VOL.75/2024.10

 

Graedobom

A time of imagination for deep contemplation and mindfulness

 

2024.06.03

 

Spring, when the greenery returns from its winter rest and bursts into life, has the power to melt our hearts just by thinking about it. As such, a publishing house has been actively publishing 18 titles in the past 3 years since its founding in 2021, with works that warm and invigorate our hearts - “graedobom.” Oh Hye-Young, CEO of graedobom, says that as a new publishing house and a one-man publishing house, she enjoys growing with writers and releasing books that she has planned. She also says that she wants to focus on the “heart” and “humanness” of people in each work she publishes, and that she wants to capture “content that you still want to see in this world where there is a multitude of things to see,” which reminds us of the warm, yet strong, spring. We talked to Oh Hye-Young, CEO of graedobom, who has been painting the colors of graedobom even richer in this era of flooding various contents.

 

 

It’s a pleasure to have you with us on K-Book Trends. It seems like the word “bom” in the name “graedobom” has two meanings - “to read” books and the season “spring.” Please introduce publisher graedobom to our international readers and explain the meaning of the name.

 

That’s right, the name “graedobom” has two meanings. I wanted readers to feel warmth and vibrancy when they hear the name “graedobom,” recalling the season of “spring.” That’s why the overall design of the book covers is generally soft and bright. Plus, I wanted the word “graedobom” to mean “to read” books, giving the image of a publishing house that creates content that you still want to read in this world where there are plenty of things to see. You know, there are so many things to see in this world besides books, such as YouTube, Social Media, movies, and OTT. I wanted the readers to spend time through the books by “graedobom,” contemplating deeply, soothing their hearts, and enjoying the imaginary time in the sounds of turning the pages.

 

What is the “content you still want to see in a world with plenty of things to see” that graedobom publishes?

 

I think it’s books that help us not to lose our “humanness.” I believe that the “heart” at its center is what shapes our values and beliefs. Many emotions, thoughts, and psychological states affect our behavior and decisions. That’s why graedobom focuses on the “heart” and “humanness” of a person rather than on a specific field. For example, I try to reach the ultimate subject by crossing different fields, such as healing the mind through writing, examining human rights through world-class paintings, and providing psychological prescriptions through picture books.
Nowadays, new knowledge, information, and even ways to get rich are just a few taps of your finger away. However, I don’t think humanness is made up of a few pieces of knowledge. I believe it is made possible by living a life that consistently understands, loves, and cooperates with people, and by being responsible and growing in justice. graedobom aims to produce books and content that people should read to live such a life.

 

 

Publisher graedobom focuses on people’s ‘heart’ and ‘mindfulness.’

 

 

You have published 18 titles in the past 3 years since the company's founding in 2021. What was the driver behind such an active publication?

 

There’s one word that comes to my mind - joy. I find joy in publishing. It’s a great joy to have my hands in every step of the process, from planning to editing to production, and to have great collaborators along the way. Personally, I’m pretty happy with the results of graedobom (apart from the sales), and I think it’s all down to the knowledge and opportunities I had at the publishing house I worked at.
After graduating from college, I worked as a copyeditor for 3 years before joining a publishing house in 2001. Back then, editors were mostly proofreaders. My work started when the CEO or editor-in-chief gave me the manuscript. After about 3 years of doing that, I realized that I needed to take planning seriously, because, in the end, only content producers will survive. For that, planning would be essential, and I started looking for a publishing company where I could actively do planning. I focused on what opportunities they offered me rather than the size of the company. Thanks to this, I could experience books in various fields, including technical subjects, humanities, arts, and non-fiction. When you work hard on planning, you get to know not only editing but also production and promotion. Since it’s the book you planned, you get to spend more time thinking about how to produce and promote it than anyone else. I think the joy I had in planning while working at publishing houses for more than 20 years made it possible for me to put all my energy into planning and publishing without fear when I started my own business.

 

I Recommend Writing To You, Hurt in Your Heart, and How to Record My Mind - Every Day, Every Moment were published together as graedobom’s first books. While the former is a writing guide, the latter is more of a hands-on book with more specific guidance. It seems to be unique in that it’s not just about “writing” but “writing that heals.” Is there a particular reason why you chose to publish your first books on “writing that heals”? What is the importance of such writing?

