Recent Books

Self Travel Guidebook Hokkaido

Shin Yeon-su; Sangsang Publications: 326 pp., 15,800 won

Japan is one of the most popular travel destinations for Koreans, not only because it is close, but also because the two countries have very similar yet different aspects in their cultures.

``Self Travel Guidebook Hokkaido’’ explores just that: the interesting, contrasting, and traditional elements of the famous prefecture Hokkaido.

While the writer Shin Yeon-su lists tourists attractions, restaurants and shops like any other tourist book, she also provides relevant information in great detail.

From famous cities including Sapporo, Hakodate and Furano to the relatively lesser known places such as Wakkanai, Abashiri and Nemuro, the book includes numerous possible itineraries, the histories of each city, famous foods, attractions and different means of transportation plus pretty photos as well.

The writer is straightforward and frank, warning readers that some routes may be easy while others will be a bit challenging if they don’t have earnest desire to explore the region. For bike lovers the trail through the city Biei will be a delightful experience, but for those who don’t want to sweat during their trip, taking a bus might be a better idea.

―Han Sang-hee

The Review of Korean Studies

Shin Ik-cheol et al; The Academy of Korean Studies: 215 pp., 10,000 won

Mt. Baekdu has long been regarded as a sacred mountain in Korean traditional belief. But recently the mountain has come under a new spotlight as geologists warn of the possibility of an eruption as it is also a dormant volcano. Why is the mountain so important to Koreans, spiritually and geographically?

This journal tries to identify how the various views of the mountain were formed before and after the emergence of modern nationalism.

The literary aspect is based on a review of classical Korean materials involving the tracking of changes in the perceptions of the mountain before the modern notion of nationalism.

The study also takes a historical standpoint by delving into talks between the Joseon and Qing Dynasties with regard to the demarcation of the Baekdu border.

From a geographical point of view, the study analyzes the geographical figurations of Mt. Baekdu that emerged based on the modern perceptions of the late Joseon era.

The study also assesses Western perceptions during the late 19th century and the early 20th century.

―Chung Ah-young

Memories of Specters: 1960s-’80s Korean Horror Movies

Huh Ji-woong; Korean Film Archive: 151 pp., 8,000 won

A fascination with primordial darkness dates back a long time in humanity, and perhaps this is why B-movies, with their comical twist on the grotesque, have such a cult following.

Fans of the genre should look into the 10th of the Korean Film Archive’s Filmstory series, which focuses on Korean horror movies made between the 1960s and ’80s.

Top directors of the period such as Kim Ki-young, Lee Man-hee and Lee Yong-min ventured into the genre despite the lack of resources and know-how. These movies served as mainstream entertainment but have since slipped into oblivion after Koreans stopped producing them in the mid-1980s.

It wasn’t until a decade later that the genre was resurrected through the teen franchise ``Whispering Corridors.’’ Yet, save for B-movie fanatics, old scary stories remain largely unknown to the public.

Film critic Huh Ji-woong invites readers to consider these often-overlooked works in a new light. Works such as ``A Bloodthirsty Killer’’ (1965) and ``A Public Cemetery of Wol-ha’’ (1967) not only reflect the trends of the period but also provide interesting visual effects.

―Lee Hyo-won

Shall We Break Up?

Goh Ye-na; Jaeum and Moeum Publishing: 260 pp., 12,000 won

“Shall We Break Up?” might sound like a romantic novel, but it is actually a story of two sisters.

Goh Ye-na, winner of the 2008 Today’s Author Award with her first book “My Imitation Life,” returns with a plot encircling sisters who wrangle from beginning to end. The 27-year-old author tells wittily a story which anyone with a sister will sympathize with.

Kwon Hye-mi, the older sibling, is a novelist who recently made her literary debut. She is highly independent and has strong self-respect. Perhaps due to her harsh character she has never dated a guy during her 30 years of life. Hye-mi hates empty formalities and vanity.

On the other hand, Ji-yeon, the younger sibling, is the prettiest girl in her school and goes out with the hottest boys even though she already has a boyfriend. For her, beauty is the most important asset. The sisters have only one thing in common ― stubborn self-assertion.

Circumstances lead them to end up living together and slowly understand each other after a series of troubles.

The two characters represent young women in their 20s, who seem to live successfully and affluently, but still feel something lacking in their life, and Goh insightfully portrays their worries in her absorbing and well-written second novel.

―Kwon Mee-yoo