New Library Acquisitions

Each fortnight we will be featuring the latest acquisitions to the KCO Library!
While you can search the full catalogue online, this page will highlight a new book, cd, dvd or magazine that we have recently added to our collection. These will be readily available for you to read or view in our library as soon as they appear in this section, so make sure to see WHAT'S NEW each fortnight with the KCO E-news!


What's New


What's New - Mar 8th 2011
Books of the Joseon Dynasty Returned from Japan
Publisher: National Palace Museum of Korea
Joseon Dynasty Returned
"In December 6th, the Japanese government officially returned 1,205 missing books from the Joseon Dynasty to the Korean government after more that 100 years. This book is a catalogue for the special exhibition held at the National Palace Museum in celebration of the return of the Joseon Dynasty books from Japan's Imperial House Agency. The books of the Joseon Dynasty returned from Japan this time include books of the royal collection and the royal protocols (also known as the uigwe records), and they number 1,205 volumes of 150 separate pieces. This catalogues introduces these books under the following three section titles: 'The Return of Uigwe, the Royal Protocols and Other Royal Books', 'Uigwe, the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty' and 'Books of the Joseon Dynasty'."  



What's New - Feb 13th 2011
Spirit of Jang-in: Treasures of Korean Metal Craft
Edited by Min-jung Kim
Publisher: Powerhouse Publishing
Spirit of Jang-in 

"From the Bronze Age to the present day Korean artisans, traditionally known as jang-in, have used metals to create functional everyday objects, objects of great beauty and objects of powerful symbolism. The way metal has been used and regarded in Korean society tells a compelling story of its history, culture and most meaningful rituals and beliefs. Through three essays and more than 150 spectacular objects, this publication traces the development of metal craft from Korea’'s ancient craftsmen to the spectacular ‘'kingdoms of gold’' of the Silla royalty, the influence of Buddhism on craft skills and practice, the simplicity of the Confucian era, and the dark days of the early 20th century.

Contributing institutions are the National Museum of Korea, Gyeongju National Museum, National Folk Museum of Korea, Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, Tongdosa Museum and the Powerhouse Museum. Reflecting a contemporary spirit of jang-in, a selection of metal works from practicing Korean artists living in Korea and Australia is also featured. Spirit of jang-in celebrates the Year of Friendship between Australia and the Republic of Korea, marking 50 years of our bilateral relationship. 

This publication is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, the Australian Government through the Australia-Korea Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the National Museum of Korea."

 

What's New - Jan 30th 2011

K-DRAMA: A New TV Genre with Global Appeal, Volume 3
By Korean Culture and Information Service
New2
"The third volume in the K-Culture series, to introduce Korean dramas, revealing how these “soppy soaps” have reached greater foreign audiences beyond Asia, spreading out across the world as far as Africa and Latin America. The book also examines the appeal of K-drama with a section dedicated to the top K-drama stars." 

 

What's New - Jan 16th 2011
Korea 2020: Global perspectives for the next decade
By Dominic Barton
 New1
"What's next for South Korea? A half-century ago it was among the world's poorest countries, now its a prosperous, industrialized democracy, with an economy that has proved resilient in the face of the global economic crisis. But South Korea's future remains unclear. This important volume brings together top international thinkers and asks them to look ahead to the new challenges Korea faces."