&#91LETTERS TO THE EDITOR&#93Textbooks too costly, outdated

I am attending high school and need to buy many textbooks and supplementary materials at the beginning of each new semester.
But the price of most books has gone over 10,000 won ($8), even though the content has not improved much.
Also, most books and supplementary materials focus more on colorful editing than on quality, which makes book prices rocket.
For example, Korean and mathematics books, which do not need colored print, have many color pages. Moreover, question-and-answer books, which do not need to be constructed of the best materials, are made of high-quality, thick paper. Recycled paper for these books would do.
I wish to buy my books at second-hand book stores, but the government changed the entire curriculum for high schools early this year. In addition, online bookstores, which had been giving nice discounts, do not cut prices any more and there seems no way to find the best way to buy cheaper books.
Of course, my parents always give me enough money to buy these books whenever I need to, but I cannot help but feel guilty.
Textbook publishers should listen to students’ opinions and print less expensive books and texts with better content.

by Kim Hak-joon