A legendary educational comic that has transcended time and generations and reached 18 million readers.
The 5th revised and expanded edition, evolving even in the AI ​​era, has been published!

We are publishing a revised and expanded edition of “Faraway Neighbors” with an emphasis on “transcending time and generations.”
More than 40 years have passed since this book began serialization in a children's newspaper in 1981.
The early readers became parents and are now the pillars of our society, and the next generation has become a new reader, so it has literally transcended time and generations.

The early vision of the series was filled with admiration and envy for Europe, and focused on looking back at what we lacked.
However, our country has developed at a truly frightening pace and has grown into an excellent country that stands shoulder to shoulder with advanced countries.
As our country's status rises, our perspective on the world is gradually broadening and diversifying.
I also began to look at the world more coolly and objectively.
I believe this has been reflected in the book through several revisions.
_From 'Publishing the Revised and Expanded Edition in 2024'

Starting with six European countries in 1987, and continuing through Japan (2000), Korea (2002), the United States (2004-2005), the Middle East (2007), China (2010-2011), Turkey (2018), Russia (2020), and India (2022), “Far-off Neighbors,” which has completed the world map, has returned with its 5th revised and expanded edition, “transcending time and generations.”
Over the past 40 years, with Professor Lee Won-bok's guidance, some 60 "distant" countries have become "neighboring" countries. Our country has grown into a country that stands shoulder to shoulder with the advanced nations covered in the early days of the series.

Through numerous revisions, 《Faraway Neighbors》 has strived to view the world from a more diverse and objective perspective, befitting our country's rising status.
Under the proposition that “history is always rewritten,” the book has been revised and supplemented every five years since its first publication to keep pace with the changing times.
Thanks to its vivid portrayal of the living scenes of world history, the reputation of legendary educational comics remains constant even as centuries change and generations pass.

The recently published "Beyond the Ages, Beyond Generations, Faraway Neighboring Countries" is no exception, reflecting the recent world situation and international order to illuminate the significance of newly emerging historical and cultural aspects.
Above all, the author has added 'highlights' of each country, which he has painstakingly compiled over a long period of time, as an appendix, allowing the reader to conclude by clearly organizing the key points of each country and region.

From the well to the center of the world
What is the secret to the popularity of "Faraway Neighboring Countries," which has completed a world map of 60 countries over 40 years?

The beginning of “Faraway Neighbors” is the series on six European countries that was serialized in the Boy’s Korea Daily in 1981.
It was in 1987 that the manuscript was published as a single volume (published by Goryeowon).
At that time, overseas travel was not freely possible, and the internet was not even a dream.
With the advent of "Faraway Neighbors," which is full of information and entertainment, the mindset of a global citizen has begun to sprout in Korea as well, preparing for the global era.
The monumental work "Faraway Neighbors" is one that expanded our thinking and vision, which were once frogs in a well, to the world stage.
Even today, more than 40 years later, "Faraway Neighbors" is still recommended by parents to their children and teachers to students, and is read across generations, transcending time and space. It is considered a pioneer and a synonym for educational comics.

Why has "Faraway Neighbors" been so loved by readers for nearly half a century?

First, there is Professor Lee Won-bok, who opened the era of cultural comics and is still actively drawing comics in the field.
The author, who became acquainted with comics while working part-time at a children's newspaper while attending Gyeonggi High School, copying foreign comics, studied architecture at Seoul National University and went to study abroad in Germany.
During his ten years of studying abroad, he studied and mastered cartoons from around the world. He published cartoons and posters in West German newspapers as a freelancer and also drew the cover of the 150th anniversary issue of the prestigious German newspaper Allgemeine Zeitung.
Professor Lee Won-bok, who returned to Korea in 1984, has been teaching at universities and has been tirelessly working to tell stories about the world through comics, starting with “Faraway Neighbors,” covering history, culture, economics, and philosophy.
It is no exaggeration to say that comics, which had been treated as a waste of time, began to be treated as a proper knowledge information medium.
It's not for nothing that parents say that even if other comics are banned, "Faraway Neighbors" is still read.
Professor Lee Won-bok, who pioneered the genre of educational comics enjoyed by adults as well, continues his work as a cultural interpreter in the global era.

