RAS Korea’s inimitable Shim
Shim Sang-yeol has worked behind the scenes at the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea for 45 years. He’s been a permanent fixture in the book sales room, at lectures and at book displays at other events. In the heyday of RAS Korea’s publishing efforts, he was our chief marketing and sales manager. He visited all the major hotels, bookstores and even U.S. military installations to ensure RAS publications were fully stocked. Though the market has changed dramatically, and RAS Korea no longer publishes books, Shim continues to help whenever needed.
With a degree in microbiology, Shim landed a job in Masan (in present-day Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province) with a brewing company in 1973, working full-time in the laboratory. His scientific training was essential to the fermentation process of the beers.
In the late 1970s, a major Korean brewer bought the small brewery, and Shim became redundant. He moved back to Seoul, where his cousin suggested he get into the printing and publishing business. She said her husband needed help publishing some books. So, he founded a company he still runs today, specializing in finding the appropriate printing company for clients. But he’s winding down the business as more publishers move to digital platforms. He’s OK with that since he is well into his 80s and thinks he might retire!
As the new publishing venture began, Shim’s life and work became entwined with Edward B. Adams, his cousin’s husband. Adams, born and raised in Korea, is the scion of a heritage missionary family in Daegu. He became an educator and eventually headed the U.S. military-dependent schools at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. Adams was a hobbyist photographer and continued to hone his skills from his teenage
years into adulthood. In 1970, he published “Through Gates of Seoul,” a large-format photo book in two volumes. Adams and his wife also started the Seoul International Tourist Publishing Company. Around this time, Adams launched Seoul International School, a private school which filled a need for the ever-increasing foreign community.
By 1979, Adams had a dozen or more books in the various stages of publishing preparation, which Shim then took to finalization, printing and distribution. RAS Korea sold a fair number of Adams’ growing bibliography. His large-format coffee-table books eventually included two volumes on Korea’s ceramic heritage, “Palaces of Seoul,” and eventually his bestselling tourist guide, “Korea Guide,” a full-color, slick-paper publication that included Adams’ photos and concise narrative of almost all the places in Korea that were open to the public. By the late 1980s, Shim was working full-time to handle Adams’ publications and working at the RAS book sales room, handling hundreds of book orders, packing and shipping worldwide and hauling book displays to all RAS Korea events. He also handled RAS Korea’s printing needs as it expanded its bibliography of historical reprints and scholarly monographs. He also helped with the massive membership base, printing and mailing monthly newsletters to almost 1,000 members who lived in Korea.
The world has changed a lot over the past 45 years. These days, there are no more printed newsletters. Except for its annual journal, no new print monographs have been published since 2004.
Though his duties are much reduced, Shim works faithfully at the office and attends each semi-monthly RAS Korea lecture. He helps with the logistics of setting up at the lecture venue and greets old and new friends. When asked to answer if he was ready for another 45 years of service, he did not hesitate. “Yes,” was his resounding response, if his good health continues.
Rev. Steven L. Shields is president of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea and a columnist for The Korea Times. Visit raskb.com for more information about the society.