Analysis

Korea: A New History of South and North


2023, Yale University Press


Korea gives the answer to the lingering enigma of how two extremely different systems, one globally flying and the other falling to the bottom, have evolved from the same people—and where they will go from here. . . A must-read.”
– Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the UN

“A highly readable history of the Korean peninsula. . . A must-read to understand how one ill-informed moment in history led to an ongoing human tragedy and geopolitical challenge.”
– Anna Fifield, Asia-Pacific editor, Washington Post


Korea has a long, riveting history—it is also a divided nation. South Korea is a vibrant democracy, the tenth largest economy, and is home to a world-renowned culture. North Korea is ruled by the most authoritarian regime in the world, a poor country in a rich region, and is best known for the cult of personality surrounding the ruling Kim family. But both Koreas share a unique common history.
 
Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo draw on decades of research to explore the history of modern Korea, from the late nineteenth century, Japanese occupation, and Cold War division to the present day. A small country caught amongst the world’s largest powers—including China, Japan, Russia, and the United States—Korea’s fate has been closely connected to its geography and the strength of its leadership and society. This comprehensive history sheds light on the evolving identities of the two Koreas, explaining the sharp differences between North and South, and prospects for unification.

To purchase, visit your local bookstoreAmazonBarnes & NobleBookshop, or University Press.

Co-authors Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo’s book talks.

Book talk at CSIS, July 24, 2023
Book talk at the Korea Society, April 18, 2024