Recent Books
UN, It’s My World
Kim Jung-tae; Lux Media: 460 pp., 25,000 won
After Ban Ki-moon became secretary-general of the United Nations, public attention has been focused on the organization’s activities. Any global-minded youngsters might dream of working for the U.N. but how much do we know about it?
Although there is an ongoing debate over doubting the leadership and effectiveness of the organization in a fast-changing era, the U.N. still continues to create numerous values for the betterment of mankind.
This book offers a comprehensive look at the organization through its subordinate agencies dealing with various subjects from human rights, disease, poverty, famine and national conflicts to the use of mines.
The author who works for the U.N. Governance Center (UNGC) writes about his own experiences and know-how as a native Korean. He says that his hard-work and humble-minded attitude led him to successfully land a job there.
The book consists of three parts ― introduction and history, activities and roles, and how to land a job.
Also, it gives the information about its new recruitment system and exam samples in an appendix to help readers better prepare for possible careers in the organization.
-Chung Ah-young
Seo Tae-seok’s Real Life
Seo Tae-seok; Smart Business: 240 pp., 12,000 won
Seo Tae-seok is an expert in singling out forged banknotes. He should be. He’s been doing it for over 40 years. But what about life? Has he found the true meaning of life as well?
The 57-year-old master’s new autobiography features his ups and downs as not only a banknote expert, but also a man who made his way to success with determination and hard work.
Living as a middle school dropout, especially in an education-driven country like Korea, was difficult, but this also worked as a reason for Seo to work twice as hard.
The book is not about how Seo managed to single out fake banknotes, but why and how he stayed at the top of his game even when people discouraged him and told him he wouldn’t make it.
``I have met fake banknotes and even fake people living fake lives. This book is about the real life. It’s about discovering the true meaning of it,’’ the author writes.
Hopefully, readers will be able to discover the true meaning of their own lives amid the fakeness lingering around them.
-Han Sang-hee
Grandpa and I Are 1-Degree Apart
Han Byeol-i and Kim Chang-heui (illustrations); Kiwi Books: 61 pp., 9,000 won
Chuseok is right around the corner and this means big family gatherings including far extended relatives for many Koreans. Oftentimes the national holiday means making a long, grueling trip back home, but the stress doesn't end upon parking the car _ you might feel a cold sweat breaking down your back upon greeting your fourth cousin’s sister-in-law while stammering to remember how to properly address her.
Korea has a systematic ― albeit painstakingly specified ― order of classifying and naming degrees of kinship. For example, the Korean word for uncle, ``samchon,’’ literally means 3 degrees while ``sachon,’’ cousin, means 4 degrees.
Such a tradition is rooted in the culture’s strong Confucian values, which emphasized the importance of placing oneself in the context of the world, which often begins in the microcosm of society, the family.
This storybook is brightly illustrated and geared for teaching children, as the title suggests. But charts and pictures will come most in hand for adults alike, who fear being embarrassed at family gatherings.
-Lee Hyo-won
Kimchi: The Secret of Korean Cultural Roots
Kim Sook-he and translated by Cho Yoon-jung from Korean to English; Ewha Womans University: 128 pp., 15,000 won
Without kimchi (the quintessential Korean side dish), Korean cuisine cannot be discussed. This book explores the origins and development of different kinds of kimchi, which are a result of historical and cultural reasons.
It tells when Koreans began to eat kimchi; what features make it one of the world’s top five health foods; and how it is used in cooking illustrated by diverse photos.
The book consists of four parts ― kimchi through history, health benefits of kimchi, kimchi in Korean culture and kimchi in cooking.
The first part deals with the origins of kimchi and its development through the years, while the second part focuses on the nutritional aspects of the dish, rich in lactic acids, vitamins and minerals. The third part describes regional differences and the annual winter kimchi making.
The last chapter examines a wide range of dishes made with kimchi that are commonly eaten in Korean homes and introduces different pickled vegetables from around the world.