[Herald Interview] Global publishers' take on Korean literature

The K-Literature Fellowship, an initiative organized by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea to promote Korean literature overseas, has been bringing international publishers and literary agents to Seoul since 2018. Over 70 global publishing companies have participated in the program so far, resulting in the publication of some 100 Korean literary works worldwide. This year, the fellowship invited 15 publishing houses from 11 countries to Seoul, where they joined 14 Korean publishers an

Sept. 21, 2023

[Herald Interview] Andrew Porter on renewed attention in Korea for ‘Theory of Light and Matter’

American writer Andrew Porter said he is truly surprised and delighted that his debut work, "The Theory of Light and Matter," has resonated with Korean readers after all these years. Porter’s debut work, a collection of stories published in 2008, won several awards, including the Flannery O'Connor Award for short fiction. While it was published in Korea in 2011, it wasn't until 2019 that the book received renewed attention after acclaimed Korean author Kim Young-ha intr

Sept. 16, 2023

Eun Hee-kyung, Andrew Porter explore words of short stories, novels

On the afternoon of Sept. 10, the third day of the festival, Eun Hee-kyung from South Korea and Andrew Porter from the US met. Although they had never crossed paths before, these literary talents shared a profound appreciation for the written word. Both authors, despite being from different corners of the globe, shared a common thread in their literary portfolios: a dedication to crafting both full-length novels and collections of short stories. For these two writers, the length of a narrative d

Sept. 15, 2023

Bora Chung’s ‘Cursed Bunny’ longlisted for US National Book Award

The English edition of Bora Chung’s short story collection “Cursed Bunny” has been longlisted in the translated literature category for the 2023 National Book Award in the US. Among the 10 nominations announced on this year's long list, "Cursed Bunny" stands as the sole work originating from Asia. Finalists are to be announced on Oct. 3, with the final winner selection coming on Nov. 15. The English edition of “Cursed Bunny” was translated by Anton Hu

Sept. 14, 2023

Writers bring their literary worlds, imaginations to life on Nodeulseom

The annual Seoul International Writers’ Festival, organized by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) kicked off Sept. 8, bringing together 24 Korean and international writers on Nodeulseom, an artificial islet on the Han River in Seoul, for a six-day festival. Under the theme of “Crossing the Bridge of Language,” the 2023 SIWF responded to the heightened sense of isolation and discord brought about by the pandemic. Two captivating storytellers -- Jeong Ji-a

Sept. 14, 2023

Chinese author Yu Hua celebrates 40th anniversary of literary debut in Seoul

Author Yu Hua, a prominent figure in Chinese literature, celebrated the 40th anniversary of his literary debut during a talk event held in Seoul on Friday where he reflected on his career and hinted on the upcoming works. "I wasn't aware that it was the 40th anniversary of my literary debut until Prunsoop told me," Yu told reporters during a press conference held in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, Friday. Prunsoop, a local publishing company, has been introducing Yu's works to Kore

Sept. 11, 2023

Poet Jin Eun-young, Booker winner Bernardine Evaristo discuss 'collapse,' rising from the ruins at writer's festival

An insightful conversation unfolded in the middle of the Han River on Nodeulseom on Saturday afternoon between two distinguished female literary figures from Korea and the UK. South Korean poet Jin Eun-young and the Booker Prize-winning Bernardine Evaristo took part in a “One on One” conversation as part of the 2023 Seoul International Writers’ Festival, which kicked off Friday. The two discussed their literature and its connection to society under the theme of “In the Pl

Sept. 11, 2023

[Herald Interview] Magical goblin twins set out on whimsical adventure

In Seoul, a 601-year-old goblin twin finds itself embarking on an unexpected Halloween adventure in New York City. The enchanting tale is brought to life in the children’s book “Goblin Twins,” written by Frances Cha and illustrated by the New York Times bestseller Jaime Kim. The book just hit the shelves Tuesday, and is published worldwide in English by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. Best known for her critically acclaimed debu

Sept. 7, 2023

[Herald Interview] Chronicling KMA graduates' war in Vietnam: 'From Hill 92 to Nui Hon Ba'

The Vietnam War officially ended on April 30, 1975. From September 1964, when the South Korean government began to deploy its troops to Vietnam, to March 1973, when it completely withdrew them, the Korean Army fought alongside the US military and allied forces for over eight and a half years. Many young Koreans lost their lives. The same was true for officers who graduated from the Korea Military Academy. Their turbulent wartime experiences have been chronicled in English by Chung Youn-son, a re

Sept. 6, 2023

Poet, independence fighter Manhae’s legacy revived in poetry quarterly Yusim

A literary magazine originally founded by poet, Buddhist monk and independence activist Han Yong-un (1879-1944), also known by his pen name Manhae, has been relaunched as a poetry-focused quarterly. Yusim was reintroduced with a September issue on Friday, with Kwon Young-min, a literary critic and honorary professor at Seoul National University, serving as the publisher, and poet Shin Dal-ja as the managing editor. “Our magazine aims to uphold the spirit and teachings of Manhae Han Yong-un

