Seoul Selection 2012 Spring Brochure

About SEOUL SELECTION

Seoul Selection is a Korean publishing house that takes a leading role in the globalization of Korean culture, including the arts, society, and lifestyle. Its distribution network includes major Korean bookstores, university libraries, bookstores in the United States and other foreign countries, and several major online stores, making Seoul Selection titles easy to find abroad. Though located between much larger China and Japan, Korea boasts a huge repository of sophisticated and original indigenous culture, much of which remains to be translated and made accessible to non-Korean speakers. Seoul Selection seeks to boost the world’s understanding of Korea through the publication of works on a wide and diverse range of Korean topics, including history, culture, tourism, economics, society, education, and more. In an age of information overload and mass marketing, Seoul Selection aims to play the role of a dependable guide, selecting and providing easy access to high-quality samples of Korean culture to those looking for a taste of this fascinating country.

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Travel Guide · Culture · History

KOREAWritten by Robert Koehler

An Excellent Guide to One ofAsia’s Most Fascinating Countries

• Beautiful photos bring alive Korea’s scenic charms

• Helpful tips to ensure you make the most of your visit

• Culture and history notes to enrich your traveling experience

• “Off the Beaten Track” destinations for the adventurous traveler

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With 5,000 years of history and culture packed into one very tight package, Korea is a fascinating travel destination that both compares and contrasts favorably with its larger neighbors. From the pulsating streets of Seoul to the peaceful temples and gardens of the Korean countryside, Korea is a study in contrasts—one foot in the future, with the other firmly rooted in one of the world’s richest cultural heritages.

With detailed destination information, helpful tips, insightful culture and history notes, useful maps and beautiful photographs, KOREA is an invaluable guide to one of Asia’s most rewarding destinations. Written by Robert Koehler, author of our best-sel l ing SEOU L guidebook, KOREA is simple to use for the newly arrived, but in-depth enough for the seasoned Korean veteran.Mar 2012│748 pages│US$ 45

Softcover│8.03 x 5.90 x 1.38 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-99-8

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SEOULWritten by Robert Koehler

The Best Seoul Guidebook

• In-depth travel info, helpful tips and history and culture notes

• The most comprehensive guidebook to Seoul

• Over 400 beautiful photos and detailed maps

Travel Guide · Culture & History

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Korea’s capital for the last 600 years, Seoul is an energetic, pulsating city where the ancient and modern coexist in dramatic contrast. With its grand royal palaces, quaint old alleyways, ancient temples, colorful markets, neon shopping districts, and verdant mountains, you’ll never run out of things to see and do.

The most comprehensive guidebook to the city of Seoul ever released, SEOU L contains 464 pages of in-

depth travel information, helpful tips, background information on culture and history, detailed maps, and beautiful photographs. Making full use of Seoul Selection’s vast knowledge of the city, the guidebook is perfect not only for tourists visiting Seoul on holiday, but also for veterans of the metropolis looking for a deeper understanding of its history and culture.Updated in July 2011│464 pages│US$ 35

Softcover│8.03 x 5.9 x 0.95 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-58-5

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Travel Guide · Culture · Mountain Hiking

B A E K D UD A E G A NT R A I LHiking Korea’s Mountain SpineWritten by Roger Shepherd & Andrew Douch with David A. Mason

Explore the Mountain Spine of Korea

• Comprehensive and detailed trek-by-trek descriptions of the Baekdu-daegan trail

• Helpful tips to get you ready and confi dent for hiking

• Detailed maps and transport information

• Cultural and historical background information

• Water source coordinates along the trail for GPS users

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The Baekdu-daegan chain of mountains forms the backbone of the Korean Peninsula. It has always occupied a very special place in the hearts of Koreans. More than just a series of rocky ranges, it is the source of the life and dynamic energy of the Korean people and shelters many of their cultural and historical treasures. Despite the advent of hard-bitter modernity, the spirit of the Baekdudaegan still emanates, and efforts to maintain its existence as an ecological zone, a religious philosophy, a nationalist icon, a mythological beginning, or more

recently, as a long-distance hiking trail that encapsulates all of those concepts, have been the subject of academic studies and conservation projects.

The long-distance Baekdu-daegan hiking trail provides a great opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts living in Korea and abroad to hike their way through a 735-kilometer geographical repository of culture and history that continuously yields new discoveries and experiences in what is a still largely unexplored part of a busy peninsula. This guide will get you packed up and ready to hit the road.

July 2010│446 pages│US$ 39Softcover│8.03 x5.9 x 0.93 inches

ISBN: 978-89-91913-67-7

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Travelogue · War History

Written by travel writer and longtime Korea resident Robert Koehler, Korean War Travelogue explores Korea’s old battlefields, monuments, cemeteries, and war-related heritage through text and images. Packed with useful travel information and important historical background material, the book takes English speaking readers by the hand to some of Korea’s most beautiful yet most heartrending locales, making the Korean

War—largely relegated to history books—a tangible, moving experience.

Korean War Travelogue examines the war chronologically, from Korea’s prewar ideological turmoil to the post-Armistice aftermath. The book is exhaustive in scope. Major battle sites such as Incheon, Daejeon, Jipyeong-ri, and the Nakdong (Busan) Perimeter are included, as is the truce village of Panmunjeom.

KOREAN WAR TRAVELOGUE

Soon to be published

SEOUL SELECTION GUIDES

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Travel Guide · History

SEOUL’S HISTORIC WALKS

In this handy guidebook based on the tours offered by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, Korean traditional architecture expert Cho In-souk and magazine editor Robert Koehler share their appreciation of architecture and love for Seoul’s history as they take you through some of Seoul’s lesser-known historic sites and give visitors a better

understanding of Seoul’s development from medieval walled city to modern metropolis. Seoul is a fascinating city where old and new often coexist in jarring contrast. The best way to explore it, however, is to stretch your legs and walk, and Seoul’s Historic Walks will show you where to go.

Written by Cho In-souk and Robert KoehlerMar 2008│134 pages│US$ 16│Softcover│7.4 x 4.8 x 0.3 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-31-8

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Culture Guide

No1. HANGEUL Korea’s Unique Alphabet

H a n g e u l e x a m i n e s t h e u n i q u e characteristics of the Hangeul writing system and its impact on the Korean society. The first chapter looks at why Hangeul is regarded as the world’s preeminent writing system. The second chapter examines the linguistic and philosophical concepts that underlie the writing system. The third chapter explains the history of how Hangeul was invented, while the fourth chapter provides an in-

depth look at King Sejong the Great, who is widely credited with the creation of the writing system. The fifth chapter canvasses the subsequent development of the alphabet and its impact on Korean culture and society, while the sixth chapter looks at how Hangeul promoted the use of information technology in Korea. The fi nal chapter looks at how Hangeul inspires Korean culture and arts.

Aug 2010│104 pages│US$ 15Softcover│7.08 x 5.39 x 0.31 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-69-1

No2. TRADITIONAL PAINTING

Korean painting reveals a connectivity with nature that parallels the Korean traditional world view. Living in a dramatic landscape of rugged peaks, deep valleys and broad rivers, Koreans have long held nature in deep reverence. This respect, this yearning for nature is immediately

apparent in Korean paintings, whose aesthetic is likened to an “artless art” of gentle lines, generous shapes and naturalistic colors. Beauty is found in the big picture rather than the details; paintings exhibit a naturalness that moves the viewer with its humility.

