VOL.78/2025.01

Ji-hyeon Lee's Pool

Beautiful picture books completed with readers' imagination Ji-hyeon Lee's Pool and Picture Book Publishing Iyagikot

 

2017.8.18

 

Pool is the first picture book that was created by author Ji-hyeon Lee. It is a book with detailed and beautiful illustrations that can easily be enjoyed by readers all around the world. Lee recently released after finding success among readers with her first publication that stirred the imaginations of those globally. KPIPA conducted the following interview with Chang-sung Kim, the president of Iyagikot which published the two books.

 

 

 

 

KPIPA

Hello, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Could you introduce to us and your company? 

Chang-sung Kim of Iyagikot

Iyagikot works to create new and beautiful picture books with writers who are true and have warm hearts so that all people, young and old, can understand each other through picture books and dream of a world where we can all share happiness and sadness in peace. Even if all other books in the world turn into e-books, I believe picture books will remain as they are in paper form so that people can tough and hug them, delivering warmth to readers.
We are a publishing company that aims to create picture books as art, rather than just books for children. We were founded in 2012 and published our first book in 2013. As of August 2017, we have released 22 picture books and aside from three of those, all of them have been books that were written and illustrated by Korean authors and artists. We received two special Ragazzi mentions in 2015 and 2017 for A Dandelion is a Dandelion andThe Tooth Hunter. In 2015 we were awarded a Korean literary prize for One Jujube in the children and teens category and Pool received a gold medal for original art from the U.S. Society of Illustrators then.Pool was Lee's first work and it is a picture book without words, enabling readers to create their own story as they go.

 

 

KPIPA

Pool has seen much success, gaining a contract from Chronicle Books in the U.S. as well as selling into Spain and other European countries. What has the overseas response been like? 

Kim

Upon seeing the book with its illustrations and no words, hence needing no translations, they enjoyed it. There were nodding their heads with no separate explanations provided. The book's detailed and beautiful, thought-provoking illustrations especially seemed to capture the minds of European illustrators. At the 2016 Bologna Children's Book Fair, many European illustrators and publishing industry officials came to our booth and purchased our entire stock of some 50 copies, despite the book being available in English and Italian.

KPIPA

We understand this book received an illustration award in 2015. Can you explain what kind of award it was and how Lee reacted when she heard the news?

Kim

Every year, the U.S. Society of Illustrators selects three best works from all children's books published in the United States, regardless of whether they were originally written in the United States or overseas. They open an exhibit in the fall and this exhibit is participated by many publishing industry officials and illustrators. It's a very big affair where artists and other people can mingle and make exchanges. Peter Sis, Quentin Blake and Kevin Hawkes are some of the globally renowned artists who have been recognized by this group. Among Korean artists, Hye-won Yeom received a prize for best new artist in 2010, Suzy Lee was awarded a gold medal in 2008 and Tae-eun Yoo also received a new artist award in 2007. Books by these three were all first published in the United States, however, and Pool is the only Korean work to have received an award for a translated book.
(* More details can be seen here in English: http://www.societyillustrators.org/programs/original-art)

Lee, when she heard the news, was very happy but at the same time worried her first work had received such a big prize, thinking she should be more careful and serious for her next book.

 

 

KPIPA

Lee also released The Door in March. This book also features no words. Will this book be released overseas as well?

Kim

The Door has already been agreed to be released in Greece and Italy. We are currently in talks with China and the United States (Chronicle) for possible contracts.

 

 

  

KPIPA

Can you tell us about some of your plans for the future? 

 

Kim

Just last week, we published If You Want to Eat Watermelon written by Chang-sung Kim and illustrated by Yuri. Yuri the illustrator has worked on books likeThe Pig Story and One Jujube. We are also planning to publish SEON-AH, which tells the story of a young woman living in this generation where it is difficult to find jobs and there is gender-hate towards women. SEON-AH has received the New Talent Winner at the World Illustration Awards 2017, handed out by the Association of Illustrators based in England.
(* More details can be seen here in English: http://www.theaoi.com/awards/winner-details.php?id=232)

---