By Honorary Reporter Seema Thomas from India

The Seoul International Book Fair from June 18-22 in Seoul featured programs like exhibitions, book signings and talks, and seminars.

Featuring 40 works in four categories, the event's Best Book of Korea contest gave its top design honor to Mountain 239, a compact-size guide on 239 mountains in Korea.

As a collaboration between design brand OIMU and hiking gear maker mt.d, this pocket-size guide has mini-compass and carabiner attached. Impressed by the captivating and functional design, I reached out to OIMU founder and CEO Shin Sohyun to learn more about the book.

The following are excerpts from an email interview from July 9-16 with Shin.

Briefly introduce yourself.
I am the founder, CEO and creative director of OIMU, a design studio based in Seoul. We seek to reinterpret Korean culture and everyday sentiments through thoughtful design. Our works range from publishing to product design and cultural projects that bridge the past and present.

What sparked the idea for Mountain 239?
The idea grew from a shared interest in documenting and celebrating the diverse mountains of Korea in a way that is both accessible and meaningful. The brand mt.d contributed its archive of summit stone images, while OIMU collected the names and background stories of each mountain. Based on this data, we designed and structured the book as a compact, information-focused publication.

How did you decide what to include for each mountain given the book's tiny size?
We prioritized essential details focused on name, height, location and a brief note on a mountain's origin or symbolism. We gathered consistent information from regional records, historical references and online databases. Due to space constraints, we chose details easy to understand at a glance but still conveyed each mountain's distinctive traits.

What does your book's award at the Seoul fair mean to you?
It didn't follow the conventional format or usage of a book, but was recognized for expanding or even disrupting that notion. I think the physicality of the object, along with its functional reimagining, resonated with the judges as a fresh and thoughtful interpretation of book design.

What other projects is your company pursuing?
OIMU has steadily published a series of mini books, and Mountain 239 is a part of that effort. We plan to continue exploring ways to showcase Korean culture and sentiment through this compact format.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.