Dec 2010│132 pages│US$ 15│Softcover│7.08 x 5.39 x 0.39 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-74-5

This series, copublished by Seoul Selection and the Korea Foundation, seeks to provide foreign readers with a fundamental knowledge of various aspects of Korean traditional culture. Much of the material is taken from KOREANA, the Korea Foundation’s quarterly magazine on Korean arts and culture. The series is compiled and edited by Seoul Selection’s editorial staff.

Set ISBN: 978-89-91913-70-7

KOREA ESSENTIALS

Window on the Korean Mind

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No4. TRADITIONAL FOOD A Taste of Korean Life

Four kilometers wide and stretching 250 km from the East Sea to the West Sea, the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) divides the Korean Peninsula roughly in half. Born of the fratricidal Korean War, it is perhaps the oldest continuous symbol of the Cold War, where democracy and communism still glare at one another in mutual animosity. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Joint Security Area (JSA) near the so-called “truce village” of Panmunjeom, where South Korean and North Korean soldiers stand practically face to face, the hostility almost palpable.

This book introduces the Korean DMZ and its impact on Korean history, culture and ecology. The first chapter defines the DMZ and examines its many unique features. The second chapter introduces the tragic confl ict of the Korean War, which is essential to understanding the DMZ. The third chapter looks at Panmunjeom and the JSA. The fourth chapter surveys the fragile natural environment, and finally, the last chapter introduces many historical and cultural relics located in and around the DMZ.

Diet is one of the most fundamental parts of a people’s culture and heritage. It is a collective creation, the product of history and accumulated experience and refl ection of a people’s value system. Despite Korea’s relatively small size, Korean cuisine has developed its own flavors and character according to region and class. Korea’s four seasons and geography have produced a good many seasonal dishes and foods that reflect the nation’s geographic characteristics, such as seafood from the ocean that surrounds the peninsula.

Nowadays, with healthy living and the “slow food” movement receiving spotlight worldwide, Korean cuisine is drawing much interest as a healthy cuis ine with nutr i t ional harmony and balance. In fact, Koreans have traditionally viewed food as “medicine,” a means to keep oneself healthy and strong. This book attempts to explore Korea’s 5,000-year-old culinary culture and introduce to readers the historical, cultural, nutritional and philosophical background to this rich cuisine.

Jan 2011│132 pages│US$ 15│Softcover│7.08 x 5.39 x 0.39 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-76-9

A Taste of Korean Life

About the seriesThe Korea Essentials series is a cooperative project between the Korea Foundation and Seoul Selection to furnish an international reader with insight and basic understanding into the arts and culture of Korea.

The content of this series is based on the material published in Koreana, the Korea Foundation’s full-color quarterly featuring in-depth coverage of various aspects of Korea’s cultural themes.

2010 Series

HangeulKorea’s Unique Alphabet

Traditional PaintingWindow on the Korean Mind

The DMZDividing the Two Koreas

Traditional FoodA Taste of Korean Life

Traditional Food

Window

on the Korean M

ind

Writing is a cornerstone of civilization, a crucial invention that better allows peoples to accumulate

and pass down knowledge and preserve cultures. There are currently some 6,909 living languages in the world, yet only a minority of these are written, and of these just a handful have their own unique writing systems.

Hangeul, the indigenous writing system of Korea, is one of them. Promulgated in 1446, Hangeul is an ingenious system that utilizes forward-thinking and scientific linguistic theories and principles of Korean traditional culture to perfectly express the sounds of the Korean language. Invented by the brilliant King Sejong the Great, the alphabet has been widely lauded by scholars the world over for its advanced phonetic system and ease of use.

KOREA ESSENTIALS No. 4

KOREA ESSENTIALS

* Titles are subject to change.

COVER PHOTO “Youth” by installation artist Kang Ik-joong © YonhapCOVER DESIGN Jung Hyun-young

9,000 won / US$ 15.00

ISBN 978-89-91913-69-1ISBN 978-89-91913-70-7 (set)

Traditional Food

No3. THE DMZ Dividing the Two KoreasDec 2010│104 pages│US$ 15│Softcover│7.08 x 5.39 x 0.31 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-75-2

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No5. JEJU ISLAND Reaching to the Core of BeautyNo5. JEJU ISLAND

Culture Guide

No6. MUSEUMS & GALLERIESDisplaying Korea’s Past and Future

Jeju is an island of mystery. Steeped in mythology, shamanic ritual, and legend, with a dialect so distinct from the language of the mainland that linguists question whether it represents a separate language entirely, this island of 18,000 gods does its part to provide an aura of otherworldliness.

Now the recipient of UNESCO designation in three categories of natural science, the location of the World Conservation Congress in 2012, a test bed for numerous environmental soundness initiatives, and a

fi nalist in the international New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign, Jeju is also renowned for its ecology. Forged by volcanic activity, the island has a wealth of natural phenomena and a 5,000-year history of human civilization in harmony with nature.

Outside of Korea, Jeju remains a mystery largely because so very little has been written about it in English. This book seeks to rectify that dearth of information, and to share the wonders of Jeju’s people, ecology, culture, and history with the world.

The history of Korean museums goes back more than 100 years, to the opening of the Jesil Bangmulgwan in 1909. There are now 11 national museums in provincial cities throughout Korea, while the large number of regional, university, art, specialized and other museums continue to rise.

Korea’s galleries emerged one by one with the advent of “modernity,” the flourishing of modern art and the development of the economy, introducing many Korean and international artists and developing popular culture. Korea’s museums and galleries offer

windows onto the country’s past, present and future.

This book introduces fi ve of Seoul’s major national and public museums which offer a comprehensive overview of Korea’s long and varied history. The second chapter presents a selection of Korea’s major public and private art museums and galleries, while specialized museums are the subject of the third chapter. The fi nal chapter introduces regional national museums that are dedicated to displaying and researching artifacts from the Korean Peninsula’s history.

Oct 2011│144 pages│US$ 16│Softcover│7.08 x 5.39 x 0.43 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-83-7


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No7. JOSEON’S ROYAL HERITAGE500 Years of Splendor

The Joseon dynasty was a time of great cultural development for the Korean nation, ruling Korea for over half a millennium. Bequeathing to Korea a considerable cultural heritage by providing Korea with political and social stability, it was during this dynasty that many aspects of what is now considered Korean traditional culture—Confucianism in particular—took root and fl owered.

This book will examine three of the better-known areas of Joseon cultural heritage: royal palaces, royal tombs, and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. Standing in the heart

of Seoul, the five royal palaces are more than just buildings; they are architectural expressions of Joseon society and its ruling philosophy. The royal tombs—forty final resting places of Joseon kings and queens—are unique in their completeness. Finally, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are unequalled in their richness as a source of historical and cultural information about Korean history. Each of these treasures, deeply imbued with Joseon’s Confucian culture, reveals unique aspects about the kingdom and its legacy.


