As people are living longer these days and as interest in health increases, the research on sea salt became active, making it easy to access diverse results and findings. However, any research or publication on salt farms, the spaces that produce the sea salt, is nowhere to be found. In this respect, Kwak says “The reason why the sea salt in Korea can be the best in the world is that it is produced in a salt farm with living mudflats.” When the understanding of Korea’s salt farm is preceded via this book, not only Korean readers but also readers around the world will be able to recognize the significance of Korea’s sea salt.

Min-sun Kwak’s photo essay called 〈Korea’s Salt Farm〉 includes 150 selected photos among more than 150,000 salt farms taken over a decade. The book describes the spatial construction of the salt farm, the role of the salt farm and the workers, which are dependent on the weather conditions and seasons. Kwak also explains the functions of tools used in the salt farms, the characteristics and the value of sea salt in South Korea, and the narration of the process in which the salt is manufactured. Moreover, the book expresses its respect for nature, such as the sun, ocean, mudflats, and wind, which becomes the essential material to make the sea salt; it also elaborates on the ecological environment of salt farms in Korea where it produces the finest quality of salt in the world. Lastly, it contains longing for deceased parents, spatiality and time, the longing for the farewell of relationships and objects, and a sense of fear and mission to succeed in the family business. 〈Korea’s Salt Farm〉 is published simultaneously in three languages, Korean, English, and Chinese, and introduces the precious value of salt farms and sea salt in Korea to the globe.

The book seems to only deal with the specific knowledge of the salt farms and sea salt, however, it also enables readers to find themselves assimilated into nature as they walk along with the bank roads shown in the book. With a beautiful landscape, readers would experience longing for their parents and hometowns, and also gain valuable enlightenment about their daily lives and works. As such, 〈Korea’s Salt Farm〉 has interpreted any knowledge that may turn out to be difficult in a poetic and humanistic way, along with pictures of the salt farms.

Most readers, who are not directly related to salt farms, may think this book contains a difficult and outdated topic and is easy to pass by. However, the moment they encounter this book, the readers will fall in love with essays and photographs, completely different from the preconceptions the subject depicts. They will experience the calm impression of nature, indeed.

This book is edited with consideration so that anyone can easily feel and understand the salt farms in Korea through photographs and writings. There are no books written with such affection to convey the value of salt farms of Korea. Also, 〈Korea’s Salt Farm〉 is the only book in the world that has been published with having an emotional approach to salt farms and sea salt.

After reading this book, everyone will have as much information as experts about salt farms and sea salt. In addition, the readers will find the precious value of salt farms and sea salt of Korea.

〈Korea’s Salt Farm〉 hopes the precious values and dreams of Korea’s salt farms approach the readers, and enable them to have the sun, ocean, and wind somewhere in their minds.