© by the author(s). This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0.
Edited by Bae-Gyoon Park, Wonho Lee, Chul Sue Hwang, Jinmu Choi, Jongnam Choi, and Gregory Chu
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport; and National Geographic Information Institute (NGII), Republic of Korea,2016
252 pages. Free online; see “Obtaining this Atlas,” below.
ISBN: 978-89-93841-23-7
Review by: Yeong-Hyun Kim, Ohio University
In 2016, the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) published the National Atlas of Korea (English Edition), a much-revised third edition of a work first published in 1989. Due to the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s continued support, the new edition was published in five volumes in print, and is also freely available online. All of the maps, text, tables, and illustrations of the Atlas are available at nationalatlas.ngii.go.kr in both Korean and English, and are downloadable as PDFs. The focus of this review is on Volume III of the National Atlas of Korea, which is dedicated to human geography.
This volume of the Atlas aims to present both the dynamic transformation and the sustainable development of South Korea’s “national territory and human life” (page iv). It consists of four sections: the first, “National Territory and Places of Life,” provides a geographical overview of South Korea’s human-environment interactions, with a particular focus on urban and regional development. The second section, “Population and Living,” addresses population growth, distribution, and migration along with their impacts. This section also highlights several important recent changes in South Korea’s demographic trends that include an aging population, a small but growing foreign-born population, and a significant increase in single-person households. The third section of the volume, “Industrial Activities,” is devoted to the structural and spatial transformation of the South Korean economy, looking at the changing location of economic activities both within South Korea and across international borders, as well as the rise of new industries and growth sites. The fourth and final section, “Society and Culture,” describes the sociocultural, political, health, and educational geography of South Korean society. Volume III of the National Atlas of Korea brings together 16 sub-sections on the economic, urban, social, cultural, political, population, and environmental geography of South Korea, with articles contributed by many of that country’s best-known and respected human geographers.
The English edition of the Atlas is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive and valuable sources of information for the general public about contemporary South Korea. For both students and schoolteachers, it should serve as a very useful reference to help them visualize what is happening in that country. Many academics, researchers, and other professionals who are interested in understanding key issues in the changing human geography of South Korea will also find the Atlas useful in identifying practical data sources and, more generally, providing a starting point for further exploration.
According to its “Preface,” Volume III of The National Atlas of Korea should serve to promote “an accurate understanding” of South Korea to future generations of Koreans and achieve “a truthful understanding of Korea’s human environments” (page iv) around the world. One may ask whether it is possible, or even desirable, for a national atlas to provide an accurate and truthful account of a country’s human geography, something that is subject to diverse and often mutually contradictory interpretations. South Korea’s human geography is changing rapidly and somewhat unpredictably with the ongoing economic and geopolitical changes in the East Asian region, and whether this picture of the land and its people will retain its relevance in the future is not at all assured.
The human geography of South Korea has been significantly transformed in recent years, but at the same time it has continued to maintain many of its basic elements. Volume III of The National Atlas of Korea is comprehensive, but it lacks a concluding section which could have offered a much more integrative summation of the various issues and their implications for the land and the people of the Korean Peninsula. It would also have been much more helpful if each section and subsection of the volume had a short introductory overview describing the core themes and issues it covers, and how they are related to those in other sections. It is never easy for an extensively comprehensive atlas, such as The National Atlas of Korea, to present a series of interrelated and connected themes, but clearly written and informative introductions would have helped.
These interconnections are further confused by the organization of some of the subsections within sections. For example, the “Sustainable Land Development” subsection of “National Territory and Places of Life” covers a range of diverse topics, including regional development plans, natural disasters, accidents, and crimes, which might not be particularly relevant to a discussion of sustainable land development. If the goal was to use a human security approach in analyzing the sustainable development of South Korea, this material might better have been combined with the “Use of National Territory” subsection covering challenges in food, water, and energy security, among other topics. Another example of the awkward organization of subsections and topics can be found in the “Industrial Activities” section. While international trade has played and continues to play a highly significant role in the growth and expansion of South Korea’s industrial activities, this topic is discussed only briefly (150–151) and is not emphasized in the subsections detailing individual manufacturing and service industries.
Despite its shortcomings, Volume III of The National Atlas of Korea: Human Geography is an important contribution to furthering our geographical knowledge and awareness of current issues in South Korea. It is an authoritative source of facts, statistics, and of course maps about South Korea’s people, economy, culture, cities, industries, politics, and other human geographical features.
All volumes of The National Atlas of Korea are available online for viewing or download at no cost by visiting nationalatlas.ngii.go.kr.
Distribution of the five hardcover volumes of the atlas has been delegated to the Korean Geographical Society (KGS). We are told that KGS is distributing a very limited number of the books for $150 per volume (excluding shipping). It is suggested that interested parties contact KGS directly at this address: Korean Geographical Society. 1413-ho, 213-12. Saechang-ro. Yongsan-gu. Seoul. 140-871. Korea.