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| American scholar Robert Fouser |
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| "Conditions for Citizenship in the Future: A Manual of Democracy for Koreans" is Robert Fouser's first book written in Korean. |
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| Robert Fouser's "Seochon-holic" |
American scholar Robert Fouser just published his first Korean-language book. Only weeks later, he is also publishing his second.
The well-known figure in Korean language education and architectural preservation has returned to Korea for a couple months for the publication of his two new books, titled "Conditions for Citizenship in the Future: A Manual of Democracy for Koreans" with Sejong Books and "Seochon-holic" under Sallim Books.
"The first 20 pages or so (writing) in Korean were very difficult, but it started to flow after that," Fouser told The Korea Times in an interview. "The biggest difference I found was I spend more time thinking about writing style when I write in English, but in Korean I focus on getting my thoughts on paper clearly. I have a pretty clear idea of what 'good English' is, but less of a clear idea of what 'good Korean' is, so I just wrote focusing on content."
The former associate professor of Korean language education at Seoul National University left Korea in August 2014, moving to his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan. However, Korea hasn't left his thoughts.
"Conditions for Citizenship in the Future: A Manual of Democracy for Koreans" came out March 28, quickly scaling Kyobo's book charts to enter the top 10 in the politics/social science category, climbing up to No. 7. It's a personal essay on democracy in Korea with a speculative eye to the future.
For the book, Fouser said, "I focus on my stance on exposing who I am and my 30-year relationship with Korea in the first half and then explaining my thoughts about Korea in the second half."
In the book, he identifies the main problem Korea faces as domination at the hands of an elite he labels "Gangnam."
"Everybody wants to join this elite because life is secure once inside, but an elite is an elite, so only a few can get in and those who are already in need to use their capital, social and monetary, to stay in. This makes for a lot of stressed and unhappy people, which explains that 'Hell Joseon' phenomenon."
"Hell Joseon" is a self-deprecating term used by disaffected youths these days to describe dissatisfaction with life here. But Fouser said he is optimistic the young generation that was raised in Korea's post-1987 democratic era will create a more open society.
His second book, "Seochon-holic," hits shelves later this month. It's a collection of essays touching on Fouser's encounters with the rapidly disappearing "hanok" (Korean traditional building) in neighborhoods, as well as language learning and teaching, living in a hanok in Hyehwa-dong in the late '80s
"Since about 2010, many Koreans have started to take an interest in older areas of cities, partly because of the rampant redevelopment that took place in the 2000s," Fouser explained. "To younger Koreans, old neighborhoods with winding alleys are exotic."
During his visit here, he has been documenting the ongoing urban renewal process that uproots old neighborhoods, paying close attention to construction progress at Donuimun New Town in Gyonam-dong, northwestern Seoul, where many hanok were demolished. His pictures of the area before demolition are being exhibited at a gallery in Kyoto, Japan.
He has turned his attention to Okbaraji Alley, a historic old area near Seodaemun Prison that is currently being demolished.
He has also been leading walking tours of Seoul with the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch (RASKB), with plans to visit eastern sections of Seoul Fortress Wall on May 15 and Daehangno May 28. Anyone interested in joining him should visit www.raskb.com.
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