Former President Moon Jae-in: 'Books Made Me Who I Am Today'

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in is set to release a new book, 'Moon Jae-in's Handwritten Notes,' on June 26. The book, published by Dolbegae, compiles passages that Moon has recommended and transcribed over time. It is designed with a weekly structure, allowing readers to engage in transcription for an entire year, and includes the author's recommendations and photographs from his Pyeongsan Book Cafe.

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Books made me who I am today. My values, life philosophy, historical perspective, and worldview were shaped through continuous reading since my middle school years.

In the book's preface, Moon reflects on the transformative power of reading throughout his life. "Books made me who I am today," he states, explaining that his values, life philosophy, historical perspective, and worldview were shaped through continuous reading since his middle school years. He also draws a parallel between personal development through books and the progress of South Korea, noting that the nation was enlightened through reading, and its low illiteracy rate fueled rapid social development.

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The South Korean nation was enlightened through reading, and its low illiteracy rate fueled rapid social development. The power of books led the democratization we enjoy today.

Moon further emphasizes the role of books in fostering democracy, asserting that "the power of books led the democratization we enjoy today." He believes that "books create better people and a better world," containing "comfort, hope, and the future." He powerfully concludes that "the power to illuminate the darkness of the world lies within books."

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Books create better people and a better world. Books contain comfort, hope, and the future. The power to illuminate the darkness of the world lies within books.

The former president highlights specific recommendations, including 'Conscience' (by Choi Jae-cheon and Team Choi Majon), which offered a valuable opportunity to contemplate both personal and societal conscience. He also references 'The President's Reading' (by Shin Dong-ho), where he quotes, "Fairness becomes justice only when it meets conscience. Giving the same chair to people of different heights is fair, but providing a higher chair to shorter people makes the world truly fair and warm."

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Fairness becomes justice only when it meets conscience. Giving the same chair to people of different heights is fair, but providing a higher chair to shorter people makes the world truly fair and warm.