Hallyu celebrity math book to be published abroad

What happens when K-pop and K-drama team up with Korean education? A book on easy ways to learn math.

“Kim Jeong-hoon’s Math Essay” written by singer-turned-actor Kim Jeong-hoon is slated to be published in six places in Asia -- China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia -- in their respective native languages, Kim’s agency Mars Entertainment announced Tuesday. 

Major Chinese publisher Posts & Telecom Press has confirmed its initiative to publish 5,000 copies of the book nationwide, while a major Taiwanese publisher will be publishing 1,200 copies, the agency said in a press release.

Although rights to books, such as photo albums, have often been sold abroad, this is the first time the rights to a math essay is being exported, according to industry officials.

The book was published locally in January. A former student of dentistry at the prestigious Seoul National University before he dropped out to pursue a career in entertainment, Kim wrote the book to help people who are intimidated by numbers or have given up on math to learn the subject more easily, the agency said.

Kim is currently starring in the Chinese TV drama “God of War, Zhao Yun” on Hunan TV alongside Girls’ Generation member Yoona.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)