(Seoul=Yonhap Infomax) Kyu Sun Lee—


"Artworks are considered refined, while economics is seen as cold numbers."


A new book, "Economics Through a Single Masterpiece" (published by Forche), set for release on the 26th, aims to break these stereotypes by unraveling complex economic principles through the lens of iconic artworks.


The author, Chi Hyung Kim, is an anchor at Korea Economic TV and host of MBC Radio's "Weekend News High Kick with Kim Chi Hyung." Known as an "economics news curator," Kim leverages 15 years of experience as a financial journalist and executive at an asset management firm to make economics accessible to readers who find the subject daunting, using art as a familiar medium.


Rather than relying on data-heavy graphs, the book uses masterpieces by renowned artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Edgar Degas as entry points to discuss economic concepts.


For example, Kim explains the origins of protectionism and tariff policies—emphasized by former U.S. President Donald Trump—through Monet's painting of a customs hut on the Normandy coast. The red high heels of Louis XIV serve as a gateway to the history of taxation and the logic behind luxury taxes, while Van Gogh's yellow streetlights illuminate the pros and cons of energy transition and industrialization.


The book goes beyond recounting economic history. It connects the hidden stories of capital, trade, and technology embedded in masterpieces to contemporary economic news.


Readers can better understand the Federal Reserve's dot plot for interest rate forecasts through Seurat's pointillism, and learn about speculative sentiment in financial markets from Degas' studio scenes. Economic terms such as CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), bank runs, and supply chain issues—often featured in daily news but difficult to grasp—are naturally explained through the stories behind the paintings.


"Economics Through a Single Masterpiece," Forche, 276 pages, 20,000 won ($15)


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kslee2@yna.co.kr


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