- Overview
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This book is a real story of news coverage by Jin Chunkyu, a journalist reporter who successfully made an exclusive visit to North Korea and provided news coverage as the only South Korean to do so. In 2018, President Moon Jaein read this book during a summer break and recommended it.
- Book Intro
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A real story of news coverage by journalist reporter Jin Chunkyu, who successfully made an exclusive visit to North Korea and provided news coverage as the only South Korean to do so.
In 1988, the author entered The Hankyoreh as a founding journalist, fell into a relationship with reporting on North Korea while coming and going to the truce village of Panmunjeom, and captured with his camera the decisive moments of the South-North relationship in the course of visiting North Korea six times and providing news coverage. One particularly well-known picture taken by Jin is an exclusive picture of the late President Kim Daejung and the late Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jeongil at the scene of the 6. 15 Joint Declaration during the 2000 South-North Summit Talks in Pyeongyang.
After 17 years had passed, in October 2017, the author successfully made an exclusive visit to North Korea and gathered news as the only South Korean there in a volatile situation that could erupt into war. This book includes the news gathered in Pyeongyang, Wonsan, the Masikryeong Ski Resort, Myohyangsan (mountain), and Nampo Dam through four visits in the period between October 2017 and July 2018. Jin's coverage showed vivid farm scenery of Pyeongan-do in the middle of its harvest period and present-day Pyeongyang undergoing rapid changes, including a splendid night view of the Ryeomyeong Street of Pyeongyang with a 73-story high-rise apartment building.
The author concisely expressed his first impression of Pyeongyang, which he visited for the first time in 17 years, in one word: surprise. This is because of the flow of serenity in the area, contrary to an argument by some people that all resources must have been mobilized in preparation for war. Calling and taking a picture using a mobile phone are commonly visible in the streets of Pyeongyang, while IT apparatuses and programs are ordinarily used at schools and libraries. In addition, allegedly, the number of vehicles increased sharply, and over 6,000 taxis ran only in the town of Pyeongyang, with 5 to 6 taxi companies available. Approximately 10 taxis always wait for customers next to Okryugwan, and the general public uses these taxis. This goes against the common notion that only foreigners or high-ranking officials use them. Such scenes were previously unknown before the author made the recently taken photos available for the public.
Also included in this book are various appearances of culture and life such as the cold noodles of Okryugwan, Daedonggang beer, Daedonggang (river) leisurely running through Pyeongyang, Moranbong Park which is a resting place for Pyeongyang people, the Gaeseonmun Street with full-blown apricot blossoms, and the private homes of the 73-story building of the Ryeomyeong Street.
- About the Author
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Jin Chunkyu
Jin Chunkyu is the first Korean circulating correspondent in Pyeongyang. Jin is a representative of Tongil TV, a video broadcasting company about North Korea. Since 5.24 Action in 2010, Jin became the only South Korean who has successfully visited and covered the recent changes of North Korea.
Born in 1959 in Seoul, Jin graduated from Dankook University and started to work as a reporter for The Kyeongin Ilbo in 1986. Jin worked in the field for 10 years after entering The Hankyoreh, a company that began publication in 1988. Jin also served as a photography team leader at The Hankyoreh21 and Cine21. Jin worked for 10 years at the LA Korea Timesbeginning in 2001. - Selection
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Moon Jaein, President of South Korea, August 2018, "This book contains writings and pictures of recent North Korean people’s lives, which are similar to ours." Sohn Sukhee, head of the reporting department at JTBC, July 2018, “Although this book is not thick, the concerns thrown to us sure are thick enough.