No8. TRADITIONAL MUSICSounds in Harmony with Nature

Music has played and continues to play a vital role in Korean society, providing a rich vein of material as a dynamic musical culture and as a case study for examining general questions about the nature of music in its social context. Korean music has a well-documented history that spans millennia. It is a history that refl ects an active engagement with surrounding cultures as well as indigenous creativity and innovation.

Korea is heir to one of the world’s oldest repertoires of notated music. Over the past several hundred years, virtuosic instrumental

genres based upon the music of shamanist rituals and agricultural ceremonies developed into highly sophisticated art forms, as have folk songs and dramatic narratives.

This book will examine the development of Korean traditional music, looking at what makes it unique, surveying its wide variety of genres, and reviewing its dramatic history as an art form. Korea’s traditional musicians are introduced along with national music organizations that provide continual development of the traditional performing arts community in music and dance.


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Culture · Film

Created by the Korean Film Council, the 22-book Korean Film Directors series offers deep insight into key directors in Korean fi lm, fi gures who are not only broadening the range of art and creativity found in Korean-produced commercial films but also gaining increasingly strong footholds in international markets..

Each volume features: • critical commentary on fi lms • biography • extensive interview • complete fi lmography

KOREAN FILM DIRECTORS Revealed Appreciating the Greatest in

Korean Film Across All Ages

LEE CHANG-DONG IM KWON-TAEK

Written by Kim Young-jin, one of Korea’s foremost film critics, this book examines the cinematic world of Lee Chang-dong, widely hailed as one of Korea’s top directors despite having produced only four films to date. Lee’s fi lms embrace the scars of Korean history and reality as well as the illusory nature of the fi lm medium. His 2007 work, “Secret Sunshine”—a comeback film of sorts as Lee returned to directing after a stint as Korea’s Minister of Culture—was invited to the Cannes Film Festival. His filmography includes “Poetry,” “Green Fish,” “Oasis,” and “Peppermint Candy.”

From the t ime Im completed his f i rst feature (Dumanganga Jal Ikkora) in 1962, he went on to become a prolific director of films in various popular genres until the late 1970s. Im has won numerous international awards, including the Best Director Award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival for “Chihwaseon.” He was also awarded an honorary Golden Bear Award for his lifetime achievements at the Berlin Film Festival in 2005. Im made his 100th fi lm in 2007. He is widely acclaimed as one of the giants of the history of Korean cinema.

May 2007│114 pages│US$ 16│Softcover8.34 x 6.22 x 0.37 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-14-1

Mar 2007│188 pages│US$ 23│Softcover8.34 x 6.22 x 0.43 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-13-4

Written by Kim Young-jin Written by Chung Sung-ill

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PARK CHAN-WOOK HONG SANGSOO

This book is an introductory guide to Park Chan-wook, the 2004 Cannes Grand Prix winner and one of the most acclaimed and popular Korean film directors. The book uses an insider’s viewpoint to explore the roots and branches of Park’s cinematic world. Park has achieved both critical and commercial success, performing stunts verging on the acrobatic between genre convention and directorial individuality.

When Hong Sangsoo’s debut work, “The Day a Pig Fell into the Well,” was released in May 1996, the nation’s fi lm critics were thrown into shock. The cinematic language in the film was unprecedented in Korean film history. This book, written by Huh Moonyung, one of the most distinguished film critics in Korea, is intended to help readers to better understand the cinematic world of Hong Sangsoo.

Nov 2007│164 pages│US$ 20│Softcover8.34 x 6.22 x 0.43 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-26-4

Nov 2007│168 pages│US$ 20│Softcover8.34 x 6.22 x 0.43 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-19-6

Written by Kim Young-jin Written by Huh Moonyung

JANG SUN-WOO KIM DONG-WON

This is an introductory guide to Jang Sun-woo, one of the most controversial and talented Korean film directors. Written by Tony Rayns, a critic and also a film director himself, this book contemplates Jang Sun-woo’s fi lms with a scholarly passion and delves deep into his contradiction—that he knowingly and happily situates himself in the margins of the Korean film industry, producing work with popular appeal, a contradiction that exactly mirrors the rapid evolution of the fi lm industry itself.

Independent documentary director Kim Dong-won is perhaps best known for his 2003 film “Repatriation,” a moving work that looked at the repatriation of North Korean spies to their homeland. Prominent film critics Chris Berry, Jung Han-seok and Professor Nam In-young contribute their analyses to this book, giving readers more perspectives from which to understand the signifi cance of Kim Dong-won’s fi lms.

Feb 2008│129 pages│US$ 16│Softcover8.34 x 6.22 x 0.4 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-29-5

Oct 2007│170 pages│US$ 20│Softcover8.34 x 6.22 x 0.43 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-25-7

Written by Tony Rayns Written by Jung Han-seok

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Culture · Film

KIM KI-YOUNG

FOUR ROOKIE DIRECTORS

ROOKIE DIRECTORS I

ROOKIE DIRECTORS II

This book is a discussion on directors—Chung Yoon-chul, Min Kyu-dong, Han Jae-rim , Kim Hyun-seok, Park Heung-sik—in the present tense, ones who do not yet stand at the center of Korean fi lm but occupy important positions on its periphery. One of this book’s major strengths is that it introduces these still relatively young directors’ experimentation with various filmmaking environments and new forms.

After working both as a performer and as director in his own performances, Kim debuted as a film director in 1955. A retrospective session of his films was prepared for the 2nd Pusan International Film Festival, and with this event his unique works were rediscovered. Later, Kim’s works gained a new group of exuberant fans from Japan, the US, and many other places. Berlin International Film Festival held a retrospective event in his honor, while France’s Cinematheque screened 18 of his works.

This book is an attempt to shed new light on some new faces of Korean fi lm as we look back on the period leading up to the mid-2000s by highlighting the attempts of four young directors who have not yet accumulated long filmographies, but have achieved considerable results.

While most volumes in the Korean Film Directors series focus on the work of single directors, this book introduces the work of five new directors—Noh Dong-seok, Kim Dong-hyun, Min Boung-hun, Kim Tai-sik and Cho Chang-ho. Each of the fi ve has made fi lms of high signifi cance to Korea’s independent fi lm environment that has become diversified in the midst of the Korean film industry’s attempts to progress to a high degree of industrialization since the beginning of this century.

Feb 2009│227 pages│US$ 24│Softcover8.34 x 6.18 x 0.47 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-56-1


Apr 2008│252 pages│US$ 29│Softcover8.39 x 6.26 x 0.55 inches ISBN: 978-89-91913-35-6

Dec 2008│248 pages│US$ 26│Softcover8.39 x 6.26 x 0.55 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-52-3

Written by Lee Sang-yong & Kwon Eunsun

Written by Kim Hong-joon

Written by Kim Young-jin, Jung Ji-youn & Choi Eun-young

Written by Jang Byung-won, Choi Eun-young

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RYOO SEUNG-WAN BONG JOON-HO

After proving his passion and gift for filmmaking with “Die Bad,” Ryoo has continued to shape his stylistic range through various genres. Running through this wide spectrum of films like an electric current is action that achieves a new kind of poetry and vision. “The City of Violence” (2006) was invited to Venice International Film Festival in the Midnight Section. Ryoo released “The Unjust” and “Trapped” in 2010.

