New academic books delve into South Korea's founding, global prosperity's cost, and erased histories

A new book by political scientist Kang Won-taek examines the profound significance of South Korea's Constituent Assembly, formed in May 1948. The assembly laid the legal and institutional groundwork for the nascent democratic republic, enacting not only the constitution but also establishing the framework for national institutions, local autonomy, and land reform during its two-year term. The analysis focuses on the assembly's role in "nation-building" and the "start of parliamentary politics." The book is published by 21st Century Books.

"The Price of Prosperity," by an unnamed American historian and translated by Chu Seon-young, argues that "the entire history of the Earth has been an environmental history." The book meticulously investigates the choices and costs associated with the prosperity enjoyed today, detailing how these decisions have reshaped the planet's ecology. While expansion and connection have driven development, they have also led to global destruction, yet the author suggests that solidarity offers a path toward solutions. It is published by Ibom.

"Mothers Who Are Not Mothers," by Kim Ho-soo, translated by Kang Jin-kyung and Kang Jin-young, sheds light on the often-overlooked history of birth mothers in South Korea. Since the nation's establishment over 70 years ago, more than 170,000 individuals have been adopted overseas, most categorized as "orphans." However, records concerning their birth mothers are scarce, rendering them "virtual mothers" whose existence has been erased. The book reconstructs the paradoxical history of mothers who become nurturing figures by relinquishing their children, exploring their experiences of deprivation. It is published by Geulhangari.

"Language and Metalanguage" compiles writings by Austrian author Karl Kraus (1874-1936), renowned for his sharp satire of the hypocrisy in contemporary media, law, and art, as well as his linguistic playfulness. His essays, published in his own magazine "Die Fackel," garnered attention and praise from luminaries like Walter Benjamin, Theodor Adorno, and Bertolt Brecht. This collection of aphorisms and essays is translated by Ahn Byung-ryul and published by Book in Gap.

"When You Hear the Language of the Universe" is written by Korean physicist Oh Jeong-geun, who is at the forefront of gravitational wave research. In February 2016, physicists confirmed the detection of gravitational waves, predicted by Albert Einstein a century earlier. A decade later, these waves are opening new frontiers in astrophysics. The book covers the theory of gravity waves to their cutting-edge applications, offering insights from a leading researcher in the field. It is published by Chaekgwa Baram.