[Book Sip] Reviving Damaged Books: 'A Record of a Book Restorer'

Jaeyeong Book Repair 'A Record of a Book Repairer'

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a connection with the book. We introduce such meaningful sentences excerpted from the book. - Editor's note

The author records the appearance of damaged books, the memories of clients contained in precious books, and the process of books being repaired and reborn. Listening to the clients' directions and wishes for repair, and finding the causes through traces left in the books, the author carefully examines the damaged forms with meticulous sensitivity. Books such as a diary over 70 years old that a grandmother has kept since the Korean War, or a limited edition magazine with torn corners. Clients who want to revive the time and memories held by damaged books knock on Jaeyeong Book Repair's door.

The reason is probably that for them, the scribbles are not damage to the book they want to erase, but memories and reminiscences. The scribbles allow them to recall the moment they read the book, remember its contents, and even reminisce about their childhood. These marks are another way of reading, or rather, experiencing the book. By preserving those traces without erasing them, a special memory device unique to the client operates, making the book one of a kind in the world. Isn't that quite wonderful?

By pasting torn pages, straightening collapsed spines, filling in missing pieces, restoring the memories the book had lost, and creating new covers, supports, or cases, promising the book a new time, one comes to think that, like a person's life, each book has its own unique book life. With respect for the various stories, the damaged books, the owner's memories, and the time the book has passed through.

I believe book repair is one of the ways books evolve. Although the appearance may not be exactly the same as the original, and although new structures not present in the original may be added, it is the act of making the damaged parts better so that the book can endure the coming times well and promise the future. In that sense, I believe books can evolve through repair. To answer again the question, "Are books repairable forever? Until when is book repair possible?" Yes. I believe books can be repaired, or rather, evolved forever. If you also believe in the evolution theory of books.

A Record of a Book Repairer | Jaeyeong Book Repair | Wisdom House | 16,000 KRW

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