Hong Yi-sup - Korea's Self Identity

The title of the book - "Korea's Self Identity" is rather misleading. Or perhaps I had taken the title of the book too literally when I picked up the book.

For the most parts, I found the book merely descriptive, which in other words mean it does not provide much analysis and insight. But in the second half of the book, there were occasional insights and interesting nuggets of information, such as how the attempt to transplant Catholicism in Korea failed at one stage due to the assassination of Prince Sohyon.

But overall, I found the views in the book strident, vehement and fairly predictable. But perhaps this has something to do with the fact that the book was written in 1973 where I gather that in the eagerness to develop and progress, there is little disagreement about the idea of modernization, and getting rid of "the old way of thinking" and discarding "Korea's spiritual foundation".

The past, according to the author, has been described as a "bondage" and certainly not something to be celebrated. I don't know why but somehow it bothers me.

Incidentally, the book was published by Yonsei University Press, but unfortunately there was an alarming number of spelling errors.

There was also a picture of the professor against the backdrop of a building that looks suspiciously like Yeonhui Hall in the middle of Yonsei University. He wore the sort of black rimmed glasses popular in those days. He looked rather old in the photograph. Am wondering if he is still alive.