 

 

Well, I don’t think there was a specific reason - it was pure luck. The time when Park Mi-Ra finished her manuscript coincided with the time when I started my business, and yes, I have always been interested in books on writing. The how-to handbook on writing, How to Record My Mind - Every Day, Every Moment, came out 13 years after Park Mi-Ra released Writing that Heals Your Mind in 2008, a guide to writing. It is significant in that Park brought together in one book the therapeutic writing methods she has been studying and practicing for over 30 years as a psychotherapist, mindfulness columnist, and guide to healing writing. I felt that it represented the character and direction of what I wanted graedobom to be, a book that helps you live an enriched life through inner growth. I wanted to remind myself of that, so when I published How to Record My Mind - Every Day, Every Moment, I also revised the book Writing that Heals Your Mind and published it simultaneously under the title I Recommend Writing To You, Hurt in Your Heart.
As I mentioned earlier, I have always been interested in books on writing. I would always find and read books on the subject. However, ironically, I was very afraid of writing. Then, one day, I came across a book titled Writing that Heals Your Mind by Park Mi-Ra. My heart sank when I read it, because it was different from the traditional writing techniques. The writer explains that writing contains all the different ways to heal the mind: expressing yourself, distancing yourself, confronting, clarifying, sharing, loving, letting it go, and accepting. She says that when you pour out your pain onto a piece of paper, the pain thins out, and you can uncover the clues to the issues that were shrouded in fog. In other words, she says that therapeutic writing is a process of dealing with and healing inner wounds through the expression and understanding of various emotions.

 

 

And these are what constitute the core of therapeutic writing.

 

When we look at your published works, covers that feel like artworks catch our eye. Every publisher puts a lot of effort into the cover, which can be seen as the face of the book, but graedobom’s touch seems to be exceptional. How do you decide on a cover design that draws the reader’s attention?

 

Thanks for saying that. I feel very happy that you pointed out something that I have been very committed to. As I mentioned earlier, the theme of the books published by graedobom boils down to “humanness” and “heart.” When I ask a designer to design a cover, I tend to ask them not to deviate too far from the warm and sunny vibe. Since the name “graedobom” also means the season of spring, I focus on warmth and harmony rather than something striking and unique.
To be specific, when I request a cover design, I ask for all of them to have a different feeling. For example, I might ask for one to be title-centric, another to be illustrated or pictorial, and another to make use of the surface. Then I decide on one of those directions from the samples, and evolve from there. I have endless discussions with the designer, playing around with colors, and changing the position of the title, until I get the result that I’m satisfied with. Fortunately, the designers I work with are all very open to communication and have really good senses.
While checking readers’ reactions is important when making the final decision on the cover, I tend to include a lot of my own opinions as a planner because graedobom is still in its infancy, and it’s important to do your best to convey the intention of the books. That way, when the book comes out, I won’t have any regrets, won’t blame others, and can take it as an opportunity to improve. Perhaps this is something that only a one-man publishing house can do.

 

 

Graedobom’s books can be broadly categorized as humanities/liberal arts and non-fiction. Is there a reason why you focus on these areas, and do you have any plans to expand out into fiction or science books to broaden your audience?

 

I think it’s because it’s what I’m most interested in and what I’m good at. When you work on a topic for a long time, planning, you grow the sense to know the extent to which the book will not fail. I think I get some kind of data like, “This is a topic for a print run,” or “This is a topic for three or more print runs.” For me, that was the case with humanities/liberal arts. (But why don’t I have a sense for bestsellers? (Laughs)) In contrast, I publish non-fiction purely because I like it. However, as I work on it, I realize that non-fiction is the most trendy and challenging genre. The major readership is mostly people in their 20s and 30s, and I don’t feel like I’m following their tastes enough. I introspect to myself that maybe it’s because I’m getting older and my tastes are still set in the past. I think I need to make books that can communicate with readers of my age, even if the audience is smaller - I think I will start by looking around me.
On top of readership, I often get the advice that I should do “literature” to grow the size of the company. Perhaps it is because Korean literature is being loved globally, and its scalability to expand into movies and dramas is unlimited. I understand that, but with my lack of discernment, the chances of choosing a good work are very low. The same goes for science books. As a one-man publisher, I barely have enough time to do what I do best. There are so many other things to do besides making books. Once the company gets a little more stable, maybe then I will bring in an editor with an interest in literature or science. I hope that day comes soon.

 

 

If you are doing what you love and making a difference in someone’s life, that’s enough.

 

 

The common thing about graedobom’s books is that while they cover a wide range of topics - human rights, psychology, money, conversation, music, and more - they all leave you with a sense of comfort and empathy that is, “It’s okay.” What is the message you want to convey to readers through your books?

 

That you are not alone. As we live our lives, there are times when we experience challenges or feel hurt. At times like these, if someone can comfort us and empathize with us, it can ease our minds and console us. Also, understanding and empathizing with others’ experiences connects us and gives us a sense of solidarity. It brings us closer and makes us respect each other. If graedobom’s books can be that guide, I would like nothing more.

 

It also seems to be characteristic that most of the books published by graedobom are by Korean writers. Is there a particular reason for primarily publishing books by Korean writers?

 

Oh, yes, graedobom has published 18 titles as of May, and 17 of them are by Korean writers. This is because of one reason - I think there are many great writers in Korea. Plus, the percentage of first-time writers is high at graedobom. I wanted to experience something I couldn’t do in the conventional publishing system by starting a business. I wanted to have fun working with writers as I plan, guide them in their writing, and root for them until the end - without the pressure of publishing, without the pressure of sales.
Writers often don’t recognize their own strengths, and I have seen firsthand that when someone points them out and gives them direction, they can be very explosive. It does take some time and there’s much to pay attention to, but if I guide them right, the results are more than I could have ever imagined. And as we work to perfect the manuscript, we develop a sense of camaraderie and promise to do the next book together. I am happiest when writers say to me, and I tell them, “This is all thanks to you.” There’s nothing more beautiful than the relationship between a writer and a publisher growing together.

