Poet Kim Hye-soon's 'Phantom Pain Wings' wins National Book Critics Circle Award

South Korean poet Kim Hye-soon won the prestigious National Book Critics Circle Award for her work "Phantom Pain Wings" on Thursday. The National Book Critics Circle, an American nonprofit association, announced her as the winner in the poetry category of this year's awards during a ceremony in New York City. She became the first Korean ever to win at NBCC Awards. The annual awards recognize outstanding books published in English across six categories: fiction, nonfiction, biograp

March 22, 2024

Goncourt laureate Philippe Claudel says others present opportunities, not threats

A writer is not someone who lives outside the world but someone who lives within it, said French writer and filmmaker Philippe Claudel. "I go to the markets, take the subway, read newspapers, and engage in conversations with friends. I listen to the stories around me. Consequently, all these encounters become woven into my creative process. A novel serves as a mirror, reflecting what the author has encountered, felt, and lived through," Claudel said. The winner of the 2003 Prix Goncour

March 20, 2024

Late poet Park Mok-wol’s 166 unpublished verses unveiled

A collection of 166 previously unreleased poems penned by Park Mok-wol, one of South Korea's preeminent poets, has been uncovered. Park (1915-1978) reveals a broader spectrum of his literary prowess through these newly unveiled works, which delve into social realities and embrace prose poetry, according to the Park Mok-wol Literary Works Publication Committee during a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. Led by Professor Woo Jeong-gwon of Dankook University, the committee, comprising profe

March 17, 2024

A decade on, survivors, bereaved siblings share untold stories of Sewol ferry disaster

It has been almost a decade, but for the families of the victims, the Sewol ferry disaster is still ongoing. On April 16, 2014, the sinking of the Sewol ferry took the lives of 304, many of them high school students on a field trip to Jeju Island. The failure to rescue hundreds of people trapped in the slowly sinking ship, the live television broadcasts and the frantic chaos that ensued have left an indelible scar on the nation. Reflecting on the past decade, two official records -- “520 F

March 13, 2024

Spanning over century of Korean history, Hwang Sok-yong’s 'Mater 2-10' longlisted for International Booker

South Korean literary giant Hwang Sok-yong’s “Mater 2-10” has been longlisted for the 2024 International Booker Prize, the organizers of the British literary awards announced Monday. "Mater 2-10," co-translated by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae, and published by Scribe Publications, is among the 13 books on the longlist for one of the world's most prestigious literary awards. This is the second time Hwang has been longlisted for the award. In 2019, h

March 12, 2024

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

South Korean literary giant Hwang Sok-yong’s “Mater 2-10” has been longlisted for the 2024 International Booker Prize, the organizers of the British literary awards announced Monday. "Mater 2-10," co-translated by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae, and published by Scribe Publications, was among the 13 books in the longlist for what is one of the world's most prestigious literary awards. This is the second time Hwang has been longlisted for the award. I

March 12, 2024

[New in Korean] 'Who Did We Kill' explores consequences of deadly prank

"Who Did We Kill" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Jeong Hai-yeon Vookda Set against the backdrop of a summer night in the mountains, "Who Did We Kill" unfolds the story of three friends whose camping prank takes a tragic turn, resulting in the accidental death of a fellow student. Gripped by fear, the trio conceals the incident, oblivious to the 30,000 won they extorted from the deceased. Fast forward nine years, and the two friends, mourning the loss of th

March 10, 2024

[New in Korean] Star chef becomes president in black comedy 'Price King!!!'

"Price King!!!" By Kim Hong Munhakdongne Publishing The legendary merchant Batchi Crowder -- whose real name is Park Chi-guk -- started out as a street vendor in front of a bustling bus terminal, buying and selling all kinds of goods. He suddenly vanishes after selling off all his shares. One day, he reappears in a quaint town on the outskirts of Seoul, announcing the grand opening of King Price Mart. The confident slogan, “Anything not here? Not even in heaven!” is not a m

March 9, 2024

[New in Korean] YA debut novel traps readers in underwater tunnel

"Tunnel 103" By Yoo Yi-je Changbi Publishers A peaceful day on Black Widow Spider Island, a popular tourist destination, is shattered by the sudden emergence of monstrous creatures. Desperately running away from the monsters, people find themselves trapped in an underwater tunnel. Panic ensues as seawater ominously leaks in and the tunnel's collapse is only a matter of when. The underwater tunnel is the only passage connecting the island and the mainland, but the island is infeste

March 9, 2024

Daesan Foundation accepting applications for translation of Korean literary works

The Daesan Foundation is accepting applications for the 2024 Korean Literature Translation, Research, and Publishing Support program. Applicants for this year’s translation grants will be accepted until 3 p.m. on May 31 through the foundation’s official website. Successful applicants will be announced in August. Applicants can select from Daesan Literary Award-winning works that have not been translated into the target language, or any other literary work that has yet to be translate

