Gangjin County Library Publishes 'Our Neighborhood Old Stories' as Fairy Tales

Published one edition annually since 2019, featuring hidden history and cultural stories of Gangjin

‘Our Neighborhood Old Stories, Namseong-ri Yeongnang-gil’ published this year by Gangjin-gun Library ⓒ Asia Economy

[Gangjin＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su] Gangjin County Library has published the third volume of "Our Neighborhood Old Stories," a collection of fairy tales weaving together Gangjin's hidden history and culture.

According to the county on the 28th, to discover and preserve the stories of Gangjin passed down from long ago, the library has been publishing the "Our Neighborhood Old Stories" book annually since 2019.

The book compilation involved fairy tale writers Kim Ok-ae, Kang Hyun-ok, and Jang Mi-yeon, all from Gangjin, contributing the text, with painter Kim Chung-ho providing illustrations, and local historian Yang Kwang-sik, director of the Gangjin Literary and Classical Research Institute, supervising the work.

This year's third edition of the Gangjin story fairy tale book contains six stories about the history and culture of Namseong-ri Yeongnang-gil, accompanied by oil pastel illustrations.

Readers can easily enjoy various stories with pictures, such as the poignant tale of Goam Mojong at Boseonsan Goseongsa Temple in Gangjin, which reads like a poem; the story of Geumseodang, the predecessor of Gangjin Jungang Elementary School, reflecting the enlightenment spirit of Gangjin people; and the story of the Pigeon Rock at Guamjeong, visible when climbing toward Moran Park.

The library expects that including stories about real historical figures and relics near Namseong-ri Yeongnang-gil in "Our Neighborhood Old Stories" will greatly help children and adolescents explore Gangjin's history.

Library Director Kim Myung-su said, "The purpose of planning the publication of 'Our Neighborhood Old Stories' is to find Gangjin's hidden history and culture. We must remember yesterday to live today and leave today behind to create the future. We hope many people will take an interest in 'Our Neighborhood Old Stories.'"

Meanwhile, Gangjin County Library published "General Kim Heung-eop Who Defended Namdangpo" in 2019, "Seoseong-ri Manse-gil" in 2020, and this year "Namseong-ri Yeongnang-gil." Next year, they plan to continue publishing "Our Neighborhood Old Stories" annually, including "Dongseong-ri Saejae-gil," containing stories of Gangjin.

Gangjin＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su kys86120@asiae.co.kr

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