Jeju-born writer revisits island’s tragedy in epic novel ‘Oh, Jejudo’

Jeju-born writer Hyun Ki-young said he penned his three-volume novel, “Oh, Jejudo,” as an homage to the spirits of the April 3 Incident. On April 3, 1948, when Hyun was 6 years old, Jeju islanders began protesting against US military-led rule after Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule (1910-1945). The then-government distorted the uprising as a communist riot and brutally massacred an estimated 30,000 civilians, roughly 10 percent of the island's population, i

July 20, 2023

Popular web novel ‘Under the Oak Tree’ to be published in English by Penguin

The popular web novel “Under the Oak Tree” by Kim Su-ji is set to make its official debut in print in English, announced the Ridi Corp. on Tuesday. The digital content platform company has signed worldwide English publishing rights of the web novel and webtoon with Penguin Random House. The first volume of the English version is scheduled to hit bookshelves in the second half of 2024, followed by the release of e-books and audiobooks. When asked about the translator and the potential

July 19, 2023

4 out of 10 translated books in Korea were Japanese last year: report

The number of books translated and published into Korean for local readers decreased last year, but Japanese titles maintained their popularity, data from the Korean Publishers Association showed on Wednesday. According to the KPA's annual "Korean Publication Yearbook," the number of foreign books translated and published in Korean for the domestic market last year was 10,472, a decrease of 14.2 percent compared to the previous year's total of 12,210. Out of 10,472 translated

July 19, 2023

[Herald Interview] French philosopher urges attention to decline of rational thinking

Much like how global warming gradually alters the climate over time, and war and terrorism stem from a series of political incidents in the competition for power, the prominent social challenges we encounter today are results of "silent transformations." So says French philosopher Francois Jullien, who used the concept as the title of his book. In "The Silent Transformations," originally published in French in 2009 and recently translated into Korean, the French scholar explo

July 18, 2023

Iconic cartoonist’s comics to be recreated with AI technology

Local creative content company Jaedam Media Corp. is scheduled to showcase a series of artificial intelligence-generated comics in December. Since October last year, the company has collaborated with renowned cartoonist and webtoon creator Lee Hyun-se, training AI software on more than 4,000 of Lee's comics, including some of the artist's most beloved comic projects, “Untouchables” (1986), “Armageddon” (1988), “Mythology of the Heavens” (1997) and mo

July 17, 2023

[New in Korean] 'Hush' author returns with political novel, set to pen script for TV adaptation

"Jeong Chi-in: The Politician" (working title) By Jeong Jin-young Annapurna Publishing Novelist Jeong Jin-young has chosen the National Assembly as the setting for the final work in his trilogy dealing with organizations. Following “Silent Warning” (direct translation 2018) and “Jenga” (direct translation 2020), the final part of the trilogy explores the realm of politics, specifically focusing on lawmakers. The story follows a man named Jeong Chi-in, whose name

July 14, 2023

LTI Korea to hold Korean literature event in Los Angeles

The Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced Thursday it is hosting a Korean literary event called "Hangul Literature Beyond Borders" on Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles. The event aims to facilitate the creation of Korean diaspora literature and strengthen the network of global Korean literary communities, according to the institute, an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The event will bring together 21 organizations and 37 publishers and editors

July 13, 2023

WWW 2023 looks for next big web novels

World Wide Web Novels is on the hunt for the next big web novels through a competition running through Aug. 31. Organized by local IT firm Thingsflow, WWW 2023 aims to discover new talents that can lead the Korean creative content industry and promote the web novel-genre that has been growing rapidly in recent years. Many of the web novels, or novels published online, have been adapted as TV dramas and films. JTBC's "Reborn Rich" (2022), starring heartthrob Song Joong-ki, was orig

July 12, 2023

[Herald Interview] Shin Kyung-sook on the art of saying farewell

On a scorching summer day in June, The Korea Herald met award-winning South Korean author Shin Kyung-sook at a cafe nestled in the foothills of Bukhansan in Seoul. In such a place brimming with vitality, she spoke about farewells and the art of saying goodbye. “In your twenties and thirties, there are countless opportunities to make new friends,” said Shin. “Of course, that still happens. But lately, I find myself living in a time where goodbyes and separations have become more

July 12, 2023

Korean Literature Review Contest invites readers to submit book reviews

The Korean Literature Review Contest, hosted by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea), invites passionate readers from all around the world to share their reviews of Korean books. Review submissions in English, Chinese, Indonesian, Arabic or Spanish are being received from Monday until Sept. 30. The annual contest which began in 2021 is open to non-Korean nationals aged 14 and above. Participants are encouraged to review the five selected books via written book reports, drawi

July 10, 2023

[Herald Interview] ‘Beasts of a Little Land’ author Juhea Kim on love, nature and upcoming screen adaptations