This book is the result of efforts to reach a deeper and broader understanding of the director Bong Joon-ho, who has been the subject of a great deal of popular interest and attention in Korean society in spite of his relatively short filmography of three feature films. “Memories of Murder” and “The Host” were both major box office successes in Korea and achieved the broadest overseas distribution for any Korean fi lm.


Jan 2009│224 pages│US$ 24│Softcover8.31 x 6.18 x 0.35 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-53-0

Written by Kim Young-jin Written by Jung Ji-youn

KIM JEE-WOON KANG WOO-SUK

Kim Jee-woon began his career as a stage actor, stage director, and screenwriter. His films have been hailed by critics and audiences alike for his unique styles and method of storytelling. His second feature, “The Foul King,” drew more than 2 million viewers, while the beautiful horror film “A Tale of Two Sisters” became the subject of a remake by DreamWorks. His 2008 blockbusting historical romp “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” drew more than 7 million admissions in Korea, while “I Saw the Devil” left Kim’s striking imprint on the 2010 Korean fi lm scene as well.

Kang Woo-suk has consistently performed the background role of a man of power in Korean fi lm for the last ten years. Kang’s name remains an unfamiliar one to the overseas fi lm world, but his fi lms have succeeded in capturing the rapidly changing Korean social and political situation of the last 20 years in a distinctive style: to be specific, a style of popular speech through satire and humor. Looking at Kang’s films in sequence, one can grasp the twists and turns of the history of Korean capitalism.



Written by Kim Hyung-seok Written by Oh Dong-jin

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Culture · Film

LEE MYUNG-SE LIM SOON-RYE

Born in 1957, Lee Myung-se is a graduate of Seoul Institute of the Arts. His debut film in 1988 brought a fresh breeze to the Korean fi lm industry. Lee is acclaimed as a leading Korean stylist who has established a unique world of his own. The thing he considers most important in making a film is finding “cinematic expression.” To Lee, “cinematic” means something “only of movies” that cannot be replaced by any other form of media.

Lim is a director who signaled the emergence of a new kind of sensibility in Korean fi lm. Through her debut fi lm “Three Friends,” she brought the issue of “individuality” and “dailiness” into the embrace of Korean film. Lim’s fi lm gives attention to the life of the individual itself while simultaneously rousing awareness of reality. In this book you can trace Lim’s evolution and footsteps.


Apr 2008│128 pages│US$ 17│Softcover8.39 x 6.26 x 0.39 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-34-9

Written by Jang Byeong-won Written by Lee Yoo-ran

LEE JANG-HO IM SANG-SOO

Lee Jang-ho’s 1974 fi lm “Heavenly Homecoming to Stars” was one of the most amazing debuts in the history of Korean fi lm. During the 105 days after its premiere, some 465,000 viewers came to see it, a box office record for Korean fi lm at the time.

The stories that Im Sang-soo tries to tell deal with the lives of modern Koreans. He feels that the responsibility placed upon him as a storyteller is the history of “here and now,” untold by older Korean directors of the same period. Im is practically the only director now making films that take a long look at the lives of contemporary Koreans without losing their historical sense.


Apr 2008│184 pages│US$ 20│Softcover8.34 x 6.22 x 0.39 inches ISBN: 978-89-91913-36-3

Written by Kim See-moo Written by Huh Moonyung & Jung Ji-youn

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LEE MAN-HEE

LEE DOO-YONG

SHIN SANG-OK

YU HYUN-MOK

Lee Man-hee has been called a “martyr of film,” “a director who advanced Korean realist fi lm,” “a Korean fi lm auteur armed with a fi erce artistic spirit,” and a “cinematic genius and experimenter.” Based on his fi lms and on the accounts of people who knew him, Lee’s directing style can be characterized by two elements: an abundance of passion for fi lm, and the tireless exploration of cinematic experimentation.

Lee Doo-yong has covered an extensive range of genres in the course of his prolifi c career, and since the 1980s he has been viewed, both in Korea and abroad, as having captured the sentiments of the Korean people through works on distinctively Korean themes. He is known as a “master of action.”

Born in 1926, Shin Sang-ok is recognized as one of the masters of Korean cinema. After graduating from Tokyo Art School, he debuted as a director with “The Evil Night” in 1952 and went on to direct more than 70 fi lms in fi ve decades. Highly-acclaimed retrospectives of his work were screened at the 6th Pusan International Film Festival and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

One of the four “masters” of Korean cinema, Yu Hyun-mok played a crucial role in creating a new history of “postwar” cinema free from the generation influenced by Japanese colonial rule. As a fi lmmaker who believed that the keys to fi lm art are montage and camerawork, he produced notable fi lms in four different decades.



Oct 2008│155 pages│US$ 20│Softcover8.31 x 6.18 x 0.35 inchesISBN 978-89-91913-43-1


Written by Mun Gwan-gyu

Written by Yu Yang-geun

Published by Yi Hyo-in

Written by Kim Kyoung-wook

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Photography · Culture

For centuries, Jeju Island’s sea women have faced the tempestuous tides of history and struggle for survival. Their intimate relationship to the land and sea, their shamanist beliefs, and their communal village life have protected them throughout their lives.

In return, many have established a continuous life of purpose and resiliency well into their 90s. To a graying baby boomer like the author herself, their stories are beacons. They illuminate a steady, fearless course—most of all, an enduring legacy.

MOON TIDESJeju Island Grannies of the Sea

Written by Brenda Paik SunooInterpreted & translated by Youngsook Han

Mar 2011│240 pages│US$ 65Hardcover│11.61 x 8.27 x 0.07 inches

ISBN: 978-89-91913-78-3

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Imagine strolling along the windy shores of Jeju Island, off the southwest coast of Korea. Suddenly, you hear whistling echoing from the sea. Turning to the water, you spot weathered faces bobbing to the surface, and you realize that the sound is the exhaled breath of sea women, known as haenyeo. With a sigh of gratitude, the aging divers have returned to the surface to replenish their aching lungs.

Jeju Island’s haenyeo are a dying breed—perhaps the last of thei r generation. As their maternal ancestors did for centuries, they have scoured the island’s sea floor, harvesting seaweed, octopuses, sea urchins, turban shells, and abalone. Their numbers have dwindled from 15,000 in the 1970s to approximately 5,600 in recent decades. Driven by economics, these free divers continue to labor well into their eighties—the hardier ones often plunging 65 feet while holding their breath for two minutes or longer.

Brenda Paik Sunoo gathered these women’s stories while living in their diving villages for a total of seven months between 2007 and 2009. Moon Tides—Jeju Island Grannies of the Sea is the first book by an American journalist to document the lives of these rare divers through intimate interviews and photographs. Their stories will appeal to those desiring a life of purpose—undulating and infinite as the sea.

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Photography · History

KOREAN WAR IN COLORA Correspondent’s Retrospective on a Forgotten War

“I hope that these pictures help to show the strength of the Korean people and the suffering they underwent during that time.”

– John Rich

Written by John Rich

The Most Extensive Collection of color photos of the Korean War

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For the fact that we can appreciate today renowned war correspondent John Rich’s color photographs of the Korean War, we have a tin-lined Japanese tea chest to thank. “I bought color film, and the professionals were not shooting color film,” explains Rich.

