Almost forty years after the publication of Hobsbawm and Ranger's The Invention of Tradition, the subject of invented traditions-cultural and historical practices that claim a continuity with a distant past but which are in fact of relatively recent origin-is still relevant, important, and highly contentious. Invented Traditions in North and South Korea examines the ways in which compressed modernity, Cold War conflict, and ideological opposition has impacted the revival of traditional forms in both Koreas. The volume is divided thematically into sections covering: (1) history, religions, (2) language, (3) music, food, crafts, and finally, (4) space. It includes chapters on pseudo-histories, new religions, linguistic politeness, literary Chinese, p'ansori, heritage, North Korean food, architecture, and the invention of children's pilgrimages in the DPRK. As the first comparative study of invented traditions in North and South Korea, the book takes the reader on a journey through Korea's epic twentieth century, examining the revival of culture in the context of colonialism, decolonization, national division, dictatorship, and modernization. The book investigates what it describes as "monumental" invented traditions formulated to maintain order, loyalty, and national identity during periods of political upheaval as well as cultural revivals less explicitly connected to political power. Invented Traditions in North and South Korea demonstrates that invented traditions can teach us a great deal about the twentieth-century political and cultural trajectories of the two Koreas. With contributions from historians, sociologists, folklorists, scholars of performance, and anthropologists, this volume will prove invaluable to Koreanists, as well as teachers and students of Korean and Asian studies undergraduate courses.

Cross-Border Interactions and Encounters between Germany and Korea undertakes a comprehensive exploration of the relatively under-represented dimensions of cross-border encounters and interactions between Germany and Korea from an interdisciplinary perspective. It extends beyond traditional areas of study, such as diplomatic and economic exchanges, to encompass both historical and recent phenomena resulting from their interactions through migration, classical and popular culture, literature, media representation, and academia. Contributors address topics such as Korean migration in Germany, Korean culture in Germany, media representation of each culture by the other country, the impact of German culture in Korea, the development of Korean Studies in Germany, and the history of German Studies in Korea. By shedding light on the multifaceted and diverse dimensions of Korea and Germany’s relationship, the volume offers fresh perspectives and valuable insights into Korean-German relations. Published at a time when globalization and international relations are attracting increasing attention in both academia and mainstream media, with only a limited number of academic publications that examine bilateral or unilateral relations between Korea and a European country, this book effectively addresses significant gaps in the fields of both German and Korean studies.