March 7, 2024

Yun Heung-gil completes decades-long project, ‘Tattoo’

Acclaimed South Korean novelist Yun Heung-gil has devoted over 25 years to writing his magnum opus, an epic saga titled “Tattoo” (“Munsin” in Korean). The 82-year-old literary luminary revealed the arduous journey of completing the five-volume work during a press conference in Jung-gu, central Seoul, Tuesday, acknowledging that he "engaged in fierce battles" to a point where he thought he could die while writing. “I was worried whether I would be able to f

March 3, 2024

Seoul Library's Global Collections bridge cultures through books

The Global Collections located on the 4th floor of the Seoul Metropolitan Library in Jung-gu introduces the history and culture of various countries through books. This collection is curated through books donated by embassies and cultural centers spanning over 60 countries. Last week, the library said it received a donation of 20 books from the Peruvian Embassy on the history and culture of Peru. The donated books will soon be made available on the shelves. The Global Collections, established in

Feb. 29, 2024

[New in Korean] Finding solace through the second-hand market

"The Second Hand Market Angel" By Her Tae-yeon Noll/Dasan Books In the upscale neighborhood of Hannam-dong, a unique morning ritual unfolds on a second-hand market app, showcasing an array of new items that are difficult to come by at a good price. From imported luxury curtains straight from Spain to limited-edition designer bags, the platform becomes a marketplace for Sun Ye-hwi, a woman of wealth who appears to revel in a life of opulence. Sun's life had taken a tragic turn a de

Feb. 12, 2024

[New in Korean] Woo Da-young invites readers into 'a darker night' with latest SF collection

"But Someone Wants a Darker Night" By Woo Da-young Moonji Publishing The third collection of stories penned by Woo Da-young, titled "But Someone Wants a Darker Night," includes five short stories in which characters frequently engage in contemplation, reflecting upon the boundaries between the self and others. In the coming-of-age narrative, "There Was a Knife Between Us," Alpha and Omega, initially born as a singular entity but later separated as twins, reunite on

Feb. 11, 2024

[New in Korean] Booker shortlisted Bora Chung returns with autobiographical SF tales

"Surrender, Earth Creatures" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Bora Chung Rabbit Hole Bora Chung, a finalist for the UK International Booker Prize and the US National Book Award for her genre-defying work, "Cursed Bunny" (translated by Anton Hur), has returned with a collection of science fiction stories titled "Surrender, Earth Creatures." "Surrender, Earth Creatures" is a delightful, animated compilation of stories that incorporates Chung�

Feb. 11, 2024

Storytelling videos on Seollal released in six languages

The National Library for Children and Young Adults has released two additional storytelling videos based on picture books in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday. A total of 341 different stories are available on the library's official website in six languages: Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Mongolian. Some videos also include subtitles in Russian, Khmer and Tagalog. The multilingual storytelling video service, launched in 2009, features Korean original fairy tales, trad

Feb. 8, 2024

[Books News] From page to stage, contemporary bestsellers leap from bookshelves to spotlight

Three contemporary literary bestsellers are set to undergo a spectacular transformation this year as they move from the page to the stage. Embracing new genres such as musicals, music dramas and theater productions, these adaptations offer original fans a fresh and enjoyable avenue to experience the stories. ‘The Old Woman with the Knife’ In a much-anticipated adaptation, Gu Byeong-mo’s bestselling noir novel “The Old Woman with the Knife” is making its theatrical

Feb. 3, 2024

Han Kang, Ma Yeong-shin nominated for Emile Guimet Prize

Han Kang's "I Do Not Bid Farewell" and Ma Yeong-shin's graphic novel "Moms" have been nominated as finalists for the Emile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature in France, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced Monday. "I Do Not Bid Farewell" delves into the tragic events of the Jeju April 3 incident through the perspectives of three women. Translated into French by Kyungran Choi and Pierre Bisiou, the novel garnered attention particularly aft

Jan. 29, 2024

[New in Korean] Fantasy novel emerges from psychological autopsy center

"The Girl in a Phone Booth" By Lee Su-yeon Clayhouse Imagine having the ability to hear the last thoughts of those who have left this world. The psychological autopsy center is the backdrop for a touching human fantasy novel that hit the shelves last week. Those left behind by a suicide experience profound grief, guilt and resentment with lingering questions like "why" and "how could this happen." The psychological autopsy center investigates a person's suici

Jan. 28, 2024

[New in Korean] 'Path of Humanity' is like final grains of harvest of life

"Path of Humanity" By Han Seung-won Munhakdongne Publishing Since 1997, Han Seung-won, writer and poet, has been living in his hometown of Jangheung in South Jeolla Province. A winner of numerous literary awards, Han writes daily in his studio. He is best known for the novel "Aje Aje Bara Aje" (1985), which was adapted into a film titled "Come Come Come Upward" featuring the late Kang Soo-youn and Yu In-chon, the current culture minister. At the age of 85, the vet

Jan. 27, 2024