Exploring Korean Modern History and Culture through Park Kyung-ni's 'Toji'

Jongno-gu to Host Online Humanities Lectures on History, Literature, and Climate Crisis as Part of the '2021 Library Road Public Project'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) is hosting online humanities lectures on different themes at the Children and Youth National Studies Library, Cheongun Literature Library, and Areumkkum Library until November, welcoming the deepening autumn season.

This program, held as part of the '2021 Humanities on the Road at Libraries Contest Project' hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korean Library Association, covers various humanities topics such as history, literature, and the climate crisis.

The Children and Youth National Studies Library will explore modern Korean history and culture centered on Park Kyung-ri’s epic novel Toji from October 8 to November 13.

Professor Lee Seung-yoon of Incheon National University will conduct a total of six lectures via Zoom under the theme “How History Became a Novel: Reading Park Kyung-ri’s Toji Along Spaces,” including “Park Kyung-ri’s Literary Biography and the Resume of the Novel Toji” and “Stories Surrounding the Failed Historical Novel Toji.”

This program also includes follow-up meetings such as visits to the Park Kyung-ri Literary Park and the House of Literature, as well as discussions on methods of reading classics, adding to the interest.

Cheongun Literature Library, in cooperation with the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Sungkyunkwan University, has planned a quality lecture series titled “Human Geography of Jongno.” By examining various anecdotes in works by authors active around Jongno, the program aims to provide a deep understanding of Jongno not just as an everyday living space but as a cultural space and a repository of literary memory.

From September 8 to November 13, a total of eight lectures will be released every Wednesday at 7:30 PM on the Jongno Cultural Foundation’s YouTube channel. Lectures such as “The Path of Manhae Han Yong-un and Jongno” and “Walking the Paths of Joseon Officials on Sejong-ro and Donhwamun-ro” are scheduled, and past lectures can be rewatched on the YouTube channel.

Areumkkum Library, in collaboration with the Energy and Climate Policy Institute, is conducting “The Climate Crisis Era, Choices for the Future of Teens,” aimed at teenagers to understand climate change from a humanities perspective and explore concrete actions to slow climate change.

The lectures are free and currently recruiting participants online at any time. Detailed schedules and applications for each library’s program can be found on the Jongno Cultural Foundation website.

Face-to-face programs such as visits, follow-up meetings, and discussions will be conducted either in person or online depending on the COVID-19 situation, with individual notifications provided to participants in case of changes.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “As COVID-19 prolongs and outdoor activities become difficult, I hope this will be an opportunity for residents to enjoy humanities lectures on various topics from home.”