The Lives of Westerners in Joseon Era Korea

by robert neff on December 11, 2008

I know it is a shameless plug but… 서양인의 조선살이, a book I co-authored with Prof. Cheong Sung-hwa has just come out and the reviews appear to be pretty good. I am providing the link to the article by donga.com because they have included a slide show of some of the photographs we have included in the book — many of these photographs are from my collection while others are from the LG/Myoung Ji library… Sorry the book is in Korean, but would still appreciate it if you bought one or two… A man has got to make a living somehow.

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Wedge December 11, 2008 at 4:25 pm: Some great pics there Robert. Looks like a great book!
2 WangKon936 December 12, 2008 at 2:41 am: Bob… I’ll buy 20 copies (not!).
3 robert neff December 12, 2008 at 3:27 am: Too late Wangkon – I marked you down for the twenty…..
4 WangKon936 December 12, 2008 at 3:51 am: That’s fine. The account that Seoul Selection has under my name is actually linked to Koehler’s credit card…
5 virtual wonderer December 12, 2008 at 7:36 am: What’s 난교 파티? If it’s what I think it is, it titillates my interest.
6 Jaroslaw December 12, 2008 at 11:52 am: Please try to write an English version as well… perhaps start with an automatic text translation via google and then some assistance from English students? Korea deserves to have books in English written about it, and there are not enough good ones…
7 robert neff December 12, 2008 at 2:11 pm: Virtual Wonderer -

It is probably what you think it is. The German ambassador to Korea in 1886 was accused of having orgies in the German legation – these allegations caused quite a problem between the Americans, Russians, and Germans.

Jaroslaw -

The original version of the book was done in English and my co-author translated it into Korean and added additional information. We will publish another book, but with different stories, in English with SNU in June or July of 2009. It seems there might be an interest in the lives of foreigners in Korea during the late Choson Era.

Wangkon -

Any credit card will do….Marmot doesn’t mind – he’s rich!!!!!
8 Knucklehead December 12, 2008 at 7:54 pm: Is it available at Kyobo bookstore? I think this would make a good gift for the gf.
9 virtual wonderer December 13, 2008 at 12:58 am: just another question, I have 3rd grade Korean reading comprehension skills. Would I be able to hack it?

and another question. Is this book purchasable for nyc resident at reasonable price? thanx~ sounds interesting.
10 robert neff December 13, 2008 at 11:18 pm: Knucklehead -

I believe it is available in the larger book stores such as Kyobo (at least my publisher told me that) and I hope you will buy her one.

Virtual -
As for the reading comprehension – I really can’t answer that but it appears that you are able to read – you did catch the part of the German *** party. I am not sure if it is available in the States – but let me know and I should be able to pick you up one and mail it (God knows postage is high enough) but the book, especially with the won’s fall, isn’t that expensive. It is 16,000 won and is quite thick.