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

Picture book artist Baek Hee-na's magical worlds come to life

Tong Tong from "Magic Candies" jumps into the real world at acclaimed picture book artist Baek Hee-na's first solo exhibition, which opened Thursday at Seoul Arts Center's Hangaram Art Museum. Baek, who has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2020 -- the highest international honor in children's literature -- captivates readers with her imaginative storytelling and meticulously crafted visual worlds. "It feels like I have

June 25, 2023

[New in Korean] Navigating uncertainty, vulnerability and resilience of young individuals

"Young Geunhee's Parade" By Lee Seo-su EunHaengNaMu Publishing The cast of characters introduced in Lee Seo-su’s collection of short stories comprises vulnerable and anxious young individuals who embody the sense of uncertainty and fragility hanging over today's younger generation. The award-winning short story “Mi-jo’s Era" centers on Soo-young, an assistant writer working on adult webtoons. Struggling under immense stress, she develops alopecia, a con

June 24, 2023

[New in Korean] Bestselling author Kim Jin-myung explores enigmatic world of 'pungsu'

"Pungsu War" (working title) By Kim Jin-myung Eta Books Bestselling author Kim Jin-myung, known for the historical epic series “Goguryeo,” has turned his attention to the unique culture of “pungsu,” or geomancy. The novel encompasses the significance and value of pungsu, which cannot be fully explained using scientific language, while shedding light on forgotten historical events. Starting with the question of whether a future can exist without the past, the aut

June 24, 2023

[New in Korean] Zombie webtoon spinoff fills gap between 'Train to Busan,' 'Peninsula'

"Peninsula Prequel 631" Story by Yeon Sang-ho Munhakdongne Publishing South Korean zombie apocalypse film “Train to Busan” (2016), directed by Yeon Sang-ho and starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Don Lee and Choi Woo-shik, sold over 10 million cinema tickets in Korea, reigniting the zombie fad in the entertainment scene. Its sequel, “Peninsula” (2020), featuring Gang Dong-won and Lee Jung-hyun, also attracted much attention from zombie fans. In “Peninsula,&rdqu

June 23, 2023

Booker shortlisted Cheon Myeong-kwan of 'Whale' says 'failure' shaped his novel

South Korean novelist Cheon Myeong-kwan has gained a global reputation as a writer when his novel “Whale” was shortlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize, but he feels his career and literature have been driven by failures. His first full-length novel, originally published in 2004, winning the 10th Munhak Dongne New Writer Award, gained renewed attention and popularity in Korea after nearly 20 years. Set in a remote village, the adventure-satire novel depicts human desire, ac

June 18, 2023

Oh Jeong-hui removed as book fair ambassador after blacklist protests

The Korean Publishers Association, the organizer of the Seoul International Book Fair, said it has canceled novelist Oh Jeong-hui’s participation in the fair as a promotional ambassador. Oh had been selected as one of the six promotional ambassadors for the country’s biggest book event, which kicked off Wednesday at Coex in Gangnam-gu, southeastern Seoul. The novelist was scheduled to participate in a talk program with five other ambassadors on Sunday. On Wednesday, a group of cultur

June 15, 2023

Seoul International Book Fair brings together writers, publishers and readers

The Seoul International Book Fair, the country’s largest book event, kicked off Wednesday at Coex in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. A total of 530 companies, including 170 foreign companies from 36 countries, are participating in this year's book fair, the first since the complete lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. The number of participating companies nearly tripled compared to last year’s 195 companies from just 15 countries. “The power of culture is truly remarkable. And th

June 14, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'Life of Pi' author Yann Martel says fiction yields deeper understanding of society

Celebrated Canadian author Yann Martel, renowned for his acclaimed international bestseller, “Life of Pi,” which won the Man Booker Prize in 2002, among other prizes, emphasized the importance of reading novels and works of literature. Martel, who is visiting Korea for the first time, as one of the special guests at the Seoul International Book Fair, which runs Wednesday to Sunday, shared his insights, stories on his books, and hints about his upcoming novels. "It's not for

June 13, 2023

[Herald Interview] Singer-songwriter Lee Juck takes readers on poetic exploration of words

Singer-songwriter Lee Juck, is celebrated for his lyrics filled with introspective questions and comforting messages, and for his ability to weave profound, poetic narratives into his songs. Following the publication of his short story collection “Fingerprint Hunter” (2005), picture books “One Day” and “I Will Wait, You Wait for Me,” Lee has recently published his debut essay collection titled “Lee Juck’s Words” (working title), published by

June 12, 2023