The story of a boy’s dramatic adventures on a sea trip
The Horizon School is a children’s novel that recounts the sea adventures that Jang Bog-o experiences after becoming a crew member on the Korina, a sailing ship. A 5th grader in primary school who lives in Wanjin, a port city on South Korea’s East Coast, the protagonist boards the Korina, thinking that he will sightsee the South Korean islands of Dokdo. Contrary to his expectations, however, the vessel comes to take part in a competition against Russian, Chinese, and Japanese ships in sailing around Dokdo and returning. In comparison with ships representing other countries, the Korina is small and old. Nevertheless, figures including the vessel’s captain Gang Cheol-seon, representative of the South Korean yachting team Gang Sak-gu, aged chief engineer, and Dutchman van Loom do their utmost to win the sailing contest. This is because of not only the pride of representing the nation but also the tremendous penalty that will be imposed on the defeated team. Dumbfounded at first, Bog-o, too, lends a hand in unfurling the heavy sails, scurries about running errands, and undergoes dangerous situations together, holding out against raging waves and rough winds in the pitch-dark night. The hero’s adventures come to a climax when he and the crew encounter a North Korean fishing boat distressed amidst a typhoon. The protagonist’s adventures at sea will be refreshing and moving to young readers who are trapped in their daily lives.