Naju City Publishes 'History Textbook' Covering from Prehistoric Times to Modern Era

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City in Jeollanam-do is gaining attention for publishing a citizen-tailored history textbook, "Naju in One Volume," which allows a proper understanding of Naju, the center of Jeolla-do's history, culture, and economy, and a key player in the turbulent flow of Korean history.

According to the city on the 6th, the history textbook project began with the launch of an advisory group through the selection of a new policy in 2020 and has been promoted to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the city's elevation last year.

Seventeen experts from various fields including history, archaeology, pre-modern history, modern and contemporary history, and art history participated as writers, and the book's completeness was enhanced through historical fact verification by a review group composed of university professors and academic experts.

The 237-page "Naju in One Volume" covers five themes depicting Naju's eras: prehistoric times before the regional name (Paleolithic to Iron Age), ancient Mahan, the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla periods, Goryeo, Joseon, and modern and contemporary times.

Chapters 6 and 7 introduce tangible and intangible assets representing Naju, such as traditional culture and arts, gilt-bronze crowns, Onggi pottery, Naju Eupseong Fortress, natural dyeing, and Saetgolnai.

The first chapter at the beginning of the book explains the independent culture that flourished around the Yeongsan River through prehistoric and Mahan relics and artifacts, as well as Naju's administrative system during the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla periods.

Chapter 2 deals with the status of Naju during the Goryeo period, reflected in stories of King Taejo Wang Geon and the king's hometown (King Hyejong, the 2nd monarch), the origin of the Jeolla-do name derived from the first letters of Jeonju and Naju, and the hosting of the state and royal event "Palgwanhoe."

Chapter 3 focuses on the Joseon period, highlighting the dignity of "Naju-mok" following local administrative reforms and the "Imjin War militia activities," while Chapter 4 spotlights Naju's history as a patriotic city leading national salvation and anti-Japanese movements such as the "Donghak Peasant Movement," "Late Joseon Righteous Army," and "Student Independence Movement."

Chapter 5, which shows Naju from liberation to the present, describes the industrialization flow starting from Honam Fertilizer Factory, democratization movements, the Yeongsan River, and the achievements and significance of attracting Bitgaram Innovation City.

A city official said, "A hopeful future for Naju starts with properly understanding Naju," adding, "We hope this book becomes a small seed that prepares a 'Naju-like future for Naju' based on the power of Naju's history and enables people to love and take pride in Naju."

The Naju citizen history textbook "Naju in One Volume" has been distributed to eup, myeon, and dong administrative welfare centers, local middle and high schools, libraries, public institutions relocated to the innovation city, and cultural facilities, and is also available as an e-book on the city hall website.

Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong bong2910@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.