[Latest Read] Bora Chung on finding utopia amid dystopian worlds

Few voices resonate as uniquely as that of Bora Chung, whose gripping stories like the haunting narratives of “Cursed Bunny” captivate readers worldwide. With her genre-defying short story collection, translated by Anton Hur, Chung became a finalist for the UK International Booker Prize in 2022 and the US National Book Award in 2023. Chung once again plunges readers into her blend of horror and absurdity, sprinkled with dark humor in her second short story collection “Your Utop

May 14, 2024

[New in Korean] Bee expert solves mysterious murder in 1930s Korea

"The Yellow Lady" By Lee Alam Safehouse Inc. In the gloomy and turbulent period of the 1930s, Han Kyung-ae, also known as the "Yellow Lady," returns to Gyeongseong, the name for present-day Seoul during the Japanese colonial period. Benefiting from her affluent pro-Japanese family background, she traveled the globe and studied entomology in the US following her education at a Japanese medical school. In the US, she was regarded simply as "the Asian woman," and upon

May 12, 2024

[New in Korean] Million-selling Kim Ho-yeon returns with nostalgic novel

"My Don Quixote" By Kim Ho-yeon Namu Bench Novelist Kim Ho-yeon, known for his bestselling "The Second Chance Convenience Store" series (previously known as the "Uncanny Convenience Store"), which has sold a whopping 1.5 million copies, returns with “My Don Quixote." Inspired by Cervantes' "Don Quixote," the novel delves into the aspirations and pursuits of young individuals chasing their dreams, anchored in the backdrop of a bygone era. Th

May 11, 2024

[New in Korean] Aching first love in revamped coming-of-age novel 'Elsa's Ha-in'

"Elsa's Ha-in" By Kang Ji-young Jaeum & Moeum Publishing Author Kang Ji-young, best known for the novel "A Shop for Killers," which has been adapted into a Disney+ drama series of the same title starring Lee Dong-wook, revised and rewrote the ending of her 2013 coming-of-age novel "Elsa's Ha-in." "It was completely unplanned. After receiving a revision suggestion, I slowly reread the manuscript, and suddenly something came to mind, so I just wrote

May 11, 2024

Korean American author wins 2024 Pulitzer Prize for biography

A nonfiction book by a renowned Korean American author won this year's Pulitzer Prize in the biography category Monday, according to Columbia University, which administers the prestigious annual award. "Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom" by Ilyon Woo was announced as the winner of the prize. The book is based on the story of a young enslaved couple that made their escape together from Georgia to the free states of the North in 1848. Woo holds a BA

May 7, 2024

[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist

People are now living longer, well up to the age of 100. Many things have changed compared to 100 years ago, but the pursuit of happiness remains a constant thread. Rhee Kun-hoo was in his 70s and retired from a prestigious career in psychiatry when he took up writing. Born in 1935, the 88-year-old lived in a pastoral society in his youth, survived the Korean War (1950-1953), witnessed turbulent events in Korean history and even served time in prison for opposing the country’s totalitarian

May 4, 2024

[New in Korean] Time travel to retrieve lost items, relationships

"Lost Property Returns" By Kim Hye-jung Originals Books YA writer Kim Hye-jung returns with her first work for adult readers, "Lost Property Returns." The novel, which has been serialized on Millie's Library, one of South Korea's largest e-book subscription platforms, since November, received favorable reviews and was released as an e-book in January. It rose to the top of the platform's bestseller list just a month after its release. In response to readers

April 20, 2024

[New in Korean] In colonial Gyeongseong, young artists gather at Western-style cafe Kakadu

"Kakadu" By Park Seo-lyeon Anonbooks A Western-style cafe called Kakadu opens in the bustling heart of Gyeongseong, as present-day Seoul was called during the Japanese colonial era. The city is evolving with the echoes of the March 1st Movement still lingering in the air. The cafe is owned by filmmaker Lee Kyung-son, who experiences fleeting triumphs and frequent failures alongside his enigmatic cousin, Alice Hyun. Kakadu becomes a gathering place for young artists who discuss literatu

April 20, 2024

[New in Korean] Lee Seo-su's experience opening cafe reflected in her latest novel

"Ma-eun's Store" By Lee Seo-su Moonji Publishing Ma-eun is working hard, but is she happy? No, she cannot sleep soundly, afraid the store will go out of business. She smiles brightly at the customers, but is she happy? No, she is counting losses and skipping dinner. “Am I happy? Possibly not,” thinks Ma-eum, a 37-year-old woman who has just opened her cafe. When Ma-eum's mom asks why she chose to run a business among many options, Ma-eum answers she does not hav

April 20, 2024

Discover awarding-winning Korean literature at 'Springing to Life' exhibition

The Literature Translation Institute of Korea is currently hosting a book exhibition titled "Springing to Life," focusing on internationally acclaimed works of Korean literature, from Thursday to May 12 at the Starfield Library at Coex in southern Seoul. Featuring the works of 11 authors who have won international literary awards since 2019, the exhibition showcases 13 original Korean books and their 82 translated works into various languages. For example, Kim Young-ha's crime thr

