Publishers Weekly
03/25/2024
Comedian Jung (Deli Ideology) adapts her podcast of the same name into an astute examination of the themes and appeal of Korean television shows. Many such programs “use extreme forms of storytelling to moralize the importance of self-care,” Jung contends, noting that the series Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) and Crash Course in Romance (2023) revolve around protagonists who strain under the intense demands of their jobs and the loved ones “who rescue them from their dogged routines and habits.” Jung offers a whistle-stop survey of Korean history through television, discussing how Eyes of Dawn (1991–1992) dramatizes Japan’s colonization of the peninsula during the first half of the 20th century, and how military dictators Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan sought to control and distract the public with propagandistic programs in the 1960s and ’80s, respectively. Elsewhere, Jung expounds on Something in the Rain’s critique of the sexualization of women in the workplace and When the Camelia Blooms’s exploration of South Korean and American adoption agencies’ unethical practices. Jung’s penetrating commentary showcases the variety of the K-drama format while assisting foreign readers in understanding the cultural context. It’s an essential companion for anyone who has binged Crash Landing on You or Squid Game. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
For any fan of Korean dramas (these days, isn’t that all of us?) wanting to delve deeper into the turbulent history and intricate cultural dynamics that have informed and shaped the world’s most popular TV genre, Grace Jung’s K-Drama School is must-read—but, like the medium it explores, it’s much more than that. Jung’s book presents scathing social observation alongside darkly comic memories of childhood traumas and adult disappointment, while exploring how K-dramas have both reflected and helped her recover. It’s a book that’s funny, insightful, and smart in ways that only a media studies PhD-turned-stand-up comic could deliver.” ——Jeff Yang, New York Times bestselling author of The Golden Screen and Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now
“Dr. Grace is revolutionary. Her creative approach not only educates you with history, social issues, and human rights, but also mental health, healing and inner peace through K-dramas and her personal stories, proving that vulnerability is power. This book is necessary to us all. You don’t need to know anything about K-dramas to read this book. Dr. Grace introduces each show tastefully. She is super funny in the most sophisticated way.” ——Teruko Nakajima—Lady Dynamite on Netflix, The Millers on CBS, Funny or Die, MTV, and creator of the award-winning show Made in America
"For anyone looking to learn more about the unique backstory of K-dramas or that 시원한 feeling, Jung's work is a must read!" ——Conner Shin, writer of the GLAAD Media Award nominated series Harley Quinn on Max
“Class is in session! K-Drama School drops knowledge on the deliciously addictive deluge of Korean pop culture that increasingly consumes our consciousness and bandwidth. Whether you're a critical scholar or a couch potato, whether you've gotten your drama fix through streamers or old school VHS bootlegs, Dr. Grace offers a personal and knowing journey through the history, culture and influence of Korean television.” ——Phil Yu, creator of Angry Asian Man and co-host of They Call Us Bruce podcast
“[A]n astute examination of the themes and appeal of Korean television shows… Jung’s penetrating commentary showcases the variety of the K-drama format while assisting foreign readers in understanding the cultural context. It’s an essential companion for anyone who has binged Crash Landing on You or Squid Game. “——Publishers Weekly
"Books on this subject are long overdue. Jung's book transcends being merely a chronicle of K-dramas' evolution. Instead, she employs a refreshingly structured storytelling approach to present K-drama characters and their illuminating perspectives, while weaving in her own experiences of abuse, depravity, and growth. In doing so, Jung crafts some of the most beautiful prose I have ever read."—-Joe Wong, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Ellen Show, RTCA Dinner
“K-Drama School is equal parts entertaining, informative, and vulnerable. Grace masterfully shows the intersections and parallels between the world she grew up in and the world she consumed on TV. It is more than a deep dive into Korean television. These are essays that make sense of generational traumas and explore why certain behaviors were embedded in culture while using various TV shows as a guide. Grace elevates the discussion with her biting wit and dark sense of humor. But what shines the brightest in this work is Grace’s willingness to give the reader access inside of HER world.” ——Kimberly Clark, Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready on Netflix, The Late Late Show with James Corden on CBS, Last Comic Standing on NBC
"Jung's book is both a thoughtful history of Korean television and a powerful memoir about living with intergenerational trauma. Asian American essential reading!" ——MariNaomi, award-winning author and illustrator of I Thought You Loved Me, Kiss & Tell, and Turning Japanese
