Hollym publishing company holds lecture series on Korean culture

When it comes to English-language books on Korean culture, few publish quality works like Hollym. The publisher has been releasing such books since 1963.

As the famed publishing company prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding next year, Hollym has been working hard to promote an understanding of Korea and its culture through a series of lectures held in Seoul.

Since April, the company has held talks on Korean cuisine like bibimbap (rice mixed with vegetables), paintings from the Joseon era (1392-1910) and hanok, or traditional Korean houses, inviting noted scholars from respective areas.

“We hope anyone who loves Korea can enjoy this series of lectures and get the chance to better approach the genuine beauty of the country,” said Sway Lee, a public relations official of the publisher.

Over the weekend, Hollym held two lectures at the National Library of Korea in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul.

The first, presented by Yi Song-mi, was dubbed “The Ethos of Koreans as Expressed in Late Joseon Period Art and Architecture; Citadel Architecture, Portraiture, Landscapes and Genre Paintings.” Yi is a professor emerita of art history at the Academy of Korean Studies and former director of the Duksung Women’s University Museum.

The second lecture, titled “The Hanok Architecture in Rhythm: Spirit of Traditional Korean Housing and its Contemporary Adaptation,” was given by Jo Jeon-hwan, the chief carpenter and coordinator of Yiyeon Hanok, which designs and builds hanok across the country.

“We have planned about 18 lectures [on Korean culture] in coming months as well as in 2013,” Hollym said.

Some of the publisher’s best-sellers include “Korean Conversation Dictionary” by Jung-sup Kim, Hyun-yong Cho and Jung-hee Lee; “A Journey in Search of Korea’s Beauty” by Bae Yong-joon; and “Facts About Korea” by the Korean Culture and Information Service.

By Kim Hyung-eun [hkim@joongang.co.kr]