U.S. intuition comes out in prof’s books

Lee Myung-eon

While words like “hero” and “cowboy” are familiar cultural references in American writing, they’re not usually found in titles by Korean authors ― especially when the books are written in English.
Lee Myung-eon, 63, a professor in the English education department at Kongju National University, recently saw two of his books, “The Rise of an American Cowboy” and “The Search for a Hero,” published in the U.S.
Although Korean authors rarely write in English for native speakers, the feat is old hat for Lee. The Gongju native published “The Coming End of the U.S.A.” in 1999 and “Night Train” in 2001 in Britain.
A graduate of Kongju National University, Lee earned his doctorate in English literature and language from Preston University in Montgomery, Alabama.
Based on his knowledge of the U.S., Lee said American writers focus on two ideas: the “American Dream” and guilt for sin committed against Native Americans and African-Americans. Lee recommends Pearl Buck to the younger generation, but not the TV show “M*A*S*H,” which he said portrayed a distorted view of Korea.

By Hwang Young-jin
Staff Writer [yhwang@joongang.co.kr]