[This Week's Books] 'Unveil' and Others

Unveil

The Korean market is special for luxury brands worldwide. This is because Koreans are sensitive to trends, making it an ideal place to judge the potential success of new brands. There is a perception that if a brand succeeds in Korea, it can succeed globally. The author has witnessed the 30-year history of the Korean luxury market. As the editor-in-chief of a lifestyle magazine, they analyze the process and key success factors of how world-famous brands entered Korea and achieved their current status. (Written by Lee Yoon-jung | Say Korea)

The Person Who Reads the Forest

This is a new essay collection by plant taxonomist Heo Tae-im, who works at the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum. It depicts a journey of venturing through rarely traveled mountain paths to find and document plants on the brink of extinction. To see the windflower that blooms only above 1300 meters in elevation, the author climbs mountain peaks, and explores the beech forests of Taeha-ryeong in Ulleungdo, searching for the Ulleungdo-exclusive beech trees. The book also contains stories about people connected to plants, such as the grandmother who awakened a love for plants and the mother who joyfully reacts like a girl to the scent of the Korean dogwood flower. (Written by Heo Tae-im | Maumsanchaek)

It Is Only Expressed, Not Explained.

Santiniketan (Village of Peace) in India is home to an alternative school founded by Nobel laureate Tagore. The author earned a master's and doctoral degree in Indian art history at Visva-Bharati University, which is rooted in this school. Having deeply experienced Tagore's sensibility, the author introduces the life wisdom Tagore conveyed. Tagore, who dropped out of school in childhood to avoid uniform education and experienced the successive deaths of his mother, sister-in-law, wife, and children, shares the insights he drew from life. The book also introduces Tagore's creative traits, such as refining essays by removing excess from initial letters and then tempering them into poetry. (Written by Ha Jin-hee | Chaek Il-neun Goyang-i)

How to Read Joseon, Dan

'Dan' refers to places where rituals are performed for gods of the sky, earth, mountains, rivers, and agriculture. In Joseon, these dans were divided into three ranks: large, medium, and small ceremonies. However, the author explains that no dan was made according to the ritual regulations of the "Gukjo Oryeui" (National Five Rites). The author argues that Joseon emphasized the reform of rituals. In this context, the introduction of Confucianism, which was the spiritual foundation supporting Joseon society, was also a strategic choice to present a model of legitimate power and establish social norms. (Written by Jang Ji-yeon | Pureun History)

Stories of Difficult East Asian Art 4

This book examines Chinese art from the 3rd to 6th centuries, an era often called the "Age of Division." During this period, China experienced great turmoil due to invasions by northern nomads, mass migrations of Han people, and the influx of foreign cultures. Within this chaos, Chinese art underwent unprecedented innovation through the clash and fusion of heterogeneous elements. The book tells stories related to painting, murals, and ceramics. It also provides a detailed analysis of the diverse aspects of Buddhist art, which spread in Chinese society under foreign dynasties after being previously neglected. (Written by Kang Hee-jung | Social Critique)

Microaggression Alert

When a veteran employee requests the same supplies, they are refused due to lack of stock, but when a new recruit requests them, the supplies are somehow procured and delivered. Upon overhearing a supervisor's comment, "That person is good at their job but lacks interpersonal skills," the author names this kind of subtle but impactful harm 'microaggression.' The book introduces the concept of microaggressions that cause emotional detachment within organizations, shares real cases, and provides ways to respond. (Written by Nam Dae-hee | Kim Young-sa)