[KS] Ten Thousand Sorrows

[Alina Oh]

I've just been skimming through the latest issue of the Korean Quarterly 
(Summer 2000, Minnesota) and there are two book reviews written by Korean 
American adoptees of Elizabeth Kim's book. Thought some of the readers of 
this listserv might be interested to read:

"While the book is beautifully written, there is an uneasy sense that the 
author has only probed superficially into the issues of Korean heritage and 
culture. There is a disturbing lack of authenticity to some of the 
passages. I do not claim to be an expert on Korea, but I have been there 
more than 30 times and I know many experts on Korea. All of them have 
confirmed what I was certain was true: the term 'honor killing' does not 
apply to Korean culture. Sadly, it certainly is associated with other parts 
of the world, but not Korea. I'm concerned that a typical reader will not 
possess more than a casual knowledge and understanding of Korean culture, 
and will assume this to be true. To present 'honor killing' as typical of 
Korean culture is deeply disturbing and disrespectful of the truth about 
Korean life and society." -- Susan Soon Keum Cox, Korean Quarterly Summer 
2000

Alina Oh
Program Associate
The Korea Society
212-759-7525 ext. 15
alina.ny at koreasociety.org
www.koreasociety.org



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