Book Description

The 60th Anniversary of the Republic of Korea, 1948-2008 A collection of internationally-renowned authors writing about Korea's development over the past 60 years. The history of human beings has been based on different people's encounters and conversations. Exchanges between different people enriched cultures and developed civilization worldwide. Korea has long cultivated rich and peaceful relations with other countries, awarding itself the nickname the Land of the Morning Calm. The early 20th century, however, shattered the peaceful culture of Korea. Japan's imperialist occupation of the Korean peninsula tortured our people and left wounds on our history. Even after Korea’s liberation in 1945, the country’s recovery process from the destruction of its culture and institutions was long and painful. Still worse, only five years after liberation from Japan, the country suffered the heartbreak of the Korean War, which left the peninsula divided into north and south. The state of war persists even through today. In the ashes of the war, Korea completely recreated itself to overcome its tortured history. The nation ran forward, through political whirlwinds and economic slumps. The unprecedented miracle of the Han River led to economic development and industrialization. Many Korean people sacrificed their lives to usher in an era of democracy. In the 21st century, Korean people have been charged with the mission to continue to move ahead. Our neighbors ask us to contribute to world peace and prosperity through dialogue and exchange. Korea's development is largely attributable to learning from the experience of other countries. Now, it is high time that we pay back what we owe our allies. "Korea: Impossible to Possible," a collection of well-known international authors writing about Korea's development over the past 60 years, is part of the Korean government's efforts to listen to outside perceptions and opinions about my country. Through their contributions, I’ve seen that these authors haven’t shied away from using tough words when they felt it necessary to describe Korea’s development. This is something that I appreciated very much. Third-party perspectives oftentimes help us to recognize overlooked details. We will sincerely listen to the authors’valuable advice contained herein and try harder to open up Korean society to the outside world. I believe the authors could not wholly express all their thoughts about Korea in the limited space provided. However, this book will work as an initiative. We hope to see Korea approaching a wider range of its neighbors in the near future. The Changing Face of the Republic of Korea The Republic at Sixty Advantages of Adversity A Changing Society Education, Culture and the Arts International Relations North and South, 60 Years On