Books are spreading their wide view of the world despite their actual very small size. William Wordsworth emphasized that the book has the infinite world: "The book is one world after another." However, not only the writer but also the publisher is needed to create the world. What is publishing? To know exactly what it is, this CP reporter met Min Byoung-deok, who has graduated 2nd in CNU and studied publishing.

You wrote a lot of books, such as 'Research Method of Publishing Study', 'Research of Confrontation against Opening Publishing Market.' You have lived with publishing. Likewise, when was the first time and what was the biggest reason to work on publishing?
I graduated from the department of Korea language & literature in 1957. After my graduation, I taught students for a short period, translated a Chinese modern novel, and so on. I entered Dong-A publishing company, section of Korea as an editor staff member. I have preferred reading a book to playing outside since the beginning of my childhood. I worked for the department of a publishing company when I was a middle school student, and sold books after the 6.25 war. Therefore, I have been interested in publishing and books.


At that time, entering a company was hard like it is in the current job market. I wrote and edited a Chinese letter dictionary in Dong-A publishing company. Many teachers, who taught students in the country, entered the company. About two people were allocated to this work. In this period, my eyes became short sighted because I proofread small characters for very long time. We were writing, proofreading, and editing; finally, the 'Korean-Korean Great Dictionary' was published in 1962. In spite of these efforts, some vocabulary and spelling mistakes were found and I realized the importance of proofreading again.

You did 'publish' for a long time. What did you feel about publishing during your life, and what do you want to achieve?
Proofreading is such a hard thing, in which you have to be accustomed to it to understand. I was always curious whether there is any method to learn about the subject more logically? In editing, there are many words, which I heard for the first time, also the professional field, like this, was not systematic, so I picked up bits of knowledge casually instead of through professional training. Therefore, I searched related fields to study the state and act of publishing, but there weren't any related fields, so I became interested in library science, which has a common relation in that it handles books. I experienced irrationality and inefficiency in the field, thus, I have found rationalizing, scientification, and academication. I want to make progress in ordering an introductive adjustment which shows the publishing researchers' research results. 2 years later, it is the 50th year since I entered the field of publishing. I hope to achieve it before my 50th year.

You tried to communicate knowledge through many book such as 'roadmap of reading', 'roadmap of statement,' what kind of message you wanted to bring?

It is a kind of 'movement of reading.' My publishing-activity is for reading. Whether it is a paper-book or electronic-book, the whole book couldn't exist without being read. Therefore, activate and efficient reading strategies, that presuppose the publishing-activity, should be go first. Publishing is growing when the reader's reading-activity is activated. The reading promotion is needed to promote publishing promotion, and research of reading and writing for leading must be energetic.

Now, the publishing business circle is faced with a crisis because of illegal copying and declining levels of reading. How do you think about what should the business circle publishers do?
The reading must lead the developing of the business circle. Now, there is 'the law of library and encouraging the reading,' and reading is educated in schools, but reading atmosphere is not enough for reading because of many other forms of entertainment media.
 

Although the support from many quarters is needed because of its cultural peculiarity in the section of publishing, cultivating themselves is more important. The sections of publishing have to develop contests, which are profitable, and offer them to readers. I think that the atmosphere, asking for books that not only breaking the crisis of publishing but also breaking the crisis of economy, is needed.

You are an adviser of 'The Korean Publishing Science Society (KPSS).' What is KPSS, and what did you do in the KPSS?
KPSS was founded by 7 publishing researchers including myself. We inherited it developmentally, and we do academic things periodically. In 1991, KPSS was registered at the ministry of culture as a body corporate, and it represents the research of publishing in Korea. KPSS has reached its 40th year existence. It achieves a worldwide reputation, and about 240 members play an active part in publishing, the educational world, and academic circles.

Finally, please give advise for Chungdaites.
I want to suggest two things. First, no matter what you study specially, maintain your first faith. Next is, you should keep in mind your volunteering spirit for others.


Like these days, the atmosphere that is scattered about many major and job, it is hard to endure that temptation of changing your major and job. Sometimes people succeed because of changing. However, if you change your course when you are only halfway, then you have to be ready to accept the whole as a waste. You should keep in mind that "Diging the one hole only Half-done is worse than not begun." Imaginative power and creativity are important for not only humane studies but also natural science. But, changing is not always a creative thing. It is efficient that you focus your mental reproduction in your field.


No matter what we do, it is often that we get happiness through our volunteer mind. Volunteering is not a huge thing. It starts around you. When you do anything with your volunteer mind, you can be happy and perhaps all your hopes will go well.
 

저작권자 © 충대신문 무단전재 및 재배포 금지