I finally finished reading "Offspring of Empire: The Koch'ang Kims and the Colonial Origins of Korean Capitalism 1876-1945". I started this at least a year ago and after putting it down because of the rich content, I picked it up and read it on my way to my office and back home again. It's amazing how much reading I get done this way, actually more reading than I get done when I am at home or in my office.
Anyway, I won't spoil all of the contents for those who want to read this book but I do want to give it some serious attention. Although it wasn't written in this millennium it is certainly worth a good read. It helped me fill in the gaps on how Korea got its start. I've heard plenty of Koreans complain about why they don't like Japan and the author of this book, Carter J. Eckert gives a controversial, yet well-grounded argument on how what was intended as something for Japan's gain was actually beneficial to Korea's development as an independent country. This seems to be Eckert's premise through a lot of the book, until the reader gets to the last few chapters, where one sees how Korea got to be what it is today while also being fair to those Koreans who still have ill feelings towards Japan for what it has done to Korea.
I would say the most valuable part of this book is the end of it, but that one cannot appreciate the latter part without suffering through the earlier parts. I read in another book, "The Happiness Project" how one doesn't have to finish a book just because one started it. I suppose that it true but I certainly feel like I have a better understanding of South Korea because I did finish this book.
