Korean Culture Dictionary: From Kimchi To K-Pop And K-Drama Clichés. Everything About Korea Explained! (The K-Pop Dictionary)

It's unfortunate that the author and/or publisher failed to follow the example of K-pop CDs where there are more than one version of the same non-virtual product (i.e. a physical CD, similar to a physical book) with completely different photos: e.g. an Apink or Twice album may come out with two different versions simultaneously: blue and red, and each of those versions has different photobooks, posters, idol member cards, etc. Some K-pop groups have actually produced a "color version" and a "black and white" version of a photobook and cards that accompany the same CD content (i.e. the identical songs playlist).Thus, I can understand and appreciate producing this black & white version for students and people who just don't have an extra $10-20 to pay for a version with color photos; but the author and publisher should have simultaneously released a "color photos version" for those of us who actually want photos that actually adequately show what the black & white photos fail to show. I would have paid more money for a color photos version. Many of these black and white photos are useless: I can't make out any of the details. I understand that the Kindle version has color photos, but many many Amazon customers -- I included -- want real (i.e. physical, non-virtual) books, not electronic versions like Kindle, etc. Thus, a "real book" with color photos would have been much better than this terrible black and white photos version, if you only had to distribute one book; but I am arguing you should have released both a cheaper-priced black and white version, and a version with color photos. I expect this book to sell well due to the content, but the author and publisher would have made great profit had they also produced a physical copy with color photos, since it's frustrating to have such difficult-to-view grayish-looking photos that resemble indiscernible old days' newspapers photos..The content itself is wonderful and a great contribution to an understanding of Korean culture. There is so much here about history, popular culture, rituals, etc. etc. etc. So I consider this book a very very strong "5" in content but only a strong "1" in photography/illustrations, though they are plentiful (which is a good thing). I generously round my rating of this book up to a 4, but really felt like giving it a 3, since "a picture is worth a thousand words" IF and ONLY IF you can actually make out the photos.

I have to admit that I'm a Koreaboo myself and have a lot of friends like me (hey, birds of a feather flock together!), and with BTS dominating the world music scene and everything, I'm sure that's why you're here too! I watch a lot of K-Dramas and listen to K-Pop songs, but as a foreigner there's always this lingering taste, or unfulfilled curiosity, rather, in my mouth coming from not being able to understand what Korean people do and why they do! To be honest, Korea is not as well known to the world as Japan or China, and finding information about the culture is quite difficult, and inaccurate. Heck, even my gyopo Korean friends sometimes don't know how to answer some of my questions! And a friend of mine told me about this book and I thought I'd give it a shot, and I'm glad I did! The book is quite thick with over 300 pages, and covers lots of topics that I was always curious about, and the ones that I never gave much thought to (but I should have) until now, and it gives me so much insight into what Korea is like as a country, and who the Korean people are. The thing I liked about this book is that it's written in easy-to-read conversational style, but the best part is that it's written from a foreigner's perspective, so it's not like getting lectured from a boring professor, but has lots of stories and anecdotes we can relate to as foreigners. I'm about 3/4 into the book and I already feel I know so much more about Korean culture, and watching and listening to K-Dramas and K-Pop now hits me so differently cause I can identify the subtle nuances and meanings that are lost during translation because well, they can't be translated but have to be felt and experienced! So yes, this is definitely something I'd recommend to anyone who's into Korean culture. One caveat is that the book is in full color only in Kindle version and the paperback is in b/w. Also the QR codes to YouTube links are quite helpful, but if you buy the Kindle version, you would need to have 2 devices, one to read the book and another to scan the QR code, so that's something you have to put into consideration.

I would give the content of the book 5 stars, but no matter which device I use, the print is tiny and cannot be adjusted. You have to stretch the page and then you can’t see the whole page. Also, this book is incompatible with my Paper White. I plan on buying the book as it is exhausting trying to read the Kindle version.

I bought this book for a friend who recently went to Seoul. She found it fun and informative as it highlights cultural aspects of Korea.

I have recently gotten interested in K-Dramas and was looking for books on the culture of South Korea! This book is so informative, easy to read and has some amazing facts! I could not be more pleased with this purchase!

It's what I expected.

The media could not be loaded.  The entire book is in black and white, only the cover is in color. All the dishes, scenery... all in black and white like a dog's vision.A bit pricey for a black and white book TBH.

I am Into K-pop ,K- Dramas, Korean food and Korean culture. I am an American, but I love culture studies. This book added concise information with lovely photos!

This book gives a real look inside the everyday life, culture, etc. about information known by the Koreans. If you like kdrama, you will find a lot of answers to the questions you have always wondered about, including YouTube videos to give further help. A book well worth reading.

This has huge amounts of information - a really good buy. BUT so let down by being printed in black and white and disappointing as Korea has such a colourful culture.

Needed for research purposes, useful. A quirky dip in and out book

We have been into K-drama, so I bought this for my wife. She can't stop quoting from it and often laughs out loud at the humorous presentation. It is packed full of interesting and quirky facts about Korea and it's culture. A must of all K-drama fans.

Daughter is learning Korean and is enjoy this book.