The Academy of Korean Studies on Tuesday unveiled its latest publication series on Korea‘s 70-year history since its liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

The new anniversary series consists of six volumes dealing with the past seven decades of Korea from different perspectives: diplomacy, security and unification; environment; culture; education; politics; and economy. 

“In honor of the 70th anniversary of our country’s independence from Japan, we felt that it was very important to summarize studies of the country’s progress and current state over the past 70 years of independence,” said Lee Bae-yong, president of the Academy of Korean Studies. 

“All the authors of these textbooks are experts in their fields from their years of extensive research to their in-depth analysis and formal discourse with other professionals in the field,” she said, adding, “By understanding how we have gotten to where we are in the last 70 years, only then can we focus on the next 70 years.”

The academy also plans to have all the textbooks in the series translated into English, aware of the importance of non-Koreans having access to studies related to Korea’s most recent history of independence. 

“I believe these textbooks must reach a global audience,” said Korea University professor Nam Sung-wook, author of the “70 Years of Korea’s Diplomacy, Security and Unification” volume.

“Contrary to popular belief, unification is not a local issue -- it is a global one,“ he added. ”Without greater awareness of Korea’s political history on an international level, unification will be impossible.”

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)