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

Seoul International Book Fair to kick off with theme of 'nonhuman'

The Seoul International Book Fair, the country’s largest book event, will kick off on Wednesday at Coex in Gangnam-gu, southeastern Seoul. Under the theme of “Nonhuman,” the five-day annual book fair aims to break away from anthropocentric perspectives, inviting engagement with and participation of the nonhuman, said the Korean Publishers Association. Talks, exhibitions and events will take place to explore the multiple human-caused crises we find ourselves amidst -- including

June 11, 2023

[New in Korean] Dark fairy tale-like adventure set in underground city

"Forest of Moss" (working title) By Cheon Seon-ran Giant Books With its dark fairy tale-like atmosphere and poignant narrative, the three interconnected stories featured in “Forest of Moss” depict the love, friendship and adventure of six friends set in the near future of mankind, exiled to the underground city after the destruction of Earth. Hope remains despite their current generation merely serving as a “bridge” to sustain civilization for the next. The firs

June 10, 2023

[New in Korean] On struggles of caregiving and family burdens

"The Way We Have Passed the Winter" (working title) By Moon Mi-soon Namu Bench The first full-length novel from the award-winning writer Moon Mi-soon captures the challenges of caregiving and the burdens of tending to sick loved ones. The novel vividly portrays the mental, physical and economic hardships faced by families in this role. The narrative revolves around Myung-joo, a woman in her 50s who dedicates herself to caring for her mother, who suffers from severe dementia. Joon-seong

June 10, 2023

[New in Korean] Memory and insomnia echo through 'Seasons of Its Own'

"Seasons of Its Own" By Kwon Yeo-sun Munhakdongne Publishing Several years ago, Kwon Yeo-sun, residing at a writers’ residence in Wonju, Gangwon Province, overheard a memorable dialogue between a fellow writer and the residence’s security guard. “Where could such a large bug (referring to a deer beetle) possibly come in?” After contemplating for a moment, the security guard said, “Bugs can come in from anywhere.” The exchange amused Kwon so much that

June 9, 2023

Cormac McCarthy and Margaret Atwood nominated for Pak Kyongni Prize

Four international writers, including Cormac McCarthy of the US and Canada's Margaret Atwood, have been nominated for the 12th Pak Kyongni Prize, according to the award’s organizers on Wednesday. Antonio Lobo Antunes from Portugal and Christoph Ransmayr from Austria are the other two foreign nominees. A novelist and retired medical doctor, Antunes has long been considered a strong contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature. He is widely recognized for “The Land at the End of th

June 8, 2023

New book delves into Chun Doo-hwan’s life and legacy

Chun Doo-hwan died on Nov. 23, 2021. “Rather than grieving over the loss of a former leader, there was a shared sense of regret among the people -- a regret for the missed opportunity to bring him the justice he deserved,” novelist Jeong A-eun said at a recent press conference. “Then it dawned on me. This man didn’t pass one or two years after leaving the highest office. He lived a long 33 years. Why didn’t they do something during all those years?” Her endeav

June 6, 2023

[Herald Interview] Keum Suk Gendry-Kim talks about life choices in 'Tomorrow is Another Day'

Celebrated graphic novelist Keum Suk Gendry-Kim has returned with “Tomorrow is Another Day,” a story of a couple grappling with infertility. Garnering global acclaim, her works -- most notably “Grass” (2017) and “The Waiting” (2020) -- have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Harvey Award in 2020 for "Grass." She is the first Korean to have won the prestigious award. Gendry-Kim's latest work centers on Bada, a 34-year-old cartoon

June 6, 2023

Quarterly Changbi remains committed to print publication

Changbi Publishers, a leading publisher, marked a milestone with the release of the 200th issue of the Quarterly Changbi, its highly regarded quarterly magazine of literature, critique and discourse. Lee Nam-ju, the editor-in-chief, summarized the magazine’s motto as “beopgochangsin” which can be translated as “to create something new by taking inspiration from the old.” “We will continue to adhere to our original direction while adapting to the changes in the

May 30, 2023

Poet Kim Hye-soon's 'Phantom Pain Wings' published in English

The English edition of acclaimed poet Kim Hye-soon's 2019 collection of poems, "Phantom Pain Wings," translated by Don Mee Choi, was published in the US in May. The book of 72 poems “depicts the memory or war trauma and the collective grief of parting through what (Kim) calls an ‘I-do-bird-sequence,’ where ‘Bird-human is the ‘I,’” said New Directions Publishing about its latest release by Kim. The publishing company also published Kim&rsqu

May 30, 2023

[Herald Interview] Seo Bo-hyeon, "Debater": On the art of disagreeing

A boy moved to Australia at the age of 8 with his parents. For the first two years, he was a very agreeable boy, not knowing how to disagree with people. Then an “accident” happened -- a teacher asked him to join the debate team. And the boy then known as Bo, not knowing how to say no, had no choice but to join the team. Several years later, he not only can disagree with others, but the man whose full name is Seo Bo-hyeon has also become a master of disagreement by winning not one bu

May 28, 2023

[Herald Interview] Sci-fi author Bae Myung-hoon explores boundaries of language in 'Future Past Tense'

Bae Myung-hoon, author of the bestselling novel “Tower,” has been at the vanguard of the science fiction genre in Korea for the past decade amid its growing popularity. Bae’s latest collection of stories, “Future Past Tense,” published by Book House, recently hit bookstore shelves. The author expressed confidence that the collection would become his most representative work yet. “It was like compiling the best songs for an album. I’ve gathered the best o

May 27, 2023

[New in Korean] Bora Chung walks line between romance and horror in previously unreleased debut novel

“The Fox” By Bora Chung Potion Bora Chung, author of “Cursed Bunny,” a 2022 Booker Prize International finalist, has finally released her unpublished debut work, “The Fox.” Despite winning the prize in the mobile category of the 2008 Digital Literature Awards, which was discontinued in 2012, the book never made it to print. Now published by Potion, a genre literature imprint of Itta Publishing, the novel is a reinterpretation of the tale of a nine-tailed fox,

May 27, 2023

[New in Korean] If there are no sad memories, can we find happiness in the future?

“Marigold Mind Laundry” By Yun Jung-eun Book Romance Essayist Yun Jung-eun has returned with a full-length novel for the first time in 11 years. Since its release on March 6, the fantasy novel has consistently ranked among the top 5 on the nation's bestseller lists. The story unfolds in a peculiar laundromat that mysteriously appeared on a hill in the middle of the night. Ji-eun, an enigmatic woman with a pale complexion and long, curly, black hair, serves hot tea to visitors at

May 26, 2023

[New in Korean] Embark on epic adventure as nationwide audition for first robotic pilot begins

“Project V” By Park Seo-lyeon Safehouse Inc. Award-winning novelist Park Seo-lyeon of “Kang Ju-ryong, the Woman in the Air” presents a fresh take on a narrative set in a futuristic Korea of 2037, where a giant robot is the new hot trend. As countries are embroiled in a race to develop these colossal machines, Korea also develops a giant robot named V and a nationwide audition is held to select the inaugural pilot. An exhilarating story unfurls, revolving around Woo-ram, a

May 26, 2023

[Herald Interview] Bestselling author Lee Jung-myung on art of historical storytelling

For bestselling author Lee Jung-myung, also known as J. M. Lee, writing is part of his everyday routine. Like an office worker, Lee commutes to his small studio in Seoul and works from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. adhering to a typical work schedule. The journalist-turned-author has described himself as “an office worker who writes” rather than a novelist. He conducts research, writes his stories and edits drafts during these working hours. “I have grown accustomed to working in this manne

May 21, 2023