Song Iljun and Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities
Publish Picture Books about Yeongan
Yeongan County, South Jeolla Province (Governor Woo Seunghee), announced on May 8 that two books offering a new perspective on taste, style, beauty, and value have been published in succession and are attracting attention.
The books are "Namdo Dapsa 0 Beonji Yeongan," a travelogue by author Song Iljun, and "Byeolbyeol Moseup Byeolbyeol Kkum," a picture book co-written and illustrated by seven adolescents with developmental disabilities from Yeongan.
Song, a former president of Gwangju MBC and current promotional ambassador for Yeongan County, spent over six months in his hometown of Yeongan starting last year, exploring every corner of the region and compiling his travel experiences into a book.
In his book, Song wrote, "Before my term as promotional ambassador ends, I wanted to do something that would contribute to my hometown. Although Yeongan is my hometown, I realized I actually know very little about it, so this was a great opportunity to learn more deeply."
"Namdo Dapsa 0 Beonji Yeongan" unfolds 62 stories on themes such as sacred rocks, the great stone face, the people of Yeongan, and profound love, all presented alongside Song's photographs in a vivid, pictorial style.
The book features well-known local resources such as "Climbing Wolchulsan, Meeting the Great Stone Face," "Late Autumn at Dogapsa," "Birthplace of Galnaktang, Dokcheon Nakji Street," and "Yeongan Eorin Presented to the King." It also highlights recent attractions like "Cafe Haeol," "Cafe Woryo," "Night Walk at Gurim Sangdaepo History Park," and "First Buddha's Path Under the Sky."
Thanks to the stories he heard while traveling throughout Yeongan and meeting its people, Song remarked, "Yeongan, which existed only as fragments of childhood memories, has become much more concrete for me," adding, "I was surprised to discover that Yeongan has an incredible number of fascinating stories." Since the book's publication, he has been promoting Yeongan's charm by wearing T-shirts featuring the Great Stone Face of Wolchulsan and traveling the country by motorcycle.
The picture book "Byeolbyeol Moseup Byeolbyeol Kkum," created by adolescents with developmental disabilities in Yeongan, originated from the "Youth After-School Activity Program" in Samho-eup. With the support of Lee Giman, head of the Uri Maeul Integrated Home Care Center, and others, the seven youths created a picture book featuring Yeongan's specialty, figs, as the main character. The story also conveys a message about embracing differences and living together in love.
This picture book was introduced at the program's achievement presentation at the end of last year, and Yeongan County supported its publication so that more people could enjoy its content. Both the travelogue and the picture book, which have redefined the value of Yeongan, are available at online and offline bookstores.
Governor Woo Seunghee stated, "I am proud to introduce these two books that capture the charm of Yeongan. I would like to thank author Song, who continues to actively promote his hometown after publishing his book, as well as the youths who created a picture book about a more inclusive Yeongan."
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