Recent Books

Wonderland Seoul

Jung Jae-in and Lee Jin; Thinking

Tree: 308 pp., 14,000 won

Seoulites think they know the city well as they live here. However, if they are asked to pick out the best destinations, they might struggle to answer. Many Seoulites know less about the city in which they live than foreign tourists.

The book is a guide to the city composed of modern skyscrapers and traditional and natural beautiful landmarks and packages the hot spots by region, consisting of six courses. Each course is comprised of three places with diverse qualities.

The courses include the areas of Samseong-dong, Samcheongdong, Myeong-dong, Apgujeongdong and Itaewon and the royal palaces which are conveniently reached by taking the subway.

Not only tourist attractions but also the cultural codes are presented in the book by exploring the hot places. Among others, it introduces the traditional markets such as Dongdaemun Market, Namdaemun Market, the Fish Market in Noryangjin and Gwangjang Market to provide a glimpse of the run-of-themill life of Koreans.

Colorful photos and detailed information such as contact numbers and addresses of museums, restaurants and prices are all included

-CHUNG AH-YOUNG

Korean Tea Classics

Brother Anthony of Taize, Hong Kyeong-hee and Steven D. Owyoung; Seoul Selection: 196 pp., 18,000 won

The ceremonial way of drinking tea differs from country to country. When drinking tea, the Chinese focus on its taste while etiquette is rendered the most important among Japanese. In Korea, having tea is regarded as a spiritual deed.

Written in English by tea expert and prominent literature translator Brother Anthony of Taize and his two fellows, this book offers in-depth insight on the essence of Koreans’ tea culture from ancient times.

The ancient classics such as “Chabu Rhapsody to Tea” by Hanjae Yi Mok (1471-1498), “Dongchasong Hymn in Praise of Korean Tea” and “Chasinjeon Chronicle of the Spirit of Tea” by Ven. Choui (1784-1866) provide a sophisticated and delicate celebration of tea.

The poems constitute formal poetic stanzas eulogizing tea by the original authors along with additional references.

This book not only offers an English translation of the three ancient works along with the original Chinese texts but also wonderful introductions from the basic lessons of tea ceremony and also biographies of the two great masters of Korean tea in history.

It also gives an opportunity for both Koreans and foreigners to appreciate how the ancient Koreans enjoyed tea as part of the pursuit for harmony with nature and spiritual pleasure.

-Chung Ah-young