‘Xi Jinping book collection’ to arrive at SNU in early next year

“I will bring in 10,000 books and video materials containing information on China to support learning, study and academic research of your school”

In his special lecture at Seoul National University on July 4, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his intention to donate a total of 10,000 books, periodicals, and video materials to the school, which made headlines at the time. However, researchers on Chinese studies in Korea have been wondering, because the specific timing of delivery and list of the "Xi Jinping books" have not been made public yet.

Jeong Jong-ho, head of the international cooperation division at the university who coordinated Xi’s lecture at the time, said on Wednesday, “We have been informed by China that his book collection will be delivered to our school in February or March next year at the latest.”

The reason behind the delay is because donating a massive collection of books amounting to one to two shipping containers to a foreign university is unprecedented even in China and also because care is taken to select the books, given that they are gifts from President Xi. Jeong said, “There will be also a ceremony in which Chinese Ambassador to Korea Qiu Guohong will transfer the books to our school president Sung Nak-in around February next year.”

According to the school’s international cooperation division, the Chinese embassy in Seoul is reportedly having final review of the books. Chinese periodicals that are hard to acquire in Korea and Chinese language engineering books will likely be included in the collection without fail. “Study on Education Development,” “Agricultural Economy,” and “Strategy and Management” from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, which was temporarily suspended in 2004 after carrying research papers criticizing the North Korean regime, will likely be included in the list of donated books.

Research papers on "Northeast Historical Project of China," which caused controversy over history between Korea and China, are expected to be introduced en masse as well. This will be good news to Korean scholars who are studying logic by which to counter the project sought by Beijing. Additionally, a number of cultural anthropology books and videos, including materials on China`s ethnic minority groups that are unknown to Korea, will also be part of the collection, according to Seoul National University.

The university plans to display such a large volume of books and video materials at a special section on China in the school library. Park Ji-hyang, chief of the library, said, “Since the books are so valuable, we will keep them with care and respect, together with photos taken during his visit, and his message in the visitors’ book saying `seek truth and pursue light.`”