Sept. 4, 2023

[New in Korean] 'Runaway Lovers' blends suspenseful thriller and bittersweet romance

"Runaway Lovers" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Lee Seung-eun Changbi Publishers A young couple is locked in an unending struggle for survival. Tae-oh writes scripts for plays and works at a gas station on the outskirts of a provincial city, while Ji-soo works part-time as a theater actor. She secretly lodges in the employee’s lounge where Tae-oh works. Despite their financial struggles, they depend on each other and dream of a future on the stage. On a fateful sn

Sept. 3, 2023

[New in Korean] Choi Eun-young of 'Shoko's Smile' returns with loving narrative on women

"Even a Very Faint Light" By Choi Eun-young Munhakdongne Publishing Award-winning author Choi Eun-young of “Shoko’s Smile” returns with a collection of short stories, titled "Even a Very Faint Light.” This year marks the 10th anniversary of Choi’s literary debut. One of the most prominent young female writers in Korea of the past decade, Choi has delved into the intricate and subtle emotions of characters as they navigate the complexities of connectio

Sept. 3, 2023

[New in Korean] Alien parasite transforms human violence into deadly 'Blue Flesh'

"Blue Flesh" By Lee Tae-je Vookda Kyobo Book Center, the largest bookstore chain in Korea, has taken steps to strengthen its content business recently by establishing an intellectual property team within the company. The company launched its very own publishing brand, Vookda, which has released its first book, “Blue Flesh.” The sci-fi dystopian novel won the grand prize at the 10th Kyobo Book Center’s story content competition. The author, who writes under the pen nam

Sept. 2, 2023

Popular webtoon-based TV series drive more readers to original works

Kakao Entertainment webtoons are enjoying a renewed bump in popularity from TV drama adaptations by broadcasters and video streaming platforms that have become major hits this year. Disney+’s superhero action series “Moving” became the most watched Korean original project on Disney+ and Hulu, topping Disney+'s TV series charts in several countries, including Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and other Southeast Asian countries. Proving its growing popularity, the original webtoon “

Sept. 2, 2023

Three writers win Korean diaspora literature awards

A new literature award that aims to discover creators worldwide who write in the Korean language and examine the diaspora literature from diverse perspectives, has selected its winners, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced on Friday. LTI Korea has awarded three writers -- Lee Soo-jeong, Chung Chul-young and Kim Jae-dong -- for the inaugural “‘Nomo New Literature Award,” selected from a total of 111 entries received between Nov. 14, 2022 and April 30 of this y

Sept. 1, 2023

Seoul International Writers’ Festival to bridge language and discord through literature

A literary festival bringing together 24 Korean and international writers will take place on Nodeul Island in Seoul in September. Under the theme of “Crossing the Bridge of Language,” the 2023 Seoul International Writers’ Festival responds to the heightened isolation and discord brought about by the pandemic. The annual festival is organized by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, also known as LTI Korea. “There was an anticipation that things would return to no

Aug. 29, 2023

[New in Korean] Son traces stories of conscripted soldier father and comfort woman mother

"Mom Was There" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Yun Jeong-mo Dasan Books “Mom Was There,” by the million-selling author Yun Jeong-mo, encapsulates the turbulent moments of modern and contemporary Korean history, delving into the sufferings endured by individuals. While Yun's previous works have dealt with major moments in Korean history such as the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, the "East Berlin Affair,” the Korean War and the Vietnam War

Aug. 20, 2023

[New in Korean] Thrilling noir sequel reveals new twists, threats

"The Killer’s Shopping Mall 2" By Kang Ji-young Jaeum & Moeum Publishing Author Kang Ji-Young returns with the second volume of her noir series "The Killer’s Shopping Mall," picking up after the events of the first volume in Ji-an’s story. The first volume is set against the backdrop of an internet shopping mall warehouse. The protagonist is Ji-an, a young woman raised by her uncle Jin-man after her parents’ death. The story begins with the unexpec

Aug. 19, 2023

[New in Korean] Chang Kang-myoung explores science, technology, society in SF collection

"The World You Want to See" By Chang Kang-myoung Munhakdongne Publishing The journalist-turned-writer Chang Kang-myoung, known for addressing pressing social issues in works like "The Bleached” and "Because I Don’t Like Korea," ventures into the realm of science fiction with his latest, "The World You Want to See." The compilation consists of seven SF short stories, three of them new. While he has established his reputation as a realist author, Chan

Aug. 19, 2023

Ra Hee-duk's 'Possibilist' and 15 others receive Daesan translation grants

Poet Ra Hee-duk’s collection of poems, “Possibilist” (2021), and 15 other Korean literary works have been selected for the 2023 Grants for the Translation, Research and Publication Literary Works, the Daesan Foundation said Wednesday. Since 2010, the Daesan Foundation has been awarding the annual grant, which introduces Korean literature to the world in various languages. This year, the foundation is providing a total of 230 million won ($171,800), supporting the translation an

Aug. 16, 2023