As if it weren’t bad enough that the Korean War is, for many in the West, a “forgotten war” wedged between the larger conflicts of World War II and Vietnam, its legacy has been conveyed largely in the medium of black and white photography, putting up yet another psychological barrier between the conflict and modern day audiences. In Rich’s book Korean War in Color: A Correspondent’s Retrospective on a Forgotten War, published by Seoul Selection to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, the renowned war correspondent breaks down this barrier with a jaw-dropping collection of color photographs of the Korean War, perhaps the finest collection of color images of the conflict anywhere. In vivid hues of blue, green and red, Rich’s photographs take the war out of the history books, allowing readers to better connect with a conflict that, while forgotten, continues to impact the lives of Koreans to this day.

May 2010│248 pages│US$ 85Hardcover│10 x 12 x 1.10 inches

ISBN: 978-89-91913-67-7

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Photography · History

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Religion · Culture

THE MOON OF THE MIND RISES IN EMPTY SPACELectures on the Il-Won-Sang Vow

FREEDOM FROM TRANSGRESSIVE KARMALectures on the Instruction on Repentance

THE FUNCTIONING OF A BUDDHA’S MINDThe Diamond Sutra in Daily life

The first of a trilogy of books containing lectures by Venerable Kyongsan, the fi fth Prime Dharma Master of Won-Buddhism, explains the “Il-Won-Sang Vow” in two parts, which is a pledge to live one’s life in

The second of a trilogy of books presents a commentary on the “Instruction on Repentance,” a core teaching in the Won-Buddhist faith. This book examines the motivation, meaning, method, and results of repentance practice as a means of ridding ourselves of transgressive karma and becoming buddha-bodhisattvas.

The third of a trilogy of books offers an interpretation of The Diamond Sutra, a Buddhist scripture that has special significance in the Won-Buddhist faith. This book goes through each of the section of the sutra to highlight the signifi cance of Sakyamuni Buddha’s teachings and instruct the reader on how to emulate the Buddha’s use of the mind.

a way that emulates Won-Buddhism. “The Truth of Il-Won-Sang,” tells us how we can describe the truth and “The Practice of Il-Won-Sang,” addresses how we can embody that truth in our everyday life.

June 2011│182 pages│US$ 19│Softcover│7.87 x 5.94 x 0.39 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-80-6

July 2011│214 pages│US$ 19Softcover│7.87 x 5.94 x 0.47 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-81-3

Sep 2011│384 pages│US$ 34Softcover│7.87 x 5.90 x 0.74 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-82-0

WON-BUDDHISM SERIES This series is an English-language edition of a collection of lectures delivered by Prime Dharma Master Kyongsan addressing the key ideas of Won-Buddhism, a Korean form of Buddhism.

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SEOUL INT’L FORUM FOR LITERATURE

Literature · Forum

Proceedings from the Seoul International Forum for Literature, with writers and intellectuals from all over the world, have been published into a book to be easily accessible to a concerned global readership.

WRITING FOR PEACEEdited by Kim Uchang

Sep 2006│648 pages│US$ 39│Hardcover│9.25 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-08-3

THE GLOBALIZING WORLD AND THE HUMAN COMMUNITY

We live today in a rapidly globalizing world where conventional borders are breaking down in every sphere of our lives. Including writings of Nobel Prize winners Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio and Gao Xingjian, this book explores various problems that writers face living in a globalizing world. It deals with issues such as the erosion

of communal networks of human life; the changing nature of the readership as it becomes more multicultural and global; the status of writing in the developing multimedia world; and the possibility of a human community emerging out of globalization.

Edited by Kim UchangFeb 2012│524 pages│US$ 45│Hardcover│9.13 x 6.34 x 1.14 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-98-1

The end of the Cold War raised high hopes for a new age of harmony for the entire humanity, however, we continue to live in a world aspiring for peace. This book offers thoughts on how the act of writing could contribute to fulfilling the hope for peace. The writings of French philosopher

Jean Baudrillard and Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Oe are included, covering heavy topics such as East Asian concepts of world order; Immanuel Kant’s idea of perpetual peace; peace and race, religion and gender difference; paradigms of modernity and sustainable development.

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Photography · Culture · History

KOREA UP CLOSEPhotographic Encounters by Foreign Observers

MISSIONARY PHOTOGRAPHY IN KOREA

Encountering the West through Christianity

This book introduces foreigners’ own perspectives on their lives in Korea, and on aspects of the country that native Koreans normally overlook in their everyday lives. Through diverse and dynamic images of Korea and appealing accounts of the Korean environment—customs, food, sights, traditions, or merely daily affairs—foreign contributors have plaited a book

that is quite unique. Less than a memoir, more than a passage, their stay in Korea is memorable to all the readers through this chirpy but observant narrative. Be enthralled by the reactions of foreign nature that is stirred by the Korean touch. Around 24 contributors participated in sharing their images and experiences in Korea, all compiled by Craig White.

Missionary Photography in Korea: E n c o u n t e r i n g t h e We s t t h r o u g h Christianity is a captivating visual addition to the material available on this period. More than 70 prints, taken between 1887 and 1938, give glimpses of the dramatic social changes in progress—missionary doctors, Korean doctors, switchboard operators, Christian weddings, new buildings, schools, teachers, football

and tennis teams, crowded roofs, hairdressers, Benedictine industrial schools, Bible translation sessions, and much more constitute the subjects of images that absorb the reader with their abundance of character and richness of detail. Each photograph is accompanied by explanatory notes on the facing page, giving further insight into the scenes they present.

Edited by Craig White

Edited by Donald N. Clark

Apr 2007│188 pages│US$ 18│Softcover│7.87 x 6.88 x 0.47 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-18-9

Oct 2009│184 pages│US$ 40│Hardcover│11.5 x 8.67 x 0.79 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-59-2

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VIETNAM MOMENT

A journey of images through the face of a changing nation, a journey of words through its poetry and proverbs

Photo essay collection printed in three languages—Korean, Vietnamese and English

Written by Brenda Paik Sunoo & Ton Thi Thu NguyetFeb 2009│285 pages│US$ 24│Paperback│7.28 x 6.06 x 0.87 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-54-7

Brenda Paik Sunoo’s and Ton Thi Thu Nguyet’s Vietnam Moment, a photo essay collection, presents the beauty and wisdom of the Vietnamese nation and people. The photos break from the war-torn image of Vietnam to allow readers to feel the human beauty of a people maintaining their ancient traditions amidst natural splendor, their patience and determination developed over a winding history, and the affirmation and

bravery of a people who have never given up hope.

The 113 photos in Vietnam Moment, taken by Korean-American writer and photojournalist Brenda Paik Sunoo during her stay in Vietnam for 7 years, perfectly convey her knowledge of and affection for the Vietnamese people. Accompanying the photos are folk poems, sayings, and proverbs collected by the two authors.

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Culture · Etiquette

ASK A KOREAN DUDE

Korea: a country where tradition and rapid modernization meet in a dynamic dichotomy full of seemingly incongruous yet somehow germane ethnic charms. It is these very elements that truly set Korea apart from its Asian colleagues as a bombastically inclined but strangely endearing little country.

This book is a collection of articles from the “Ask a Korean Dude” column Seoul Selection’s monthly travel and culture magazine, SEOUL, ran to answer questions posed by readers regarding aspects of Korean society and culture.