 

Could you please introduce to our international readers a book of yours that best characterizes graedobom?

 

I think it’s graedobom’s first books - I Recommend Writing To You, Hurt in Your Heart, and How to Record My Mind - Every Day, Every Moment, but since I mentioned them above, I shall mention other books here.

 

 

The first book I’d like to introduce is A Museum Where People Live. This is the first liberal arts book on human rights by Park Min-Kyung, who has worked for the National Human Rights Commission of Korea for more than 15 years as an investigator, administrator, and human rights education manager. She explains the “basic rights of human beings” that she has seen, heard, and felt on the ground at the Commission in an easy and intriguing fashion through the medium of “paintings.” The book carefully highlights the basic rights that should be respected and protected in our society by discovering the main themes of human rights in the works of Pablo Picasso, Eugène Delacroix, and Vincent van Gogh, who are familiar to the public, as well as lesser-known artists at home and abroad, as well as by reading the history, concepts, and events related to human rights.
This book explains the key concepts of human rights in 5 categories: women, labor, discrimination and hatred, the state, and dignity. It tells the story of how women face great difficulties in a world where the glass ceiling still exists, how the workplaces where they labor for a living have become places where lives are taken, how discrimination develops into hatred and how hatred causes tragedy, how many human rights abuses have been committed by the state, and finally, why human dignity must be respected, in an engaging voice along with the artists’ masterpieces.
The book recently went viral on Social Media, after former President Moon Jae-In posted a recommendation saying, “This is the best liberal arts book on human rights that I have ever read.”

 

 

The next book I would like to introduce is Life Asked Me How I’m Doing. It is by Kim Kyung-Jip, a practicing humanist who has been emphasizing the power of introspection while exploring the other side of society. The book talks about wisdom over knowledge, happiness over success, and the joy of sharing over the joy of having more. The book contains stories of people whose warm hearts and thoughtfulness give comfort and strength to others with their very presence, people who practice sharing within their own boundaries though modestly, and people who change the social structure and stand in solidarity with it. As you immerse yourself in the stories and turn the pages, you will experience moments where hearts are linked and minds meet. The writer continuously asks questions with his insight as a humanist and delivers his message through condensed sentences. You will be able to find the answers to how we should live in this demanding modern world.

 

 

The last book I’d like to introduce is A Lesson on Self-Esteem, which was translated and published in Taiwan. The writer, a psychiatrist, wrote this book to encourage those who suffered from lookism like the writer herself, and to help recover self-esteem. In addition to detailed descriptions of the emotional and psychological hardships she faced with her alopecia, which started when she was a student, this book thoroughly explores the theoretical and practical knowledge of appearance psychology, body image, neuroaesthetics, and psychodermatology that she delved into to restore her self-esteem. In short, it is the culmination of her medical and psychological research that began with her appearance complexes as well as the psychological tools she experienced and saw effective in restoring her self-esteem.
The writer provides an in-depth explanation to readers who frown at their reflection in the mirror and nibble at their self-esteem, explaining why we feel stressed about our appearance and how it affects our sense of identity, through sociocultural, psychological characteristics, as well as relationship-based experiences. The book also suggests 24 solutions to psychological recovery to give practical help to anyone who is struggling with low self-esteem about their appearance, intensifying the sense of inferiority, and is considering plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures. It is characterized by its easy and interesting explanation of psychological laws proven by experience and experimentation, along with specific examples, instead of obvious advice.

 

We look forward to graedobom’s next steps in comforting the weary hearts by uplifting them and bringing them joy. Can you share with us any plans for new books or future goals?

 

There are still many books to be released. From a book that adds wisdom to “living alone,” to letters exchanged between two neighborhood bookstores, to a city of human rights where everyone can live in freedom and fairness, to an etymology dictionary that adds a pinch of cultured knowledge, and to the language of music that makes our lives beautiful. I hope my books can steal the hearts of readers as books that make a small difference in someone’s life, and books with a soulful physicality.
But, that doesn’t mean I have a specific goal of how many books I’m going to publish, how much sales I’m going to make, or what kind of publisher I’m going to be. I prefer to live a spontaneous life. If I do what I love and can make someone’s life better, that’s enough for me. The publishing industry in the future will change in a more diverse and innovative form anyway, and the traditional grammar of success won’t work. I believe that if I keep on doing things that make graedobom’s colors stronger, connect with readers, and contribute to society, something good will happen one day. And, if I could, I’d like to create a space for graedobom and have more time to meet with readers. I hope to discover potential writers who want to make their voices heard in the world and be there to support them.

 

 

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