Second, it is because of the 'usefulness' of unraveling the complex and rigid history, society, customs, economy, education, religion, etc. of various countries around the world in an easy-to-read comic book, and the 'fun' of staying true to its original purpose as a comic book.
Professor Lee Won-bok's trademarks include unique and quirky cut compositions, humorous lines that strike a chord, and scene commentary that is easy to grasp at a glance.
It is evolving to meet more readers by transforming into a liberal arts lecture content that conveys knowledge and information, and by adapting the content and creating a musical performance that combines it with classical music.
It would have been impossible without the wit and emotion of the village murder.
Could there be a more intelligent and accurate educational comic than this, or a more entertaining and vivid history book than this?

With the latest world situation updates and 'Highlights' summarizing only the key points.
A distant neighboring country that has become richer and newer

This revised and expanded edition is characterized by the addition of 'Highlights' at the end, summarizing the history, culture, and present-day situation of each country.
The 'Britain' section looks back at the British Empire's global impact and the post-Brexit reality of 2020, while the 'US President' section features additional information about Joe Biden.
We take a look at why President Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and how the world order is being reshaped in its aftermath, from the perspective of Russia.
The 'India and the Subcontinent' section, in light of India's situation, which is known as an IT powerhouse but has a widening gap between rich and poor, makes us think about how we should deal with the various conflicts that our society is currently facing.

In this age of "three-line summaries" and "short-form" reading, wouldn't it be strategic reading to first read the "highlights," which offer easy-to-understand, concise summaries of complex world history, before moving on to the main text? By rereading the text, which clearly organizes key information and knowledge from each country, you'll further enhance your "historical literacy," allowing you to grasp the past and present of the world at a glance!

Three-dimensional storytelling that sees both the trees and the forest together
A global must-read for Korea, a developed nation that sees East and West from a balanced perspective.

In the preface to this revised and expanded edition, Professor Lee Won-bok emphasizes that now is the time to discuss and debate "a vision for the future as an advanced nation."
To play a leading role on the world stage, we must open our eyes and ears to the history, culture, information, and knowledge of not only the developed West but also the entire world.
At such times, we can gain insight and intuition that allows us to see the underlying complexities of diverse facts and phenomena, allowing us to see history and the world more deeply and broadly.
This is why the "Faraway Neighbors" series has written a balanced and integrated world history through three-dimensional storytelling that sees both the trees and the forest, breaking away from the biased information and historical bias centered on the West and the powerful nations.

With that intention, Professor Lee Won-bok's scope has become wider and broader, starting with the 16th volume, "Balkan Peninsula," of "Faraway Neighbors."
The destination has expanded from a single country to a region and topic.
If you are curious about Islamic culture and religion, you can gain historical knowledge and regional information in Volume 18, "The Middle East," and Volume 20, "The Ottoman Empire and Turkey."
The splendid civilizations and cultural stories of the 11 Southeast Asian countries that have emerged as important cooperative partners for our country are contained in only the core in 17 volumes.
The "Scandinavian Peninsula (Northern Europe)" and "Africa" ​​chapters are now ready to meet readers! The scholar's journey to piece together the puzzle of world history he missed in school continues.

Exports to Japan, China, Thailand, India, etc.
A pioneering educational comic that pioneered K-comics

The "Faraway Neighbors" series, which began exporting to the world starting with the "Japan" edition, is a pioneering educational comic that pioneered the K-comic market.
It has been published with great popularity in Japan, China, and Thailand, and is recognized as a representative liberal arts book of the global era read by people around the world.
The English-language books "Reading Distant Neighboring Countries in English" for English readers, "Our Country Edition," "America 1 - Americans Edition," "America 2 - History Edition," and "America 3 - Presidents Edition" are consistently loved not only by Korean readers studying English but also by foreigners who want to know more about Korea.
In particular, in 2018, the Korean Cultural Center in India purchased and distributed the book “Reading Distant Countries, Neighboring Countries, Our Country in English,” which provided an opportunity to introduce Korea to Indian readers.