Description A legendary educational comic series that has connected with 18 million readers across generations — now returning with its 5th revised and expanded edition, evolving even in the age of AI! With the theme "Beyond Eras, Beyond Generations," this revised edition of Meonnara Iutnara has been released. More than 40 years have passed since the series began serialization in a children's newspaper in 1981. The early readers have since become parents and pillars of our society, while the next generation has become new readers — truly transcending both eras and generations. In the early volumes, the series' perspective was filled with admiration and envy toward Europe, focusing on what our country lacked. However, Korea has developed at a remarkable pace, growing into a wonderful nation standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's advanced countries. As Korea's global standing has risen, our perspective on the world has also 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 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), Turkey (2018), Russia (2020), and India (2022), Meonnara Iutnara has steadily completed its map of the world — and now returns once again, "Beyond Eras, Beyond Generations," with its 5th revised and expanded edition. Over the roughly 40 years during which Professor Lee Won-bok has guided readers through about 60 "far" countries that became "neighboring" ones, Korea itself has truly grown to stand alongside the advanced nations the series originally covered. Through numerous revisions, Meonnara Iutnara has continually strived to view the world with a broader and more objective perspective, one befitting Korea's rising global status. Under the principle that "history is always being rewritten," the series has been revised roughly every five years since its first publication, continuously updated to keep pace with a changing world. Thanks to its vivid portrayal of world history as it unfolds, the legendary educational comic remains as relevant today as ever, even as centuries turn and generations change. This latest release, "Meonnara Iutnara: Beyond Eras, Beyond Generations," is no exception — reflecting recent shifts in global affairs and the international order, and shedding light on newly emerging historical and cultural developments. Most notably, the author has added a special appendix featuring carefully curated "highlights" for each country, allowing readers to clearly review the key points for each nation and region. From a Frog in a Well to the Center of the World: 60 Countries, 40 Years — The Secret Behind Meonnara Iutnara's Enduring Popularity Meonnara Iutnara began in 1981 as a comic strip about six European countries, serialized in the Sonyeon Hankook Ilbo (a children's newspaper). The 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, Meonnara Iutnara helped spark the mindset of global citizenship in Korea, preparing the country for a new international era. It was truly a monumental work that expanded our once narrow, "frog-in-a-well" perspective onto the world stage. More than 40 years later, Meonnara Iutnara continues to be recommended by parents to their children and teachers to their students — read across eras and generations as the one-of-a-kind pioneer and gold standard of educational comics. What is the secret behind Meonnara Iutnara's enduring popularity, spanning nearly half a century? First, there is Professor Lee Won-bok, who pioneered the era of educational comics and continues to actively draw to this day. His connection to comics began during his years at Gyeonggi High School, when he took a part-time job copying foreign comics through a children's newspaper company. He went on to study architecture at Seoul National University before continuing his studies in Germany. During his decade 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 began teaching at university while also creating Meonnara Iutnara—