[Weekender] What we are reading at Korea Herald

The weather has been nothing short of erratic in Seoul, swinging from torrential rain to searing heat. Amid such atmospheric unpredictability, there’s no better moment to retreat indoors with a stack of books. Here are some summer reading recommendations from The Korea Herald. Lee Joo-hee Managing editor, The Korea Herald "American Diplomacy" by George F. Kennan "American Diplomacy" by the late diplomat and historian George F. Kennan is a compilation of his lectures a

July 27, 2024

[Weekender] Summer reads: Suggestions for books to take with you on vacation or staycation

The weather has been nothing short of erratic in Seoul, swinging from torrential rain to searing heat. Amid such atmospheric unpredictability, there’s no better moment to retreat indoors with a stack of books. To help you do just that, The Korea Herald asked around for some summer reading recommendations. The responses of the following figures, arranged alphabetically, have been edited for length and clarity. Cha In-pyo Author/actor "Questions and Answers on Trees" by Hwang Kyu

July 27, 2024

[Latest Read] Invitation to 'Dallergut Dream Department Store,' where dreams are for sale

We all have that experience of waking up from a delightful dream, only to find it slipping away after a few hours, or suddenly waking up in a cold sweat from a nightmare. What if there was a store where dreams could be bought? Which would you buy? Enter a mysterious shopping village that you can only visit when asleep. And here at Dallergut Dream Department Store, dreams are for sale. Day and night, visitors shuffle in to purchase their latest adventures. Each floor specializes in a specific typ

July 16, 2024

[New in Korean] Collection explores society's ethical dilemmas

"International Between the Two" By Kim Ki-tae Munhakdongne Publishing Writer Kim Ki-tae, who debuted in 2022, has quickly garnered attention in the literary scene, earning many recognitions such as the Young Writer Award and the Yi Sang Literary Award. In a field dominated by female writers, Kim stands out as a rare male voice among those with less than a decade-long writing career. (All recipients of the 2023 and 2024 Young Writer Awards were female, except Kim in 2024.) His debut col

July 15, 2024

[New in Korean] 'See You Again' invites readers to heartwarming conversation over hearty meal

"See You Again" By Kim Ji-yun Clayhouse Embark on a heartwarming journey with a hearty meal through “See You Again,” a new novel by bestselling author Kim Ji-yun, centered around a small "dosirak" eatery in Hyehwa-dong. (Dosirak is a meal packed in a box for school, work or a picnic.) The story revolves around the owner, Madam Jeong Geum-nam, affectionately known as “Hyehwa-dong Grandma,” who brings together a group of people with her wholesome dosirak

July 14, 2024

[New in Korean] Bestselling author returns with hyperrealism to uncover office villains

"Office Pantry" By Lee Mi-ye Hanki Following the runaway bestselling healing fantasy, "DallerGut Dream Department Store," which sold over 1.5 million copies in Korea, author Lee Mi-ye returns with a new venture into hyperrealism with "Office Pantry." "Who do you dislike the most?" -- Is it the person who freezes coffee/cola in the communal ice tray, the one who takes all the instant coffee mix, the colleague who unplugs the microwave to charge his phone, t

July 13, 2024

Korean handwriting contest opens for foreign nationals

Kyobo Book Centre will hold the 10th Kyobo Handwriting Contest with a new category for foreign nationals this year, the largest bookstore chain in Korea announced Thursday. The contest aims to promote an appreciation for the beauty of Korean handwriting and provide an opportunity for foreign residents in Korea to experience Korean culture. The application period is open from Thursday to Sept. 1, and foreign nationals living in Korea are eligible to participate. Participants can choose a sentence

July 11, 2024

Anton Hur joins International Booker Prize panel as first Korean judge

Author and acclaimed translator Anton Hur has been appointed as a judge for the prestigious International Booker Prize for next year, becoming the first Korean to serve on the panel since the prize introduced its international category in 2005. Hur joined the panel of five judges, chaired by bestselling author Max Porter, according to the Booker Prize Foundation on Wednesday. The panel includes Caleb Femi, a prize-winning poet, director and photographer, Sana Goyal, a writer and publishing direc

July 11, 2024

Overseas interest in Korean literature grows with more awards, recognition

Korean literature continues to make notable strides on the global stage this year. Three Korean works have won international awards and five more have been nominated in the first half of 2024, according to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. Acclaimed poet Kim Hye-soon's collection "Phantom Pain Wings," translated by Don Mee Choi, won the poetry prize at the National Book Critics Circle Awards in the US in March. Kim was the first Korean to receive the prestigious award

July 9, 2024

Seoul book fair stands strong without government backing

The 2024 Seoul International Book Fair, the first edition to be held without government subsidies, wrapped up its five-day event with resounding success on June 30. “We deeply apologize to the readers who experienced inconveniences during the weekend due to the large crowds,” the Korean Publishers Association, the fair's organizer, posted on Instagram on the final day of the fair. According to the KPA, approximately 150,000 visitors attended the fair over its five-day run from J