Fielding the questions with sincerity and a dash of humor, the “Korean Dude”—frequently making use of his own endearing personal experiences —turned cultural quirks into cultural understanding, providing insight into the workings of Korean culture.

This book is a tool with which you, the foreigner, may come to not only understand the distinct curiosities of Korea, but also appreciate the deep- running veins of traditional and modern culture interlaced into this complex—but in fact rather simple—society of people.

Written & Compiled by Kim Hyung-geun

Mar 2012│352 pages│US$ 30│Softcover│7.8 x 6.5 x 0.78 inches

I’m John Annie

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ONCE AROUND THE SUN

Extraordinary tales of an

ordinary korean family!

Written by Melanie Steyn

Sep 2010│141 pages│US$ 7.95│Softcover7.06 x 5.1 x 0.30 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-71-4

In Melanie Steyn’s novel Once Around the Sun, we are introduced to the Lee family. Dong-ju, the 12 year old son—boisterous, exuberant and curious; Ji-young, the 16 year old daughter, ripped from childhood and thrown into an adult world too soon; Yun-hwa, defi ned as a wife and a mother, but searching to be just herself; and Kyu-ah, the grandmother, looking back on a life full of heartache, but also forward to the legacy she will leave through her family. Each has an individual journey of self discovery.

The novel is divided into four chapters and takes part over the period of one year. Each chapter represents a season, and each season covers the story of one member of the family. They start

out as simple tales of ordinary life, but soon unfold into extraordinary accounts of spiritual awakening. They tell of enlightenment; of growing up and growing wise; the seasonal journey of each family member searching for authenticity. They are tales of people who are variously “dis-located” finding their true spiritual “location,” and so reaching a point of personal acceptance and contentment.

Once Around the Sun is a joy to read. Melanie Steyn writes in an accessible style which will appeal to a wide audience. The seasonal imagery gives the novel shape, and the resonance of nature in the story leads to an awareness of time passing, of something larger than human life being important.

Literature · Novel

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Culture · Business

DOING BUSINESS IN KOREA

An Expanded GuideWritten by Thomas L. Coyner with Song-Hyon Jang

July 2010│384 pages│US$ 33│Softcover│ 8.34 x 5.98 x 0.57 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-68-4

Doing Business in Korea is a timely handbook of information for succeeding in the challenging environment of Korea. Now with updated content, the book divulges in engaging prose all the ins and outs of contemporary Korean business culture. From business etiquette and protocol to tips for marketing to Korean consumers, international business

consultant Thomas L. Coyner details everything you’ll need to know not just to survive, but thrive in the Land of the Morning Calm. Through this book, you will gain pivotal insight into an environment that is traditional yet uncompromisingly modern, challenging yet surprisingly rewarding for the determined business professional.

A “Must Read” for business professionals in Korea

Easy-to-read format

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DIAMOND DILEMMAShaping Korea for the 21st Century

BEYOND THE CRISISKorea’s Emergence from the Global Financial Storm of 2008

Beyond the Crisis serves two objectives. One is sharing knowledge of effective crisis management, based on Korea’s recent experience in overcoming its own turmoil during the global financial crisis. International organizations such as the IMF, OECD and the World Bank, as well as the international press, have given much coverage to Korea’s economic comeback story. The Korean experience may shed some light for many emerging economies

in dealing with such a fi nancial crisis.Beyond the Crisis also proposes an

agenda for a safer and more disciplined fi nancial environment, leading to balanced and sustained growth of the world economy. While steps have already been taken, the global community must not lose momentum in continuing to improve the architecture of the international financial system.

Diamond Dilemma provides a profound, provocative, and unique outsider’s inside perspective on the economic challenges and opportunities facing South Korea. From corporate governance to foreign direct investment and the education system, this book covers all the major

issues which will shape Korea’s future. It concludes with a passionate plea for change, highlighting how Korea can achieve its full potential as a shining diamond. The book was first released in Korea(n), where it received widespread acclaim and media attention.

Written by Jun Kwang-woo

Written by Tariq Hussain

Mar 2010│236 pages│US$ 35│Hardcover│8.74 x 6.38 x 1.2 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-63-9

May 2008│262 pages│US$ 24.95│Softcover│8.82 x 5.91 x 0.59 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-37-0

Economy

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Literature · Classics

A must-have companion for

readers who have an interest

in Korean tea

The essential texts of the Korean Way of Tea in English with explanatory notes and biographies of two great tea masters

Translated by Brother Anthony of Taizé, Hong Kyeong-Hee & Steven D. OwyoungJune 2010│196 pages│US$ 25│Softcover│8.34 x 5.98 x 0.57 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-66-0

KOREAN TEA CLASSICS Written by Hanjae Yi Mok & the Venerable Cho-ui

Three ancient texts expressing the essence of the Korean Way of Tea are here translated into English by top-rated Korean tea enthusiasts. The oldest, “ChaBu Rhapsody to Tea,” by Hanjae Yi Mok (1471–1498), is a sophisticated and delicate celebration of tea. The author was a scholar of considerable attainments who died far too early. The 19th century saw a tea revival among Korean literati. Its main guide was the Venerable Cho-ui (1786–1866). The first of his tea texts, “ChaSinJeon A Chronicle of the Spirit of Tea,” he copied from a Ming Chinese

work to serve as a practical guide to tea. The great poem “DongChaSong Hymn in Praise of Korean Tea,” for which Cho-ui is chiefl y celebrated, is a set of formal poetic stanzas celebrating tea with notes by the author to elucidate the references.

T h i s vo l u m e o f f e r s a n E n g l i s h translation of these three remarkable works, with explanatory notes and biographies of the two great masters of Korean tea. It gives readers who are unfamiliar with Classical Chinese access to the essential texts of the Korean Way of Tea.

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An outstanding English-language introduction to the history and virtues of Korean tea

Blissfully light, yet deep in cultural content and insight

Culture · Tea

Written by Brother Anthony of Taizé & Hong Kyeong-HeeMay 2007│124 pages│US$ 17│Softcover│7.51 x 5.66 x 0.39 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-17-2

THE KOREAN WAY OF TEAAn Introductory Guide

Tea drinking is now a global pastime, and a delectable variety of teas are much sought after by connoisseurs worldwide. In this meditative volume to understanding, appreciating, and serving Korean tea, authors Brother Anthony of Taizé and Hong Kyeong-hee share their intimate knowledge of a cultural practice and art form that at its core embraces

universal principles of peace, refi nement, and simplicity. The Korean Way of Tea is a rich and inviting text accompanied by full-color photographs of the beauty of Korea and her architecture, nature, and people. This introductory guide is a welcome addition for anyone interested in tea and its extraordinary contribution to the Korean cultural tradition.

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History · Literature

A YANG FOR EVERY YINDramatizations of Korean Classics

This book introduces the Joseon dynasty’s ruling system, which managed to embody Confucian ideology in a political order that used elaborate systems and apparatus to prevent the concentration of power in any one center. It offers a broad examination o f t h e J o s e o n s y s t e m o f c i v i l i a n governance, including the Government Service Examinations where officials were selected based on knowledge of

Confucian classics, the keeping of Joseon Sillok (The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty) records that even kings were not allowed to read, and a system of audits and inspections to curb the tyranny of high-ranking offi cers.

