[Book of the Week] Why Did They Fall into Jusul? and Others

Why Did They Fall into Sorcery?

According to geomancer Professor Kim Dugyu, the origin of the collusion between sorcery and power lies in the Bibo technique of divining fortune and misfortune by observing the terrain at the end of the Silla period. While Pungsu (geomancy) is a technique for establishing a settlement by examining the shape and scale of the land, Bibo is described by the author as a land selection method for managing sick land. Numerous kings during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties created magical "spells," and this tradition continued without exception up to modern presidents. The author argues that living on the Korean Peninsula, where frequent foreign invasions made autonomous thinking difficult, has made people easily fall into fatalism, shamanism, and sorcery. (Written by Kim Dugyu | Haenaem)

The Mechanism of Happiness

When asked about the happiest moment in life, most people point to a moment in the past. Few feel happiness in the present, and since the future has not yet come, if happiness exists, it is likely in the past. However, the author points out that this is an illusion created by distorted memories. By erasing painful moments from the past and recalling only the better times, people color their past beautifully. Happiness is a personal experience, and by changing the perspective on pain, happiness is emphasized to be close at hand. (Written by Lee Yongbeom | Klanglud Nine)

What Is Prison? 2

The author, a criminologist, compiled conversations and letters exchanged with death row inmates who have served over 30 years, while attending monthly masses in prison for 15 years. In 2025, there are 59 death row inmates incarcerated in South Korea. Although legally deceased, the book sheds light on the lives of these existing death row inmates. While there is concern that it might be read as a perpetrator’s narrative, the author objectively presents their lives mixed with hypocrisy, anger, and self-blame. The prison life seen through the eyes of death row inmates, who live in a room the size of two mattresses except for one hour of exercise per day, is described in a conversational format. (Written by Lee Baekcheol and one other | Wings of Knowledge)

That Person Is a Covert Narcissist

Covert narcissists are considered the most malicious type among narcissists. Victims wither from deep inside, but the perpetrators themselves are often unaware that they are abusing others. Due to the scarcity of information on covert narcissism, the author, a resilience coach, conducted research by interviewing over 100 survivors. This is the hidden story of those who feel loneliness caused by their mothers and have bosses who are well-regarded externally but cause anxiety when working together. (Debbie Mirza | Suo Library)

Why Do Men Have No Friends?

The British comedian author one day realizes that he has no male friends he could call a "best friend." He explores male friendships through the approach that most men become isolated in relationships as they age. The book addresses the crisis, problems, and solutions of male relationships with witty language based on in-depth research and expert interviews. It also sharply satirizes the social and cultural environment in Britain that has produced men who are inexperienced in sincere conversations and emotional empathy. (Written by Max Dickens | Changbi)

Forever on the Side of Justice

The son-in-law of the late lawyer Kang Shinok, who defended Kim Jaegyu, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency who assassinated Park Chunghee, recalls stories he heard directly from his father-in-law after their marriage in 1991. The author uses Kang Shinok as the narrator "I" and returns to the past. He points out that popular content about Kim Jaegyu is based on the investigation records of the Chun Doohwan special investigation unit and offers a different perspective. He shares the process of defending Kim Jaegyu, whom he had never met, along with historical facts and opinions he learned through it, combined with his personal views. (Written by Hong Yuno | Saebit Publishing)