A century-old book by Aleksandrs Vinters reborn: the first bridge between Latvian and Korean cultures

On 30 October 2025, in Seoul, the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the Republic of Korea presented a reissue of a book, “A Word About Life and People in Korea” by Aleksandrs Vinters. The book, initially published in Jelgava in 1899, was the first work for general audience about Korea in Latvian.

The event was opened by the Ambassador of Latvia to the Republic of Korea, Jānis Bērziņš, and by the representative of the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Latvia in the Republic of Korea, the project supporter’s executive director, Iljun Kim. “By re-publishing this 1899 work, we are not only paying tribute to the author who built the first bridge between Latvian and Korean cultures long before globalization, but also reaffirming our commitment to fostering better mutual understanding, respect, and cultural exchange,” the ambassador emphasized in his address to attendees.

The original book was published in a historical period when Latvians began creating their national identity on the path toward establishing their own state; therefore, this publication in the Latvian language had an invaluable cultural and historical significance. Aleksandrs Vinters contributed to how Latvians perceived geography, discoveries, and the cultures of other nations if compared to Latvian national identity. More than a century later, this work still retains an important role as a lasting snapshot of the historical connections between the Latvian and Korean peoples long before the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1991.

In his book, Vinters depicts political events in Korea at that time, the traditions of the Korean royal family, etiquette and family life in the final period of the Joseon dynasty. The book was originally printed in the old Latvian orthography, while in the repeated edition the text has been adapted to the norms of the modern Latvian language, making it easily understandable to the contemporary reader, while at the same time preserving historical authenticity. The publication also includes comments by Latvian historians Dr. hist. Ēriks Jēkabsons and Mg. soc. sc. Nadīna Rode, providing a historical context, as well as notes by the Korean translator Choi Soyeon, explaining concepts and events in Korean history. The book gains an added value due to its translation into Korean and English, allowing Aleksandrs Vinters’ work to reach new generations of readers in various cultural spaces.

The reissue of this work is especially significant in 2025, when we celebrate the 500th anniversary of Latvian book publishing.

The presentation of the book took place in Mugyewon, a traditional Korean cultural space, in Seoul. The event was attended by members of Korean media, historical and literary community.

The author of the book, Aleksandrs Vinters (1866–1918?), was an officer in the Russian Imperial Army, a publicist, and a participant in the Latvian national movement. He served during a time when the Russian Empire was actively engaged in the struggle with the Japanese Empire for dominance in the Far East. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Vinters witnessed the struggle for influence in China and the surrounding regions—particularly in Korea and the Far East—and was, in fact, situated at the very epicenter of that struggle.

The project was implemented by the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the Republic of Korea in cooperation with the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia and the Korean Seoul Selection publishers. Special thanks go to the Honorary Consul General of Latvia in the Republic of Korea, Kyung-hoon Kwon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, and the National Library of Latvia for their support in the creation of this publication.

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