National Atlas of Korea

For reasons that seem mysterious, each Southwestern library has received two beautiful free copies of the National Atlas of Korea, published in 2009 by the government of South Korea. It’s hardcover, about 12” by 14,” 192 pages, and printed in vibrant color. While the borders between North Korea, China, and Russia are delineated with thick red lines, you have to look very closely to see the faint dashes indicating the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

About a third of the book’s information pertains both to North and South Korea: you can find basic maps and topographical and geographical information about both countries. You can find more in-depth information about South Korea, including gravel content in deep soil, groundwater usage, endangered amphibians, population distribution, housing construction, national monuments—you get the idea—about South Korea only, with the outline of North Korea included in the map but left white.

The books cost, as far as I can tell, the equivalent of $16 to send via seamail from Korea to the library. They were postmarked July 20 and received at Southwestern on August 31. We will keep them in the reference collection, where I am sure they will prove valuable to people doing country reports on either Korea. I plan to write a thank you letter to GeoDream, the company that sent us the books, and will report here if they respond.