This book is a large-scale, ambitious study of four major Korean diaspora groups—Koreans in the former Soviet Union, China, Japan, and the United States. Its global scope and comparative approach provide a much-needed fresh perspective on the Korean diaspora. By situating specific subjects not only in local contexts but also in broader transnational contexts, many of the articles in the book effectively shed light on the complexities embedded in Korean diaspora groups' historical trajectories and life experiences.

This book consists of twenty-five articles, divided into five parts. It begins with an introduction by editor Hesung Chun Koh, which is followed by four parts that deal with each Korean diaspora group and a final part that describes a database system developed for comparative Korean diaspora studies. Each of the four parts includes an introduction by an “area editor” and an annotated bibliography (except for the part on Koreans in Japan). This unique structure stems from the fact that all of the parts are reprints: the four parts on Korean diaspora groups are reprints from the journal Korean and Korean American Studies Bulletin. The fifth part was published in a volume of conference proceedings.

Koh's introduction explains the organization and characteristics of the book. Her interest in comparative studies and the triadic relations between diaspora groups and their countries of origin and settlement reverberates in many of the articles in the book. Part I focuses on the Korean population in the former Soviet Union, especially Koryŏsaram, Koreans who were forcefully relocated to the Central Asian region and their descendents. German Kim and Ross King's introduction as well as Kim's article on Koryŏsaram's (im)migration history in the contexts of tsarist and Soviet regimes' nationalist policies provide a helpful background for understanding other issues discussed in this part. Through his detailed discussion of Koryŏsaram's unique agricultural practice, Kobonjil, which is “a set of semi-capitalistic cooperative farming and marketing practices,” Tae Hyeon Back examines socioeconomic challenges that Koryŏsaram have encountered and their coping strategies (p. xi). Natsuko Oka explores how Koryŏsaram have coped with Kazakhstan's nationalist policies during the post-Soviet era. German Kim and V. S. Khan illustrate Koryŏsaram's nationalist movement, including its limitations and new directions.

Part II deals with Korean Chinese, who are referred to as Chosŏnjok. Edward Chang examines Korean immigration history to Manchuria, emphasizing the resistance against Japanese colonialism as a critical driving force. Bernard Olivier discusses the “situational and fluctuating character” of Chosŏnjok's identities over time (p. C6). The transformation of Chosŏnjok communities and its implications are explored by Tai-Hwan Kwon and Kwang Kyu Lee. While Kwon addresses many real and potential predicaments that the group may encounter based on demographic and socioeconomic changes in Chosŏnjok communities, Lee, whose argument centers on Chosŏnjok's growing interconnections with South Korea and their ramifications, takes a more positive stance regarding the group's future.

Part III revolves around Koreans in Japan, who are often referred to as Zainichi Koreans. Sonia Ryang demonstrates the hybridity and diversity of the population in terms of their identity, political affiliation, citizenship, generation, and so on, as well as the historical and current transnational connections between Korea and the Zainichi population and their implications for Zainichi ethnic economy and their inter-and intraethnic relations. John Lie explores the changing characteristics of identity politics among Zainichi intellectuals in the 1970s and 1980s, whereas Chikako Kashiwazaki observes new types of contemporary identity politics that are more hybrid and complicated. Based on a literary analysis, Melissa Wender renders a nuanced understanding of the complex sense of identity and belonging among Zainichi.

Part IV concentrates on Korean Americans. Edward Chang describes Korean immigration history, highlighting push and pull factors. Angie Chung discusses some “structural disadvantages” that Korean American youths encounter in Los Angeles's Koreatown (p. U24). Janet Chang's article examines the challenges divorced Korean American women face and their coping strategies. Shin Kim and Kwang Chung Kim explore the male dominance of eldership in Korean American churches. Part V provides an overview of the Korean Cultural Information System for the Korean diaspora, which has been developed to facilitate comparative research on Korean diaspora.

By engaging in a comparative and global analysis of the experiences of multiple Korean diaspora groups, this book makes an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the Korean diaspora. The juxtaposition of four major Korean diaspora groups' immigration histories, for example, provides the reader with a rare yet crucial opportunity to compare the ways in which historical contexts and sociopolitical factors affect different Korean diaspora groups' experiences, such as settlement patterns, identities, and political and economic status. Moreover, the book's emphasis on the transnational connections between diaspora groups and their countries of origin and settlement is significant, especially given our globalized environment, and it paves the way for a meaningful comparison with other diaspora groups, as there is a sufficient amount of research that utilizes such a perspective.

Furthermore, the book illuminates some of the underexplored aspects of the lives of the Korean diaspora. For example, Koryŏsaram's Kobonjil was introduced “for the first time to the English-speaking world” (p. xi). Indeed, our understanding of Koryŏsaram's lives is truly illuminated in part I. Kim and Kim's article also provides a glimpse of the inner workings of Korean American churches, which play a central role in Korean Americans' lives yet remain understudied.

While the book's merits loom large, there are some areas for improvement. First, because of the wide gamut of subjects discussed in the book, common or related topics are not easily found across group boundaries, making cross-group comparisons difficult. Second, the relative lack of theoretical foci tends to weaken the cohesiveness of the book. Third, given the book's interest in transnational interconnections, discussions of the interrelations between Korean diaspora groups could have enriched the book's points further. Fourth, although the three annotated bibliographies are helpful resources, they are irregular in terms of length and depth and need an update. Additionally, some bibliographies in the articles are inaccurate, as there are more than a few missing references.

Overall, this book is a valuable resource not only for those who are interested in the complex and varied experiences of the Korean diaspora, but also for those who are interested in immigration, diaspora, transnationalism, race/ethnicity, and identity.