Overview

This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the profound transformations in the cultural and physical landscapes of South Korea, with an interdisciplinary approach that draws from anthropology, sociology, and human geography. The authors delve into the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity in a nation that has experienced rapid development, technological innovation, and significant socio-cultural changes. With contributions from experts across various fields, this book examines how South Korea’s distinctive path of modernisation is reshaping both the tangible and intangible aspects of its society. Organised around four key themes—Gender and the Media Landscape, Religion and Social Movements, the Ethno-racial Landscape, and the Traditional Landscape—it presents diverse perspectives on the interconnected forces driving rapid societal change. Together, these insights offer a nuanced understanding of one of the world’s most dynamic societies. This book is an essential resource for scholars, students, and practitioners in South Korean and East Asian studies, as well as the broader disciplines of cultural geography, anthropology, and sociology.

Full Product Details

Author:   Niki Alsford ,  Nora Kim
Publisher:   Springer International Publishing AG
Imprint:   Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN:  

9783031894930

ISBN 10:   3031894936
Pages:   377
Publication Date:   26 August 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: A Sociological Examination of Masculinity in Korean Boys' Love Dramas.- Chapter 3: The change of representation of disability in contemporary Mass media.- Chapter 4: Instagramming Kimchi: An Exploration of the Social Media Landscape of Korean Restaurants in Ankara.- Chapter 5: Changing Meanings of Love and Marriage in South Korea.- Chapter 6: The intersection of ecumenism, feminism, and decolonisation:  The case of Korean Christian women’s work for compatriot atomic-bomb victims.- Chapter 7: Korean Protestant Pastors’ Privilege Not To Pay Income Tax: Analysis of Media Representations.- Chapter 8: Cultivating Change: The Rise of Plant-Based Diets and Environmental Advocacy in South Korea.- Chapter 9: From factory girls to call center girls.- Chapter 10: Intersecting Asias: Coexistence, Connections, and Yemeni Refugees’ Arrival on Jeju Island.- Chapter 11: The embrace and policing of multilingualism and multiculturalism in the ethnoracial landscape of South Korea’s ethnic enclaves.- Chapter 12: Being San/Dara: Self-presentation and flexible citizenship among Korean diasporic celebrities in the Philippines.- Chapter 13: Skills, tradition, and modernity: bread and bakeries in narratives of identity and practice among rice cake manufacturers in South Korea.- Chapter 14: It’s now or never: preservation of present-day urbanity as treasure for the future.- Chapter 15: Negotiating the Utilization of Cultural Heritage: Insights from the “Palace-stay” Program Controversy.

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Author Information

Niki Alsford is Professor of Anthropology and Human Geography at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. His present work bridges cognitive divides in environmental discussions by integrating traditional ecological knowledge with climate science. His current ethnographic fieldwork focuses on the Haenyeo, female freediving harvesters of Jeju Island, South Korea. Nora Kim is Professor of Sociology at the University of Mary Washington, US. Her research explores the impact of US imperialism in Asia. Her recent works are published at positions: asia critique and Journal of Refugee Studies. She is currently writing a book, Subimperial Embrace: Trans/Formation of South Korea’s Refugee Landscape.

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