The Child Mother in Uganda
Written by Kim Yoo-jung and photographed by Kim Kyung-sang; Noonbit: 180 pp., 15,000 won
This photo book features examples of 120 colorful photographs taken in Uganda by Kim Kyung-sang, along with an essay by Kim Yoo-jung.
The photographer captured the tragic moments of the war-stricken country ― murder, poverty, hunger and disease ― during his stay in the African continent from March 31 to April 8, 2007, with actor Ahn Sung-ki.
In the photo essay, images of the armed rebels ― including their attacks on innocent people ― are shown. In particular, the book features children, their innocence and their pain from the poverty that ensued during the prolonged war.
The author says that even if children are overwhelmed by a fear of war, they don't lose hope because they study hard and read books under candlelight. The book also shows pictures of little girls who gave birth after being kidnapped and raped by rebels.
-Chung Ah-young
Dictionary of Korean Literary Terms
Arts Council Korea; Asia: 893 pp., 38,000 won
The first and largest-ever dictionary covering Korean literature over the past 100 years has been published by Arts Council Korea. It introduces about 700 terminologies, embracing North and South Korean literatures, and foreign literature during the period.
Lee Sang-kyu, director of the National Institute of Korean Language, and literary critic Yeom Mu-woong joined the project and formed the editorial committee for the past three years through six symposiums and 12 seminars and surveys. The dictionary covers poems, novels, criticism, fairy tales and dramas.
Beginning in April 2006, the project was designed to give a brief look at changes and concepts in order to mark the 100th anniversary of Korean literature. The book deals with new terms such as "cyber literature", "Web 2.0", and "fanfic (fan-fiction)" and "negritude".
-Chung Ah-young
Good Style
Hur In-a; Muhan: 280pp., 11,000 won
What is the last thing that completes your style? The book "Good Style" insists that it is not accessories, cars, or even money, but manners.
The writer is the CEO of Yerago Service and Manner Academy, where they teach CEOs, businessmen and women and students the way to polish up their images with impeccable manners. Reading instructions for manners may seem a bit awkward, so the book offers small photos with a story.
Divided into two big chapters ― Business and Non-business ― and into smaller sections like "coworkers", "partners", "public" and "individual", the book offers specific guidelines of how to meet, mingle and impress.
In the case of giving out business cards, it's a good idea not to write anything on it when you are in front of the person. In Korea, it is polite to give and receive anything with both hands, but when you are each giving and receiving cards, what should you do? The book says that many people simply give and take the cards at the same time with separate hands, so no need to receive and give with both hands one after the other.
"Good Style" is easy to read with humorous photos, but some of the examples are actually common sense, like brushing your teeth before a presentation, or leaving a thank you note after using someone else's utensils, but they still count as useful reminders.
-Han Sang-hee
Joseon Films in Newspaper Articles 1911-1917
Edited by the Korean Film Archive; Korean Film Archive: 478 pp., 30,000 won
The Korean Film Archive brings the first volume in a series of research materials on Korean cinema during the Japanese colonial era (1910-45). It is a compilation of newspaper articles that appeared between 1911 and 1917 in the Maeil Shinbo, the only Korean language daily published at the time.
The first Korean film was produced in 1919, and so this book covers the "prehistoric" times of Korean film history. The clips include detailed reports on the local cinema, theater and entertainment scene. We learn that theatergoers complained about students cutting class to watch a movie and couples displaying too much affection in public.
The articles, however, are difficult to read since they retain archaic spellings and Chinese characters. The twopage background information that opens each chapter (on each year) is very useful.
- LEE HYO-WON
