Books that tell us about Korea are finally arriving in Italy too. This time it's the turn of a tourist guide/travel diary published by De Agostini: Hallyu. Everyone is crazy about Korea. Discovering Seoul and its surroundings Of Judith Mallol.
INFORMATION SHEET:
Title: Hallyu. Everyone is crazy about Korea. Discovering Seoul and its surroundings.
Author: Judith Mallol
Publisher: De Agostini
Type: Travel guide – travel diary
Exit: 27/09/22
Order link: https://amzn.to/3zuuLEH
Plot:
With futuristic buildings that stand out next to temples and gardens, sets of romantic K-dramas, an entertainment industry populated by real idols and the latest trends in aesthetics and fashion, South Korea is going crazy far beyond its borders, so much so that today there is a word to define this "mania": hallyu, a wave that crosses the entire planet from the Asian country. In this travel diary to discover Seoul and its surroundings, the adventure of a group of friends becomes a guide for those who want to realize their dream and experience the true Korean lifestyle, visiting the capital district by district. The main wonders of culture and tradition are made accessible together with advice for gorging on street food or sweets as colorful as they are delicious, singing karaoke and exploring hidden streets and corners. Cosmetics and skin-care routines, but also the phenomenon and symbolic places of K-pop such as K-star road, concert spaces and recording studios, among the most popular aspects in the Western world, are described in depth. In a country where everything – even washing yourself in a hyper-technological bathroom or visiting a shopping center – turns into an unforgettable experience, there is no shortage of curiosities about the most common customs and shopping ideas to pack in your suitcase.
REVIEW:
In one of my crazy searches for material dedicated to Korea, a year ago, I had already come across this title. I read it in Spanish in the Kindle version. Reading it now in my language and especially in the paper version made me appreciate it more. I found it very cute and well made. Precisely because the graphics are its strong point, I recommend purchasing in this format. In fact, the graphic part is what immediately catches the eye, making it a captivating book from its first pages. It goes without saying that the drawing style of this guide is what I love the most. The guide was published by the De Agostini group which deals with children's books; certainly the fact that the book is all graphic and colorful makes it very attractive for a more junior target.
At the content level the book follows two directions: that of telling a little about the journey of these boys in Korea and on the other hand passing on all the information and curiosities about these people so far from us. So we are faced with a guide which is a bit like a travel diary and I must say that I really appreciated the combination because it makes it much more personal.
I found the guide particularly interesting for kids, but it is also nice to give as a gift to those who, like me, are now adults and passionate about Korea because the drawings are truly delightful and I found some curious details that I didn't yet know among the pages. In short, we never stop discovering what this particular country still hides.
I thank the De Agostini for giving me the chance to review this new title for kids, I found it very interesting even though I've been over my childhood for a century now.
Fabiana
credits
photo Fabiana Andreozzi