Teaching East Asia: Korea Teaching East Asia: Korea | Page 137

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Reviews of The Kite Fighters
“In a riveting narrative set in fifteenth-century Korea, two brothers discover a shared passion for
kites. Kee-sup can craft a kite unequaled in strength and beauty, but his younger brother, Young-
sup, can fly a kite as if he controlled the wind itself. Their combined skills attract the notice of
Korea’s young king, who chooses Young-sup to fly the royal kite in the New Year kite-flying
competition--an honor that is also an awesome responsibility. Although tradition decrees, and the
boys’ father insists, that the older brother represent the family, both brothers know that this time
the family’s honor is best left in Young-sup’s hands. This touching and suspenseful story, filled
with the authentic detail and flavor of traditional Korean kite fighting, brings a remarkable setting
vividly to life.”
“Set in Seoul, Korea, in 1473 , Kite Fighters depicts the relationship of two brothers in a tradi-
tion-bound family. Lee Young-sup is acutely aware of the difference in his status being a younger
brother, but he finds a true talent the first time he flies a kite. First-born son, Kee-sup, is under
pressure from his father, a rice merchant, to advance the family honor by becoming a court of-
ficial; he spends much of his time studying for the position, though it is not his true life goal.
Young-sup’s growing expertise in flying kites and Kee-sup’s craft in making them draw the
attention of the boy-king of Korea, modeled after King Songjong, and they become friends with
the king outside of the ancient protocol and secretly represent him for the kite-fighting compe-
tition during the New Year’s festival. It is the tension between traditional duties and individual
needs.”
Websites to support instruction on The Kite Fighters
Google: Drachen Foundation (An excellent resource for learning about kites from around the
world and how to order kite-making kits). The cost for Korean Fighter Kites is $12.50 for
materials for assembling ten kites)
More additional helpful information: Google
he histor of orean ites and
orean fi hter ites
www.korea.net will provide background on Korea and photographs.
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