It is one of the most comprehensive works ever published in English on the workings of the Joseon government.

The author has adapted a few of Korea’s favorite traditional stories to the stage, with songs and extensive historical and cultural notes, for a modern audience. These plays are based on stories from Korea in the 17th and 18th centuries, and they are still being told in the 21st century, in their original pansori venue and also on TV, stage, and film. While the Joseon Dynasty was closed off to the rest of the world, it was developing a world-class

literature. All of the stories were passed down

orally through many generations, developing all along in complexity and sophistication, until the 18th and 19th centuries, when they were set down in written form. Confucians wrote moral lessons into the stories, but loyalty, honesty, modesty and generosity are basics in any system of value.

Compiled and Translated by John B. Duncan, Jung Chul Lee, Jeong-il Lee, Michael Ahn & Jack A. Davey

Written by John Holstein

June 2009│212 pages│US$ 27│Hardcover│8.66 x 5.90 x 0.62 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-57-8


THE INSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF CIVIL GOVERNANCE IN THE CHOSON DYNASTY

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Literature· Essays

MY HUSBAND THE POET

Mok Sun-ok, poet Cheon Sang-byeong’s wife of over 20 years, writes about her years with the poet in this book. Cheon Sang-byeong is one of the most colorful figures in 20th century Korean literature. His name is familiar to most Koreans along with his most famous poem, Kwichon, Back to Heaven. His child-like heart, belief in human goodness, and his love of simple and natural things have touched thousands of readers.

Mok Sun-ok wrote and published the story of their life together soon after her husband died. She tells the story of living with her childlike husband, who writes like an angel but has no other abilities. Through its frank and honest narrative, this book offers interesting insights into one of Korean literature’s most famous couples. Their story has been also portrayed in stage plays, musicals, and TV dramas.

Written by Mok Sun-ok

Aug 2006│241 pages│US$ 17│Softcover│8.46 x 5.9 x 0.79 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-07-3

Seaweed and Shamans captures Brenda Paik Sunoo’s 12-year journey of coming to terms with her 16-year-old son’s sudden and unexpected death. Heartfelt and at times heart-rending, a collection of 21 essays captures the third-generation Korean-American mother's journey of grief into solace.

Instead of focusing on the immediate

anguish of such a tragedy, each essay opens the door to the unexpected and sustaining gifts. This book is a chronicle of emotional insights from a writer wisened by experience and willing to share her tale of grief, survival, and embrace of life. Seaweed and Shamans is not a griever’s manual, but a memoir of self-healing and restoration.

Written by Brenda Paik Sunoo

Apr 2006│161 pages│US$ 10│Softcover│8.74 x 6.42 x 0.39 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-03-5

SEAWEED AND SHAMANSInheriting the Gifts of Grief

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Literature · Poetry

OUR PLANET IS NATURE’S STAGE

ETERNITY TODAY

Our Planet is Nature’s Stage is the tenth poetry volume by Zen Master Chang Sik Kim. Each poem portrays a scenario that has been played out on the stage that is our planet. All the elements of Earth, from its mountains to its oceans, act out these scenarios. All the components of the Universe serve as the audience to the many stories that appear and are played out on our planet Earth.

The poems can be read individually, but they are intended to be taken as a whole, chronologically, to tell the story

of our planet Earth. The poems tell the stories of the births and lives of all kinds of life on our planet. The poet shows emotional expression throughout his images, whether they be human or stone. Common everyday occurrences, such as the sun rising, are depicted as magical events. Throughout his poetic work, Kim continues to portray the wonder of life in nature, and contrasts this incredible beauty with the real ecological state of our planet in its oceans, mountains and atmosphere.

To celebrate the first anniversary of his death, a book of selected poems by the late Ku Sang (1919-2004) has been published in English translation. Translated by Brother Anthony of Taizé at Sogang University, the book contains a total of 99 poems arranged not in chronological order, but under fi ve major

themes: Mystery of Meeting, River, Fields, Sin and Grace, and Eternity Today. His work mostly searches for the meaning of human existence and the cosmos. Rather than focusing on poetic techniques, Ku used common expressions found in our daily lives that were nevertheless rich in meaning.

Written by Zen Master Chang Sik Kim

Written by Ku Sang

Nov 2005│111 pages│US$ 22│Softcover│8.54 x 5.55 x 8.23 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-01-1


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Children · History

JUMONGFounder of Goguryeo

DANGUN WANGGEOMFounder of the First Korean Kingdom

SUROThe First King of Gaya

The story is about how Jumong left his home country of Buyeo and founded Goguryeo, the biggest of the three kingdoms in the Three Kingdoms period.

The book is based on an original story from the “Samgukyusa (Memoirs of the Three Kingdoms)” by Iryeon. The story tells of the founding of Old Joseon, the first kingdom of Korea, in a friendly and

easy manner and is full of beautiful illustrations for children.The book also contains the famous story of Ungnyeo, a bear who endured all sorts of hardships to become a human.

The book is based on an original story from the “Samgukyusa (Memoirs of the Three Kingdoms)” by Iryeon. The beautifully illustrated Suro tells the tale of King Suro, the legendary founder of Geumgwan Gaya, the ruling city-state of the ancient Gaya Confederation.

Dec 2008│44 pages│US$ 14│Hardcover11.34 x 9.6 x 0.03 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-48-6

Dec 2008│40 pages│US$ 14│Hardcover│11.34 x 9.6 x 0.03 inches│ISBN: 978-89-91913-50-9

Dec 2008│40 pages│US$ 14│Hardcover11.34 x 9.6 x 0.03 inchesISBN: 978-89-91913-49-3

Written by Lee Hye-sook

Written by Chung Chul-heon

Written by Kim Seong-eun

This series of illustrated books for children, produced by the Academy of Korean Studies, is dedicated to important fi gures of Korean history and legend. These books also include a brief section introducing South Korea to help foreigners develop a better understanding of Korea.

HISTORIC FIGURES OF KOREA

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One of Northeast Asia’s leading metropolises, Seoul is a place of rapid cultural, as well as economic, evolution. Now home to hundreds of thousands of foreign citizens and host to millions of foreign tourists every year, Seoul and its passionate citizens boast thousands of tourist sites, performances, restaurants, bars, shops, museums, mountains and plenty more.

Your monthly guide to the best of Korea’s thriving capital

B1 Korean Publishers Association Bldg., 105-2 Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-190, [email protected] | [email protected] | Tel 82-2-734-9565 | Fax 82-2-734-9563

SEOUL magazine is dedicated to selecting and introducing, SEOUL magazine is dedicated to selecting and introducing, SEOUL magazine is dedicated to selecting and introducing, in English, the very best of everything this pulsating in English, the very best of everything this pulsating in English, the very best of everything this pulsating megacity has to offer – every month. megacity has to offer – every month. megacity has to offer – every month.

10.24 x 14.96 inches

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BOOKS on KOREA from Affi liated Publishers

• Korea Foundation• Humanist Publishing Group Inc.

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This new English language series is primarily a compilation of selected articles from previous issues of KOREANA, a quarterly magazine on Korea’s culture and arts published by the Korea Foundation.