Korean American author Juhea Kim’s creative journey is taking an exciting turn as she expands her passion into the film industry, with both her short story “Biodome” and debut novel “Beasts of a Little Land” set for screen adaptations. Kim’s 2021 short story “Biodome,” published in the triennial literary magazine ZYZZYVA, is slated to be adapted into a film. Set in futuristic Seoul, the dystopian sci-fi romance centers around an engineer named Park

July 9, 2023

[New in Korean] Kim Bo-young spends 23 years completing 'Tales of Origin of Species' trilogy

"Tales of the Origin of Species" By Kim Bo-young Arzak Livres One of the pioneers of science fiction in Korea, Kim Bo-young has now completed her three-part series, “Tales of the Origin of Species,” after 23 years. Her previous collection “On the Origin of Species and Other Stories,” which includes the first two stories of “Tales of the Origin of Species,” became the first Korean science fiction novel to be longlisted for National Book Award in Trans

July 8, 2023

[New in Korean] Chilling reality overlaps with horror in Bora Chung's stories

"The Midnight Timetable" By Bora Chung Purplerain International Booker Prize shortlisted author Bora Chung of "Cursed Bunny" has returned with a new anthology titled "The Midnight Timetable," consisting of seven interconnected stories. Narrated by “I” who works the night shift in a mysterious laboratory, the stories revolve around her colleagues and the strange experiences they encounter during their night shifts. The security guards follow a night p

July 7, 2023

[New in Korean] 'A tender heart will save us countless times'

"The Radiant Greetings" By Baik Sou-linne Munhakdongne Publishing A girl named Hae-mi had to lie “sincerely” to comfort her parents and younger sister after her family lost her older sister in a tragic gas explosion. Following her mother’s decision to emigrate, Hae-mi arrives in a German city and starts rebuilding her life with the help of her aunt, who was one of the many Korean nurses dispatched to Germany during the 1960s and '70s. Baek Sou-linne’s first

July 7, 2023

Graphic novel 'Power On!' addresses issues of equity, ethics in computer science

Can technology be racist or sexist? Yes, says Jean J. Ryoo, an education researcher based at the University of California, Los Angeles. In an effort to address the pressing issues of equity, ethics and underrepresentation in computer science, Ryoo teamed up with fellow researcher Jane Margolis and artist Charis JB to publish the graphic novel "Power On!" Initially published in the US in 2022, the graphic novel has been translated into Korean by Kim Hyo-won and published here last week

July 4, 2023

‘White Badge’ novelist, translator Ahn Jung-hyo dies at 82

Novelist and translator Ahn Jung-hyo, who wrote novels including “White Badge” based on his experiences in the Vietnam War, died Saturday at the age of 82. The deceased had been battling cancer, according to his family. Born in Seoul in 1941, Ahn graduated from Sogang University with a degree in English literature. He worked as a journalist for The Korea Herald in 1964 and later The Korea Times. He was the editorial director for the Korean division of Encyclopedia Britannica from 197

July 3, 2023

Korean dystopian thriller 'Snowglobe' to be published in English in February

“Snowglobe,” the first book in a two-part dystopian series by South Korean author Park So-young, is set to be published worldwide in English in February 2024, announced Random House Publishing on Friday. Park’s debut novel, originally published in Korea in 2020 by Changbi Publishers, has been translated into English by US-based translator Joungmin Lee Comfort. The translated book is scheduled for publication by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.

June 30, 2023

[New in Korean] Lee Geum-yi looks into reality through ‘Deleted Scenes’

"Deleted Scenes" By Lee Geum-yi Munhakdongne Publishing Social media has deeply embedded itself into people’s lives. We find ourselves selecting and editing the best photos, anxiously refreshing our account pages while waiting for comments and likes. The trend is apparently influencing teens as they grow up. Children’s literature writer Lee Geum-yi is back with a new full-length young adult novel, “Deleted Scenes,” that delves into the world of social media with

June 30, 2023

[Herald Interview] Korea's favorite French writer Bernard Werber says he has achieved his goal as a writer

French science fiction writer Bernard Werber has returned to Korea for the ninth time, marking the 30th anniversary of the first publication of the Korean translation of his debut novel, “Empire of the Ants.” “Visiting Korea has always been a pleasure,” said Werber during a press conference held in Seoul on Wednesday. “I think Korean readers are very future-oriented, and the success of my books is thanks to them.” The French writer expressed his gratitude to K

June 29, 2023

[Reading Korea Through Books] SayNo's advice inspires with candid, realistic message

SayNo, a won billionaire whose real name is unknown to the public, has seen his book, "The Lessons of SayNo," (translated) top the Yes24 and Kyobo Book Center charts for a whopping 15 weeks since its release on March 2. There are several interesting facts to note about this book: Although it was published earlier this year, much of its contents are nearly two decades old. The author is not receiving any payment or royalties for the book. The book is 734-pages long but costs only 7,20

June 29, 2023