Changes in the media environments and the role of book reading Kim, Jae-Yun Professor Dept. of Publishing Studies The rapid development of new or expanded information, communication and technology is revolutionizing our environment. Information, communi- cation and technology are not only expanding and complementing the domains of such established media as newspapers, broadcasting, publication, magazines, radios and movies, etc, but also integrating media and bringing new media into existence. Digital technology based on the Internet is changing our environment in a drastic fashion. Digital technology not only enables much knowledge and information to be churned out at break-neck speed, linking the world as one global entity and transforming one-way media environment into two-way media environment. The kinds and the amount of information are on the great increase in this age of digital. It is absolutely necessary to select, analyze, evaluate and utilize a huge amount of knowledge and information and to recreate and reproduce creative value. In other words, lack of adopting and creating power will cause us to go astray. We will get nowhere. Feeling and intuition are consolidated in this age of digital focusing on image media while logics and analyzing power are dwarfed. Image-centered media environment can deprive us of imagination and intelligent activities. Reading is effective not only in fostering adopting and creating abilities, but also in stimulating human imagination and highlighting intelligent activities. Even in this digital era, we cannot emphasize the role and importance of reading. Reading is a foundation for knowledge, information and culture regardless of the development of technology and the changes of the times. Its role will be expanded in the wake of the development of technology. Because reading serves as a source of adopting and creating abilities and imagination.