SELECTIONS FROM KOREANA SERIES

MODERN KOREAN ARTISTS

MASTERPIECES OF KOREAN ART

MASTERS OF TRADITIONAL KOREAN HANDICRAFTS

Modern Korean Artists, a compilation of articles about contemporary artists from the quarterly magazine KOREANA, offers an opportunity for readers to

better understand and appreciate Korea’s modern arts, related to a variety of genres, ranging from the fi ne arts to Korean fi lm.

This book offers a rare grasp of the legacy of Korean art, emphasizing its rich diversity and history of thousands of years. The book features over 40 renowned pieces from different historical periods

of Korea, from earthenware vessels from the Neolithic and Bronze Age to white porcelain and garden landscaping of the Joseon Dynasty.

This book offers a glimpse of Korea’s foremost handicraft ar t isans and examples of their masterful works, in such areas as wood, bamboo, fabric, and metal

crafts. In addition, the articles provide considerable insight into the cultural traditions and lifestyle of the people of Korea.

2009│224 pages│9.76 x 7.76 x 1.5 inches│US$ 50│ISBN: 978-89-86090-33-8



Edited and published by the Korea Foundation



The Korea Foundation publishes and distributes periodicals, books and audio-visual materials on Korea for worldwide readers and audiences.

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ETERNAL IMAGES OF SAKYAMUNITwo Gilt-Bronze Korean National Treasures

GOLD CROWNS OF SILLATreasures from a Brilliant Age

KOREAN JOURNEYS Heartland of Culture and History

This English-language catalogue features two Gilt-Bronze Pensive Images from the Three Kingdoms period (37 B.C.-668 A.D.) of Korea, which are Korea’s National Treasure No. 78 and No. 83. With an abundance of photos and insightful essays, it provides an in-depth introduction to these ancient masterpieces of Korean Buddhist art.

The book introduces the gold crowns and related articles excavated from five royal tombs: the Great Tomb at Hwangnam, Heavenly Horse Tomb, Gold Crown Tomb, Auspicious Phoenix Tomb, and Gold Bell Tomb. The descriptions are accompanied by numerous photographs and related details. In addition, three insightful essays by art history scholars are included, which explain the gold culture of Silla, the signifi cance of Silla gold crowns, and the historical background of Silla’s exceptional culture.

This book provides practical information about various noteworthy destinations which reveal the unique lifestyles, cuisine,

folklore, history and cultural heritages that can only be found in Korea’s outlying regions.

2008│136 pages│12.51 x 9.25 x 1.02 inches│US$ 100ISBN: 978-89-86090-29-1

2011│144 pages│12.51 x 9.25 x 1.02 inches│US$ 100ISBN: 978-89-86090-38-3

2011│260 pages│9.76 x 7.76 x 1.5 inches│ISBN: 978-89-86090-39-0


Published by the Korea FoundationEdited by Lee Han-sang

Published by the Korea FoundationEdited by Kang Woo-bang

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The Korea Foundation has published informational books about various aspects of Korean culture in English to provide an in-depth explanation to general readers. Each volume of the Korean Culture Series was written by an expert in the concerning field and also includes photographs and illustrations for better understanding.

KOREAN CULTURE SERIES

TRADITIONAL PERFORMING ARTS OF KOREA

CONFUCIAN RITUAL MUSIC OF KOREA

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the historical background, genres, and performers of the traditional performing arts of Korea, such as puppet plays, mask dramas, and pansori, a uniquely Korean form of narrative song,

which originated from the singing and dancing traditions of the ancient Korean people. It offers a detailed introduction to a variety of Korea’s traditional performing arts.

This book describes in detail the history of the Rite to Royal Ancestors, the general background of Confucian sacrificial music and dance, and the musical characteristics of two types of sacrificial

music transmitted in Korea. To help readers understand the procedures and the content of the ceremony and music, illustrations and a music CD are included.



Written by Jeon Kyung-wook

Written by Song Hye-jin

The Korea Foundation publishes and distributes periodicals, books and audio-visual materials on Korea for worldwide readers and audiences.

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KOREAN FOLK DANCE

KOREAN CERAMICS

KOREAN COURT DANCE

This is the fi rst volume fully theorizing the Korean folk dance tradition. Folk dances from various regions are introduced and their characteristics are discussed. Korean dance reflects an accord between labor and art which connects work, shaman

rites, amusements, and drama into one comprehensive art. This book also provides the underlying spirit of Korean folk dance and its profound spiritual background.

Korean pottery may not be ornate, nor is it imposing in size, but it is distinguished by its infinite embrace of nature. Through a continued mutual exchange with China, Korea developed a ceramic style that captured the Korean spirit.

The uniqueness of Korean ceramics stems from the austere humility of the earthenware, the jade-green color of Goryeo celadon, the wit of Joseon buncheong ware and the refined beauty of Joseon white porcelain.

Korean court dance was influenced by dances and music imported through exchanges wi th Ch ina and other neighboring countries beginning in the Three Kingdoms period. However, it was in the Joseon era that Koreans truly began creating a distinctive indigenous form with substantial alterations to the Chinese style. This book provides descriptions, according to period and type, of the court

dances used in the different festivities of the Royal Court between the Three Kingdoms period and the Joseon era. It places a particular emphasis on the court dances of the Joseon period, using as its basis historical records preserved in texts such as the Akhak Gwebeom, Goryeo Saakji, Jeongjae Mudo Holgi, and numerous royal protocols.




Written by Lee Byoung-ok

Written by Kang Kyung-sook

Written by Lee Heung-gu

Korean Culture Series 14Korean Culture Series 14

KoreanCourtDanceAs Seen in Historical Documents

Lee Heung-gu

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The Story of Korea’s History and Culture, Told by History Teachers in Korea to the People Around the World

This book tells the story of the Korean people: how they formed a unified country and established their own culture and identity, and how they held together through all kinds of crises like the Korean War and the eventual division of the peninsula, are all told in this book. The message of hope that the Korean people have always carried shows the proud history of Koreans more effectively and lets people around the world to understand the history of Korea in a more vivid and passionate way.

Korean History and Culture the People of the World Should Read

This book is a historical text that covers Korean history from its foundation to the modern era. It deals especially with the pre-modern societies of Korea in detail. Despite its long history, the social and cultural life of the Korean people is rarely spoken of outside the peninsula. Rather than arranging historical events chronologically, this book focuses more on the details of historical events by questioning how diverse experiences affected the life and culture of Koreans and how such culture influenced the construction of the history of Korea. Readers can realize what Koreans have endured and how that led to their position in the world today. Also, readers may have a better understanding about the moral values of Koreans and what they believe to be right or wrong.

A KOREAN HISTORY FOR INTERNATIONAL READERS

2010│328 pages│US$ 39│Softcover│10.23 x 7.48 x 0.67 inches│ISBN: 978-89-5862-363-2

Written by the Association of Korean History TeachersTranslated by Michelle SeoAdviser: Lee Kang-hahn, Major of Korean History, Academy of Korean Studies

HUMANIST PUBLISHING GROUP INC.

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Seoul Selection 2012 Spring Brochure

Documents

Transcript of Seoul Selection 2012 Spring Brochure