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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Recent Books

Leave, If You Work Hard Hyundai Card, Hyundai Capital; AB Road: 395 pp., 15,000 won Traveling is one of the best getaways for office workers whose lives are tied to their desks and daily routines. Unfortunately it is not so easy to escape because of hectic schedules and heavy workloads. However, the employees of Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital are among just the few who travel around the world with the support of their company. A total of 178 employees have traveled 36 countries from July in 2003 to January in 2010 in the global backpacking travel program. They compete to be selected for the program. The more creative and unique the goals are, the higher the chances to be selected. The program encourages employees to have clear motivation and proper preparation under certain themes that are not related to their work. “The program was an opportunity for not only to make a journey but also to face new challenges and fresh ideas,” one of the participants said in the book. Their travel essays are compiled as a travel guide book that catalogues their diverse cultura

May 28, 2010

Libricide is more destructive in modern times

By Chung Ah-young Staff reporter During his reign, Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 B.C.-210 B.C.) burned all the existing books from previous regimes that might be against his authority and killed scholars who opposed his ideas in order to unify public opinion. This is called "Fen shu keng ru" (burn the books and bury the scholars alive) and took place around 213 B.C. Books and libraries often fall prey to oppression as they represent the souls and identities of the holders. From the ancient to the modern era, the so-called "libricide" has occurred all over the globe. The book "Libricide" written by Rebecca Knuth, professor at the University of Hawaii, has recently been translated into Korean. Libricide is a rare term denoting the "killing of a book" combining the idea of books and slaughter. The writer took it specifically to refer to the 20th century, large-scale, regime-sanctioned destruction of books and libraries to advance ideologically driven goals. "My book began with a general question ― why do people destroy books and libraries? While most people think th

May 28, 2010

Recent Books

Songs for Tomorrow Ko Un; Translated by Brother Anthony of Taize et al; Green Integer: 365 pp., $15.95 Prominent poet Ko Un’s collection of poems has been translated into English in this pocket-sized book. The book chronicles his poems by era from the “Early Poems” (1960-1970); “Turning Point” (1971-1980); “Homeland Stars” (1981-1990); “The Thousand Lives” (begun 1984); “Windy Days” (1991-2000); and “New Poems” (2000-2002). Ko’s poetry represents an index of the history of modern Korean poetry and of the country’s modern history. The book describes Ko as not only an eyewitness but also as an actor in the history of his time through his poetry, which is full of expressions of suffering but at the same time of hope as it reveals the vicissitudes of Korea’s modern history. The collection epitomizes his life-long dedication to modern Korean literature and gives a brief biography of his life along with explaining the periodical characteristics of his poems. “Ko Un is, indeed, like a force of nature … Within poetry, the amazing array of kinds of poetry you’ll find h

May 21, 2010

Kansong: true keeper of national treasures

By Chung Ah-young Staff reporter Cultural relics represent a nation's rise and fall. Countries whose relics were looted in the past have tried to reclaim them to restore their cultural identity. Korea was one such country that suffered cultural pillage during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945). Jeon Hyeong-pil (1906-1962), the founder of the Kangsong Art Museum in Seoul, was an individual collector who devoted his life and fortune to buy the nation's antiques back. His contribution to the preservation of national treasures is revisited in a new book "Kansong Jeon Hyeong-pil" written by Lee Chung-ryeol. The author researched documents related to Jeon for 10 years and earned his family's approval to publish the first biographical book on him. Every spring and fall, hundreds of thousand visitors do not mind waiting for hours to see the rare antique exhibition at the museum nestled in a tranquil neighborhood in Seongbuk-dong, central Seoul. The museum is home to a number of rare National Treasures ― from old paintings to Buddhist sculptures ― all collected by Jeon.

May 21, 2010

Recent books

Eun-gyo Park Bum-shin; Munhakdongne: 408 pp., 12,000 won Veteran novelist Park Bum-shin has released a new work that deals with a provocative story. The novel revolves around a note left by Lee Jeok-yo, a revered poet who died a year earlier. The note includes shocking secrets about the poet, who loved a 17-year-old girl named Han Eun-gyo and killed Seo Ji-woo, his pupil and author. The lawyer faces a dilemma whether to make the note public in accordance with the poet’s last wish or keep it a secret since it might cause a huge stir, as the literature community prepares for the first anniversary of his death. The lawyer meets the girl and finds out what happened between these three people. The poet was fascinated by Eun-gyo’s youthful beauty while Seo began obsessing with Eun-gyo as he noticed his mentor’s feelings toward her. The relation between Lee and Seo disintegrates because of Eun-gyo. Lee is caught up with feelings of a sense of inferiority and jealousy and humiliation toward Seo. The novel explores the inner desires of human beings and obsessions beyond a t

