Food for the Soul

The focus of this issue is children's picture books, a genre that requiresthe least amount of translating. Beginning a few years ago, Koreanpicture books started charming foreign readers at international bookfairs. This is due to the innovation of talented writers and illustratorswho are driving the industry and producing picture books moreexperimental and full of life than those in any other country.Many people, young and old, wish to travel abroad. Some save upmoney and have the time to travel, while others live vicariously throughbooks about other people's excursions to foreign lands. Those who travelby plane and other means of transportation, however, do not alwaysexperience the unfamiliar as intimately as those who travel across pages.Tourists visiting Seoul do not often see how the metropolis isdifferent from Tokyo, Shanghai, or Singapore. What they see, rather,is the façade of Seoul, which does not speak for the lives and spirit of thecity, the losses and hopes of its people, or their relationship to nature,past, present, and future. Well-made children’s books make this possible.Korean adults often read children’s books in order to marvel at, andlearn from the world of things they missed or never had the opportunityto experience. Children’s books in Korea are thus well loved and hailedby readers of all ages. Both cover and content are packed with a kind ofsoul food that writers and artists have concocted for young readers.Just as Korean food has begun to gain a reputation overseas assomething similar to, yet different from Chinese or Japanese food, I haveno doubt you will discover the charms of Korean picture books.If it is true that you are what you eat, then I believe that your culture iswhat your children read. Picture books are the cheapest, most accessible,yet very serious and sumptuous portals to other worlds, and a delectablefeast for the soul. We would like to share this joy with as many readers aspossible. Once you get to know the charms of our world of pictures,you will want to settle in and hang around for a while.

By Park Suk-kyoung (Editorial Board Member)