The History of Life and Culture of Seoul Residents Woven Through Over 150 Themes
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul History Compilation Institute announced on the 25th that it has completed the 8-volume series of "Easily Readable Seoul History," which weaves together the lives and cultures of Seoul residents from ancient times to the present through over 150 themes. Planned since 2017, the Easily Readable Seoul History series began with the publication of the Ancient and Goryeo volumes in 2018, followed by two volumes on the Joseon period in 2019, volumes on the Opening of Ports and Japanese Colonial Period in 2020, and this year, two volumes on the Modern era.
The Easily Readable Seoul History is a book that compiles the history of Seoul from the comprehensive "Seoul 2000 Years History" into more accessible content for citizens by selecting interesting themes from each era and presenting them in simple sentences and short texts.
The series was written by 159 experts from various fields, including historians. It covers 20 themes for each era: Ancient and Goryeo, Joseon, Opening of Ports and Japanese Colonial Period, and Modern. Starting with Volume 1, "Since When Have People Lived in Seoul?" and ending with Volume 8, "Seoul, Reborn as an International City," a total of 159 themes are included.
The Easily Readable Seoul History focuses on the lives and cultures of Seoul residents, aiming to engage citizens with Seoul's history in an interesting way. Additionally, related photos, illustrations, and diagrams are placed alongside the text to enhance readers' understanding. Furthermore, no footnotes are included, and references are compiled at the end of the book to create an "easy-to-read book."
The texts in the Easily Readable Seoul History are about 15 pages each, making them easy to read in one sitting. Moreover, photos and illustrations are included to aid comprehension. Experts from various fields, not only historians, participated in writing to provide diverse perspectives on Seoul's history.
Lee Sang-bae, Director of the Seoul History Compilation Institute, said, "This book is not a difficult history book but aims to provide citizens with enjoyable historical reading material," adding, "I hope that through this book, citizens can approach 2,000 years of Seoul's history with a lighter heart."
The Easily Readable Seoul History series can be viewed at public libraries throughout the city, including the Seoul Library, and will be available as an e-book (E_BOOK) on the Seoul History Compilation Institute's website (history.seoul.go.kr) starting mid-July.
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