Description: A legendary educational comic series that has crossed eras and generations to reach 18 million readers. Now evolving even in the AI era with the release of its 5th revised and enlarged edition! Emphasizing that it has gone "beyond eras, beyond generations," Meonara Iutnara presents its newly revised edition. More than 40 years have passed alongside this book since it began serialization in a children's newspaper in 1981. The series' early readers have since become parents and pillars of our society, while the next generation has become new readers—truly transcending both era and generation. In the early days 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 coolly and objectively. I believe this has been reflected in the book through numerous rounds of revision. —From "On Publishing the 2024 Revised Edition" Starting in 1987 with six European countries, and continuing through Japan (2000), Korea (2002), the United States (2004–2005), the Middle East (2007), China (2010–2011), Turkey (2018), Russia (2020), and India (2022), Meonara Iutnara—which has been completing a map of the world—now returns "beyond eras, beyond generations" with its 5th revised and enlarged 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 has truly grown into a nation standing shoulder to shoulder with the advanced countries covered in the series' early volumes. Through numerous revisions, Meonara Iutnara has strived to view the world from a more diverse and objective perspective, befitting Korea's rising global stature. Under the principle that "history is always being rewritten," the series has undergone revisions roughly every five years since its first edition, continually updating and supplementing its content to keep pace with a changing era. Because it has vividly captured the living scenes of world history, the legendary educational comic's reputation remains ever-current, regardless of changing centuries and generations. This newly published edition, Beyond Eras, Beyond Generations: Meonara Iutnara, 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 "Highlights" for each country, carefully compiled over a long period, allowing readers to clearly review the key points of each nation and region. From a Frog in a Well to the Center of the World: What Is the Secret Behind the Popularity of Meonara Iutnara, Which Has Completed a 60-Country World Map Over 40 Years? Meonara Iutnara began in 1981 as a series on six European countries serialized in the Sonyeon Hankook Ilbo (Boys' Korea Daily). Those installments were compiled into a book (published by Koryowon) in 1987. At the time, free overseas travel was still uncommon, and the internet was unimaginable. With its blend of information and entertainment, Meonara Iutnara helped plant the seeds of global citizenship in Korea in preparation for a globalized era. It is truly a monumental work that expanded our once narrow, "frog-in-a-well" perspective to a world stage. More than 40 years later, Meonara Iutnara 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 and learning comics. What is the secret behind the deep love readers have shown Meonara Iutnara for nearly half a century? First, there is Professor Lee Won-bok, who opened the era of educational comics and remains actively drawing comics to this day. The author's connection to comics began when, as a student at Gyeonggi High School, he took on a part-time job—arranged through a children's newspaper company—copying foreign comics. He went on to study architecture at Seoul National University before pursuing further studies in Germany. During his decade or so abroad, he immersed himself in comics from countries around the world, working as a freelancer 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 continuing to create Meonara Iutnara.