April 19, 2024

Seoul Outdoor Library reopens with expansion to Cheonggyecheon

The Seoul Outdoor Library, an annual open-air event launched by the city library, has reopened on Thursdays after a winter break. This year, Cheonggyecheon in central Seoul has been added, joining Seoul Plaza and Gwanghwamun Plaza in offering outdoor reading experiences. The "Read at Seoul Plaza" event in front of City Hall will operate four times a week from Thursday to Sunday, while the "Gwanghwamun Book Yard" at Gwanghwamun Plaza will open three times a week from Friday to

April 19, 2024

Hong Se-hwa, author of 'I'm a Taxi Driver in Paris,' dies at 77

Hong Se-hwa, a journalist, a social activist, and the author of "I'm a Taxi Driver in Paris," died Thursday at the age of 77. He died at Wonjin Green Hospital in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, surrounded by family members. Hong had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in February of last year. Hong graduated from Seoul National University, majoring in political science and international relations. While working at a trading company's overseas office, Hong became associated with the South

April 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] International Booker-shortlisted Hwang Sok-yong says literary journey continues

One of the finalists for this year’s International Booker Prize, Hwang Sok-yong has vowed to continue until the end, asserting his commitment to the art of writing. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, a week after named to the International Booker shortlist with his novel “Mater 2-10” on April 10, the 81-year-old writer revealed his plan to write three to four more novels by the time he turns 90, in addition to completing his book project of completing a 50-vo

April 17, 2024

[Herald Interview] Andersen award-winning Lee Suzy chronicles her picture book journey in debut essay

For quite some time, celebrated picture book artist Lee Suzy has been writing on her blog as if it were a personal diary. However, when the blog platform shut down last year, all of her writing was at risk of disappearing into thin air. "We often believe records in the digital realm will be there forever, but that was not the case. I realized then that what I've been doing with my books was gathering those fleeting thoughts and words into tangible forms," said Lee. Her latest book

April 15, 2024

Hwang Sok-yong shortlisted for International Booker with intergenerational epic 'Mater 2-10'

South Korean literary giant Hwang Sok-yong's "Mater 2-10" has been shortlisted for the 2024 International Booker Prize, the organizers of the British literary awards announced Tuesday. "Mater 2-10," co-translated by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae, and published by Scribe Publications, is among the six books on the shortlist for one of the world's most prestigious literary awards. The five other titles shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2024 are: &ldqu

April 10, 2024

Hwang Sok-yong’s 'Mater 2-10' shortlisted for 2024 International Booker Prize

South Korean novelist Hwang Sok-yong's "Mater 2-10" has been shortlisted for the 2024 International Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, along with the Nobel Prize in literature and the French Goncourt Prize. The British prize was established in 2005 to honor an author and translator equally for a single work of fiction translated into English, selected from entries published in the UK or Ireland. The novel, co-translated by Sora Kim-Russell and

April 9, 2024

'A privilege beyond measure' author Lee Geum-yi's love for young readers endures for 40 years

Every grown-up has been through childhood and adolescence on their journey to adulthood. And the emotions experienced during these formative years are fundamentally universal, with only slight variations depending on where and when, believes writer Lee Geum-yi. As a towering figure in the country’s children’s literature scene, Lee’s narratives prove to extend far beyond times and places. In January, Lee made the shortlist in the writing category for the 2024 Hans Christian Ande

April 4, 2024

[Latest Read] Park So-young takes readers to ‘Snowglobe’ where privacy is new currency

Set in a dystopian world where fame and popularity have become the most crucial means of survival, the first installment of the gripping young adult duology “Snowglobe” by Park So-young recently hit bookshelves worldwide. The English edition translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort, and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, made the New York Times Young Adult bestseller list in the third week of March. The novel is slated for release in over 10 la

April 1, 2024

Korean-French collaboration brings modern Korean poetry to France

A collection of 100 representative works of modern Korean poetry has been translated and published in France through a collaboration between the Society of Korean Poets and the Society of French Poets (La Societe des Poetes Francais, SPF). Titled "Anthology of Contemporary Korean Poets" ("Anthologie des Poetes Coreens Contemporains" in French) the book includes works by 100 modern Korean poets such as Han Yong-un, Jeong Ji-yong, Baek Seok and Yun Dong-ju with translations by

March 30, 2024

[Off the Pages] New character shapes entirely different storyline in ‘My Name is Loh Ki-wan’

Recently released Netflix film “My Name is Loh Ki-wan,” starring Song Joong-ki, draws from Cho Hae-jin’s 2011 novel, “I Met Loh Ki-wan,” if only very loosely. The film diverges significantly from the novel in characterization and narrative to the extent that one could argue it tells a wholly distinct story. In the cinematic adaptation, Song plays the titular role of a North Korean refugee on a journey to find a new home in a foreign land where he does not speak the

March 27, 2024