UNKNOWN

An Island, A History, Heroes, Villains, And Strong Women

It is a frenzied time of land and casino development on the small island of Cheju (now spelled Jeju), the ancient independent kingdom of T'amna. Just off the coast of the Korean mainland, it is now a tourist mecca. A new casino is planned at the center of Jeju City right next to a 500-year-old Choson Dynasty Pavilion - the Kwandokjon - National Treasure #322. Local activists with deep roots in Jeju's history launch a strategy to resist the development. A U.S. mainland Korean American reporter is sent to Jeju, where he learns of complex land court cases seeking to wrestle back control of Jeju's history and its national treasures. The near colonization of Korea in the 13th century by the Mongols, the shipwreck of Dutch traders in the 16th century, and the confiscation of property during the Japanese occupation impacted the protection of lands in modern times in the struggle to save Jeju's heritage. A former American Peace Corps Volunteer living in Amsterdam attempts to track down ancient Dutch documents. A DNA ancestry test upsets casino schemes. There are local gangs, shady criminal developers, and a surprising kidnapping. In the midst of this drama, two strong women leaders, a talented young female attorney, and an emerging Jeju activist join forces to confront those bent on destroying what makes Jeju-T'amna so unique to its residents. All set on the beautiful Island of Jeju, whose people have endured so much over the centuries, and who time and time again have stood up for their rights, and sent the message: Don't Mess With T'amna.

Jim Shon earned a degree in Music Education from Syracuse University in 1969 before serving 3 and a half years as a Peace Corps Volunteer on Jeju Island when he taught middle school English and conducted teacher workshops. Exerps from his journal were published.In 1973 he studied Korean history at the University of Hawaii. His unpublished thesis was: The Intuitive Arena: Decision Making in Premodern Korea.At the University of Hawaii he developed Hawaiian history for public high schools. He served in the Hawaii State Legislature for 12 years, where he was chair of the Committees on Health and Environment.During this time, he initiated a Sister State relationship between Jeju and Hawaii. In 1996 he was honored to become an Honorary Citizen of Jeju.In 2001 he received a PhD focusing on Aging and community services. He later was head of Hawaii Charter Schools, and Director of the Hawaii Education Policy Center. He authored several fiction books on Hawaii as well as nonfiction including Inside The Capitol, The Unfinished Health Agenda, and A Charter School Story. He visits Jeju regularly.