New Book by Yonsei University Professor Young Ick Lew
Young Ick Lew, Chair Professor at Yonsei University gave a wonderful overview of pre-modern and modern Korean history earlier this week to our American International Education Administrator (IEA) Grantees. As luck would have it, he visited Fulbright for this presentation on the same day that the Korea Times carried a review of his new book, just published by the Royal Asiatic Society. The book is entitled Early Korean Encounters With the United States and Japan. As the Korea Times article notes in part, “Today, intense public outrage over American beef imports is fueling the summer heat, and while partnership among East Asian countries is a top priority, unresolved issues like the one concerning World War II sex slaves (“comfort women”) continue to haunt Korea-Japan relations. A book written in English takes us back to the late 19th century, the beginning of it all. “Early Korean Encounters With the United States and Japan” gives an overview of Korea’s history from the Joseon Kingdom’s (1392-1910) first opening to the West in 1882 to its demise under Japanese colonial power in 1910.” The book draws extensively on Professor Lew’s research over the past 30 years and is written in a manner that should interest all Americans involved with Korea.