May 14, 2010

Int’l publishers eye e-book era

By Chung Ah-young Staff reporter Today’s publishing industry faces a new challenge as digital books are replacing conventional formats. To tackle this and extend their international partnerships, some 596 publishers from 21 countries are gathering at the Seoul International Book Fair at COEX in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul through Sunday. For this year’s fair, France has been invited as the guest of honor and will display 1,800 French books from 100 publishers, and hold seminars and cultural events. Alain Grund, president of Bureau International de l’Edition Francaise (BIEF) or the International Office of the French Edition, hails the occasion as the opportunity to prove the ever-growing interest among professionals in Korea for French publications and vice versa. ``In fact, cooperation between Korean and French publishing is really old and extremely active. Last year, 800 French titles were translated into Korean and at the same time we have translated Korean books into French,’’ Grund said in an interview with The Korea Times. Grund noted that the appellation, gue

May 14, 2010

Recent Books

Letter From Heaven Choi In-ho; Nubo; 343 pp., 12,000 won Choi In-ho is widely known as a veteran novelist but he is also a talented essayist who vividly captures the personal emotions of his daily experiences. More often, he has dealt with his family ― mostly his mother ― in his works. His mother has always inspired his novels and essays. He confesses that he realized her importance only after she passed away. His writings about her are a long journey to give back her love and resolve his regrets. The new book revolves around the stories between Choi and his mother over a 42-year period and how he remembers his mother’s traces in his daily life. The author portrays his mother ― like any other older generation Korean mothers ― undereducated and devoted to the family. He recalls that her husband passed away at a young age, and she had to raise six children by herself. She looked older than her peers because of her tough life. He sometimes felt ashamed of his mother because she cried loudly on a family grave and came to see a teacher at his school with wearing a grey `

May 7, 2010

World top writers to meet Korean fans

By Chung Ah-young Staff reporter The 3rd Seoul International Writers Festival will kick off a five-day event on May 10 under the theme ``Fantasy and Empathy.'' The biennale event will feature 24 authors ― 12 Korean and 12 from overseas ― who will take part in diverse programs including readings, book signings and meetings with their fans, and also the Seoul International Book Festival. The festival will start with open discussions titled ``Fantasy in My Work'' on May 10 and 11 at the House of Literature, Seoul. Participants will talk about their world of literature and the concepts behind their work to the Korean audience. The authors will also read selections from their work to the Korean audience. On May 12 and 13, they will take part in a cultural experience at Korean traditional houses in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. On the last day of the writers' festival, the authors will participate in the book festival to be held from May 12 to 16 at COEX, southern Seoul and hold book signings and reading events there. Five foreign poets ― Maja Lee Langvad, Edwin Thu

May 7, 2010

Recent Books

The Search for a Unified Korea Hwang Eui-gak: Spring: 191 pp., $139 What would happen if Kim Jong-il's regime in North Korea were to collapse tomorrow? East Asian studies expert Hwang brings us a detailed analysis of the most likely scenario, if there were to be such a sudden meltdown in the controlled state, in his latest publication. Hwang, a research professor with the International Centre for the Study of East Asian Development, specializes in the economics of Asia and focuses on the cultural impacts of financial situations. Broken into eight sections, the book starts from the very beginning: the roots of the ideological differences between the separated North and South Korea. The researcher follows with a look into the reactions of surrounding Asian countries, and how their reactions fuel or halt political proceedings. A strong multinational body will be needed to help guide the political atmosphere after a collapse, Eui states. But any hopes for one, neutral ``Korea'' will rest on whether or not the North and South's leaders are able to find a stable gro

Apr 30, 2010

Good success is sharing with others

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Success is defined differently in the eye of the beholder. Some people measure visible achievements such as money, reputation and social status as their basic standards of success, while others find it in self-satisfaction, morality and spirituality. Usually, attaining the two virtues at the same time is difficult. Kim Seung-nam, CEO and chairman of Joeun System and chairman of the Korea National Headquarters of People to People International (PTPI), explores the true meaning of success through his own experiences in a new book ``Good Success.'' His career is initially punctuated by trial and error but eventually he takes on challenges to transform himself into a versatile entrepreneur and philanthropist. He set up a security service company with only 10 million won and three workers in a small warehouse-like room. But 14 years later, the firm has become one of the top securities companies in Korea with more than 150 billion won in annual sales from 500 million won in its first year. The businessman said that he was a man on the ``m

Apr 30, 2010
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