What Happened? - The Joy of Time Travel

The people digging the ground to erect a telephone pole are shocked.
A lump of dirt and gravel fell down and a dark hole appeared beneath the ground.
The story of this book begins like this, going from above ground to below ground.
It's about inviting children into an unfamiliar space, stimulating their curiosity by saying, "There's a secret hidden beneath the ground you're standing on."
What's your first impression of the cave, as if you were being sucked into it? Dark, damp, and cool.
I'm also scared because I feel like something might jump out in front of me in the dark.
But that's only a small part of the mysterious world of caves.
This book unfolds before your eyes the true story of the cave that has been created over a long period of time.
It's a journey back in time to the distant past when caves first began.

The time travel begins when a volcanic eruption occurred in the middle of the ocean, creating Jeju Island, and then another eruption created Hallasan Mountain and countless other mountains.
Children who read the book witness the moment of that hot, intense volcanic eruption.
And as you turn each page, you encounter the process of the lava caves of Geomunoreum being created.
The volcano erupts violently, and hot lava flows and flows.
When I thought the lava had cooled and formed a cave, another explosion and lava cut off the cave and connected it to another cave, creating a complex maze-like structure layer by layer underground.
The cave we see now was formed over such a long period of time.

Through this journey through time, children will gain a clearer understanding of how lava caves are formed and why they look the way they do.
For the children who have learned its secret, the cave of Geomunoreum will no longer be just an unfamiliar, empty space beneath the ground.
In the place where hot lava flowed long ago, children may discover and imagine mysterious and surprising stories from the various traces left by the lava.

A beautiful, beautiful world - the thrill of encountering nature's creations

This book powerfully shows the process of cave formation and also introduces the caves of Geomunoreum one by one.
We will also look at the characteristics of Bengdugul Cave, Manjanggul Cave, Yongcheon Cave, and Dangcheomul Cave, which have been designated as World Natural Heritage Sites, as well as the famous cave formations and how their mysterious appearances were created.

The caves of Geomunoreum each boast their own unique beauty, including caves with a maze of layered passageways, caves boasting enormous stone pillars and enormous scale, caves with traces of ancient human habitation, caves containing clear and beautiful lakes, and caves that sparkle with gold.
Its mysterious beauty evokes a sense of awe and wonder that cannot be explained by scientific information or knowledge.
The caves of Geomunoreum are a magnificent work of art created by the great power of nature and a long time.
Another fun aspect of this book is the thrill of discovering nature's great works of art, hidden like secrets beneath the ground.

A painting that powerfully expresses the power and beauty of nature

The illustrations in this book are very different from those found in ordinary knowledge information picture books.
In some ways, the colors and composition may seem somewhat unconventional.
But its boldness provides a visual satisfaction that immerses one in the book, and leaves the caves of Geomunoreum vividly imprinted on the viewer's mind.


In this book, the cave is not a boring, dark space that holds a long time, a space that is still and faded.
It is a vibrant space that is still alive and breathing, emitting a different light every moment.
The painting shows a volcanic eruption with a huge burst of energy, lava flowing and writhing violently, and a cave taking on a strange shape, all in a vivid, intense color, three-dimensional, and dynamic screen.
The interior of each cave, expressed with subtle color changes and deep structures, preserves its beauty and mystery.
Parts that require scientific information or explanation of the process of change are drawn rather simply.
The pictures, composed of small cuts, help the viewer easily understand the principles.

The illustrations in this book, which powerfully depict the caves of Geomunoreum and the power and beauty of nature contained within them, will remain in readers' memories for a long time.

[Our Shining UNESCO Heritage] Series

'Our Shining UNESCO Heritage' is a picture book series that introduces Korea's World Cultural Heritage, World Natural Heritage, World Documentary Heritage, and World Intangible Cultural Heritage, which UNESCO has designated as heritage that the entire world must protect and pass on together.
This series aims to convey to children the scientific, artistic, and historical significance of our cultural heritage, as well as the people within it.
In particular, we tried to express not only the past meaning of the heritage but also its present meaning.
Books published so far include 『Changdeokgung Palace, the King's House』, 『Stone Dolmen Left Behind by My Father』, 『Jongmyo Shrine, Where Gods and Humans Meet』, 『Seokguram Grotto, a Temple Built of Stone』, 『Gyeongju, the City of a Thousand Years』, 『Bulguksa Temple, the Dream of the Silla People』, 『Gombangi Has Arrived! Namsadang Play』, and 『Hallasan Mountain, the Mother Mountain of Jeju Island』.
In particular, 『Seokgulam, a Temple Built of Stone』 has received rave reviews from both the public and critics, including winning the Bologna Ragazzi Award of Excellence in 2010.