"Asia in Focus: The Koreas" presents an authoritative and unprecedented look at the contrasts and similarities between the history, geography, politics, economy, culture, and society of North Korea and South Korea. It offers a wealth of new insights into North Korean life, as well as extensive explorations of Korean music, arts, language, cuisine, and popular culture, including the "Korean wave," which began with the export of Korean television dramas to other parts of Asia and has spread South Korean culture around the world. Also included are sections on women's history and roles, class...

It's not hard to understand why Koreans describe their lives as "han," which means "living with a great and sustained sorrow." In the 20th century alone, they endured a 35 year Japanese military occupation, one of the most brutal civil wars in history, and decades of occupation by rival superpowers.

Yet the story of this hauntingly beautiful, mountainous land is not ultimately one of war and devastation. "The Koreas: A Global Studies Handbook" tells the story of a warm and generous people who have retained their distinctive language and culture despite repeated foreign occupations,...