korean television. It is written overly casual. The numbering system is odd, and it doesn't even have 101 things. It ends on a completely random number in the mid eighties. I don't recommend. There are much better books on Korean culture such as A Geek In Korea by Daniel Tudor.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe not the best. I had been living in South Korea almost a year when I picked this up, so maybe I wasn't the right audience. This seems to be geared at a very narrow group, specifically long new arrivals to Korea settling in for a long-ish stay teaching English. I wouldn't recommend it to the US DoD crowd or to the casual traveler.

[James Clevenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative book

Would have given this book 5 stars but there are many observations/suppositions in here rather than hard facts. Even still, it is a very informative book which should help enlighten people traveling to Korea.

[Tori Smothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy Reading

Enjoyed this book in that while you are learning about culture, rules, and etiquette, it was easily digestible. Author engrossed readers with his own stories to back up the teachings which made it all the more enjoyable.

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Superficial information and a lot of pro-Korea stuff (the latter is to be expected but it was still cringey). The book ended really randomly and was not organized at all. It was basically a list of things about Korea. I've read blog posts with more interesting, in-depth facts.

[Penny Chalton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bit disappointed think it needs a heavier edit as lots of repetition and overly personal stories comparing Korea to America forgetting that other western cultures and English speaking individuals might read it. Some useful pointer though

[Cheryl Neer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A primer on South Korea.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very useful!!

I haven't visited Korea yet but when I do I'm prepared. Mr. Soto, you should write more of these kinds of books!!

[Anne Roark · Rating 5 out of 5]

lots of interesting information!

[Victoria Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and succinct

Authors experience is his, but is generally accurate. There are varieties of mannerisms and behaviors that vary as in every region of any country.

[An Te · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a helpful book discussing all aspects of the Korean culture from a foreigner's perspective who seems to have fallen in love with the people and its culture. I would recommend this for a traveller going to SK to help them re-orient. I did at times feel that the author was playing up their significance as a non-Korean. I'm not sure that Koreans idolise non-Koreans for whatever reason, but I guess I can only test this if I do go myself one day. But it felt a little soppy and romanticised to say the least. Nevertheless, there are many nuggets for one to take to help one become more understanding of the Korean culture and one can even perceive overlaps with other cultures, such as the Chinese culture also. Just don't ever write a Korean person's name in red ink! And always be studious, and receive and give with both your hands.

P.S. Writing in red ink bodes ill omens for the said individual :(