July 4, 2024

Saudi Arabia introduces ancient Arabic poetry in Korean at SIBF

Classical masterpieces by renowned Arab poets from the pre-Islamic period have been translated into Korean in a new Saudi-published volume. As part of efforts to bridge Korean and Arab cultures, Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithra, unveiled the Korean edition of "The Mu'allaqat for Millennials” at the Seoul International Book Fair, where Saudi Arabia was celebrated as this year’s guest of honor. The launch was organized in partne

July 4, 2024

[Herald Interview] Murder by design: 'The Consultant' examines dark side of corporate restructuring

The man is very good at his “job” -- crafting simple, elegant and effective solutions for “restructuring.” Not so obvious or messy, certainly nothing anyone would ever suspect as murder. The natural deaths he plans have always gone well: a medicine swapped here, a mechanism jammed there. But when his next assignment turns out to be someone he not only knows but cares about, he begins to question the role he plays in the vast, anonymous Company. This is the gripping plot o

July 3, 2024

Oxford hosts inaugural Korean literature festival with actor-writer Cha In-pyo

The University of Oxford's Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies hosted its first annual Korean Literature Night on Friday, featuring Cha In-pyo, an accomplished actor and novelist, as a special guest. Held at the Ioannou Centre for Classical & Byzantine Studies, the event opened with Cha presenting his 2009 novel "Once We Look at the Same Star," which addresses the issue of sex slavery in the Japanese military during World War II. Korean linguistics professor Jieun Kiae

July 1, 2024

Literature is evidence of liberation, says Booker-winning novelist Jokha Alharthi

The very existence of literature is evidence of liberation and freedom, according to Booker-winning Omani novelist Jokha Alharthi. "Literature transcends nations and cultures. By reading literature, humans can broaden their horizons and expand their experiential knowledge. They can experience another world," said Alharthi, who won the Man Booker International Prize in 2019 for her novel "Sayyidat al-Qamar," published in English as "Celestial Bodies." Alharthi is the

July 1, 2024

Michelle Zauner to chronicle her journey of learning Korean in next book

Bestselling author and Grammy-nominated singer Michelle Zauner fondly recalled her mother’s words that if she lived in Korea for a year she could be fluent in the language. The author of the 2021 memoir “Crying in H Mart” Zauner is now following her late mother’s advice, living the “life of a humble Korean student”: She is documenting her yearlong immersion in learning Korean for her upcoming book. Six months into the process, she’s currently studying at

July 1, 2024

'My Friend Kim Jong-un' 'carries message of peace,' Keum Suk Gendry-Kim says

Acclaimed graphic novelist Keum Suk Gendry-Kim urged readers not to stop at the title, as she introduced her latest book, "My Friend Kim Jong-un." Gendry-Kim attended a Korea-France dialogue at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair, which kicked off Wednesday at Coex, Seoul, with French graphic novelist Lea Murawiec. "I know some people may stop reading because of the title, but this book actually carries a message of peace," Gendry-Kim said. The graphic novel, which will be

June 27, 2024

Son Woong-jung at book signing event amid child abuse allegations

Son Woong-jung, director of the SON Soccer Academy and father of South Korea national soccer team captain Son Heung-min, attended the Seoul International Book Fair on Wednesday for a book signing event. Earlier in the day, news broke that Son and two coaches at his soccer academy had been accused of verbally and physically abusing a youth athlete, according to the police. Son appeared as scheduled at the Munhakdonge Publishing's booth in Coex around 3 p.m. As Son arrived at the signing even

June 26, 2024

Lyricist pays tribute to Korean War fallen with new song cycle of elegies

Ahead of the 74th anniversary of the Korean War, a new song cycle has been published to commemorate the fallen spirits and lingering pain of the war. Hahn Myung-hee, the lyricist behind the beloved Korean art song "Bimok" (Wooden Epitaph), has compiled a series of poems inspired by the Korean War and the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas into a poignant collection titled “Thus the DMZ Speaks: A Song Cycle in Memory of the Korean War Dead.” “Bimok” (19

June 23, 2024

Beloved poet and nun Lee Hae-in reflects on 60 years in convent

In celebration of her 60th anniversary of entering the convent, beloved poet and nun Lee Hae-in has released a collection of short essays titled "Precious Treasures" (a direct translation of the Korean title). "Having lived in the convent for 60 years, I thought it might be forgiven now to reveal the notebooks I kept. I wanted to share my personal stories with readers,” said Lee during a press conference at the Franciscan Education Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. Havin

June 21, 2024

Seoul International Book Fair hopes to set off new voyage into better future

Early this year, novelist Kim Yeon-su received a proposal from Joo Iroo, CEO of the Seoul International Book Fair, to rewrite Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" (1726). The CEO's intention was to shed new light on Swift's message, particularly the Land of the Houyhnhnms, which Gulliver visits on his fourth journey, describing it as an orderly and peaceful society. Inspired by the Land of the Houyhnhnms, the book fair has set this year's theme as "Houyhn

June 20, 2024