Description A legendary educational comic series that has met 18 million readers across eras and generations — now evolving even in the AI age with its 5th revised and expanded edition! Emphasizing that it transcends "eras and generations," Meonara Iunnara (Faraway Countries, Neighboring Countries) returns with a revised and expanded edition. More than 40 years have passed since the series began serialization in a children's newspaper in 1981. The book's early readers have since become parents and pillars of our society, while the next generation has become its new readers — truly transcending both eras and generations. In the early volumes of the series, the perspective was filled with admiration and envy toward Europe, focusing on reflecting what our country lacked. However, Korea has developed at a truly remarkable pace, growing into a wonderful nation standing shoulder to shoulder with advanced countries. As Korea's global standing has risen, our perspective on the world has gradually broadened and diversified. I too have come to view the world more calmly and objectively. I believe this has been reflected in the book through multiple rounds of revision. — From "On Publishing the 2024 Revised and Expanded Edition" 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), Türkiye (2018), Russia (2020), and India (2022), Meonara Iunnara has steadily completed its map of the world. Now, "transcending eras and generations," it returns with its 5th revised and expanded edition. Over the roughly 40 years during which Professor Lee Won-bok has guided readers through about 60 "faraway" countries that became "neighboring" ones, Korea itself has genuinely grown into a nation standing alongside the advanced countries the series once featured. Through numerous revisions over the years, Meonara Iunnara has strived to view the world with a more diverse and objective perspective befitting Korea's rising global status. Under the principle that "history is always being rewritten," the series has been revised approximately every five years since its first publication, continuously updated and refined to keep pace with a changing world. Thanks to its vivid portrayal of living moments in world history, the legendary educational comic's reputation remains ever-current, regardless of the passing centuries and generations. This newly published edition of Meonara Iunnara: Transcending Eras and Generations is no exception — it reflects recent global affairs and the international order, shedding light on the meaning of newly emerging historical and cultural developments. Most notably, the author has added an appendix of country "highlights," carefully compiled over a long period, allowing readers to clearly review the key points of each nation and region. From a well in Korea to the center of the world — completing a world map of 60 countries over 40 years, what is the secret behind Meonara Iunnara's enduring popularity? Meonara Iunnara began in 1981 as a serialized feature on six European countries in the Sonyeon Hankook Ilbo (a children's newspaper). That material was compiled into a book (published by Koryowon) in 1987. At the time, overseas travel was still restricted and the internet was unimaginable. With its blend of information and entertainment, Meonara Iunnara helped plant the seeds of global citizenship in Korea, preparing readers for an era of globalization. Meonara Iunnara is truly a monumental work that expanded the once narrow, "well-frog" perspective of Koreans onto the world stage. More than 40 years later, Meonara Iunnara continues to be recommended by parents to their children and teachers to their students — read across eras and generations, it stands as the singular pioneer and definitive name in educational comics. What is the secret behind Meonara Iunnara's enduring popularity with readers for nearly half a century? First, there is Professor Lee Won-bok, who opened the era of educational comics and continues to actively draw them to this day. The author's connection to comics began when, as a student at Gyeonggi High School, he took a part-time job copying foreign comics arranged through a children's newspaper company. He went on to study architecture at Seoul National University before pursuing further studies in Germany. During his decade-plus stay abroad, he studied comics from around the world, worked as a freelance illustrator contributing comics and posters to West German newspapers, and even drew the cover for the 150th anniversary issue of the prestigious German newspaper Allgemeine Zeitung. After returning to Korea in 1984, Professor Lee Won-bok took up a position at a university while also beginning...