South Korea, with its craggy hills, gnarled trees and ancient temples, is steeped in tradition yet is thoroughly modern—the tenth-ranking industrial power in the world. Seoul is one of the most populous cities in the world and home to such cutting-edge buildings as the Samsung Tower Palace.
       The beautiful landscape and day-to day details of life in South Korea are depicted here in images taken by the photographers of Magnum—the famed cooperative whose members are among the greatest photographers of our time. Here we see a rich culture that both respects a dynamic cultural history and celebrates the latest trends in fashion, technology and architecture. These extraordinary photographs are set in their historical context by an insightful text by historian Bruce Cumings.

"Most of us don't have much of a picture of Korea. This fascinating book—introduced by Bruce Cumings—shows what we've been missing."
Sunday Times

"The photographers of Magnum, arguably the world's most prestigious photographic agency, have turned their lenses on South Korea for a huge new book documenting the country's mixture of the traditional and fiercely futuristic."
The Observer

September 2008 • £47.00 • ISBN 978 0 393 06774 3 • 352pp • 305 x 292mm • 248 colour photos