Understand South Korea, a success story with a dark side
Five books and a film that explain why the country is a cultural superpower as well as an economic one
![Fans wait to pay for items of merchandise as they visit a BTS pop-up store in Seoul, South Korea](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240511_BLP506.jpg)
IN LESS THAN a lifetime South Korea has undergone a huge transformation. In the mid-20th century, when it was poor and ruled by a dictator, it was not so different from its communist northern neighbour (though it was aligned with the United States). It has become a democracy of 52m people and an economic and technological powerhouse. Its music and films entrance hundreds of millions of people who don’t speak a word of Korean. South Korea is justly proud of these achievements, but there are aspects of its society and politics that it is less eager to talk about. Among its worries are one of the world’s lowest birth rates, inequalities of both class and gender and an over-cosy relationship between business and politics. Here are five books and a film to help you understand South Korea’s light and dark sides.
Explore more
More from The Economist reads
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240831_BLP511.jpg)
What to read about the British economy
Britain used to be the world’s richest country. These six books explain how it came to be, and why it is no longer
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240817_BLP512.jpg)
Six novels about India, perhaps the world’s most interesting place
Works of fiction about a country whose global clout, already large, is growing
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240810_BLP522.jpg)
Six novels you can read in a day
Reluctant to start on a big masterpiece? Try these small gems instead
The romance and reality of Paris, the Olympics’ host
Five non-fiction books about a city that is both gilded and gritty
Novels set on holiday
Some of these fictional holidays aren’t fun, but they might enhance yours
Five books on the glories and flaws of the Olympics
The games fall short of their ideals, but they’re still worth watching