Program 412: The Birth of Korean Cool; Pico Iyer in North Korea

Author Euny Hong explains how South Korea has transformed into an economic and pop-culture powerhouse to become one of the world's "coolest" countries. Then author Pico Iyer shares what he observed on a recent visit to the renegade nation of North Korea, and explains how easy it is to visit the North on a tightly wrapped packaged tour via China.

• Euny Hong, author of "The Birth of Korean Cool" (Picador)
• Author Pico Iyer

• Euny Hong's "official bloody website" includes links to her recent magazine articles.   
• Euny Hong's book "The Birth of Korean Cool" was reviewed by the New York Times and by The Guardian.   
• The pop song "Gangnam Style" by Psy was the first YouTube video to get one billion views.
• The Korea Investment Corporation is funded by the South Korean government to promote Korean branding and products.   
• "Han" is a uniquely Korean cultural trait that Euny explains to Rick.
• Pico Iyer has a website called "PicoIyerJourneys.com."
• Pico wrote about his 1990 impressions of North Korea in a chapter of his book "Falling Off the Map: Some Lonely Places of the World," published in 1994 by Penguin.