Recent Books

Reassessing the Leadership of Park Chung-hee

Ahn Yuong-sup et al. Sunin Books; 360 pp., 26,000 won

The late Korean President Park Chung-hee is arguably the most contested figure in the country’s postwar history. Some glorify him as the father of modern Korea, crediting his leadership for the country’s meteoric rise from the war-torn ashes to become an Asian economic power. Others recall him as a ruthless dictator who suppressed democratization.

Despite the polarized opinions, Park was selected as the most influential figure in national history in a survey by The Korea Times’ sister paper Hankook Ilbo.

In an attempt to reassess Park, the book documents his life and career based on spoken records of witnesses from various perspectives ranging from diplomacy and economy to politics.

The book emphasizes the accuracy and credibility of the oral statements of survivors who witnessed his reign.

His contemporaries were urged to tell the truth since their testimonies serve as crucial historical sources. Not only his advocates but also his opponents took part to provide a balanced view.

-Chung Ah-young

Romantic Train Rides around Korea

Park Jeong-bae; 10th Planet: 470 pp., 15,000 won

Munching hard-boiled eggs and chatting away with fellow passengers, or tuning into your favorite tracks on your iPod while relishing the ever changing scenery outside the window ― all the while feeling the slight bumps on the track and the heart-fluttering anticipation of racing toward something.

In this age of instant gratification, the romanticism of train rides continue to make trains a popular mode of travel; more than just a transportation option, the train ride itself is where memories are made.

Food columnist and travel writer Park Jeong-bae put together a comprehensive guide to traveling by train in Korea _ fruits of his own experience on the track for two years. This book offers an array of unique destinations that can be reached via some 100 train stations dotting the country, and moreover, savory eateries nearby each stop.

Readers are invited to take a break, to breathe, walk and savor a leisurely new pace, and explore some easy, convenient ways to enjoy train rides.

The book covers not only major stations on tracks cutting through Seoul and beyond, but also charming rural stopovers. It offers practical information about attractions in each area, but a loaf of bread is better than the song of many birds, and the detailed introduction on famous local dishes is the true highlight of the guidebook.

-Lee Hyo-won

New Hero: Creative Artist’s 46

Public Art; Art in Post: 308 pp., 30,000 won

Monthly magazine Public Art has compiled a list of emerging domestic artists to look out for in today’s competitive industry, ahead of a large-scale exhibition of 36 artists at 15 venues in Heyri Art Village, Gyeonggi Province.

The list of 46 artists _ selected through a number of competitions since 2007 _ includes names that have already risen to fame. Bae Joong-sung was selected as part of this year’s Korean Eye exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London, while Kim Beom has held shows from Houston to the Art Sonje in Seoul and the Gwangju Biennale.

The book is a helpful list of who’s who in the contemporary art world, offering summaries and representative works of each artist, though it seems less a cutting-edge report and more a general summary of recent events. The Heyri exhibition, which runs through Sept. 26, will prove to be a strong showing though, and is the first collaboration of its kind between the village and a publication. Written in both Korean and English.

-Ines Min

Go to the Sea When Hungry for life

Han Chang-hun; Munhakdongnae: 368 pp., 13,800 won

Novelist Han Chang-hun was born in Yeosu, one of the most beautiful seaside cities in Korea, which explains his fondness for the sea.

The 47-year-old invites readers to explore the sea and its many fascinations with his new book.

``People ask me, `What does the sea mean to you?’ I tell them that I am still looking for an answer,’’ the author, who is also a fisherman, writes.

The book is a not a tour guide, but more of an encyclopedic essay about, none other than, fish.

The essays were originally printed weekly in a Korean daily, but the author has added new anecdotes and photos to combine them into a delightful and interesting book about the sea, fishermen and fish.

``When Hungry, Go to the Sea’’ is witty, educational and insightful and sometimes even a bit touching as the writer shares his memories as a young child who loved the sea so dearly. He introduces 30 types of fish and ways to catch and cook them, and readers will hopefully relate to the writer’s affinity for the sea and take a step back from their busy lives and perhaps even take a trip to visit the deep, blue sea.

-Han Sang-hee