Bae searches for meaning in life in 'Nowhere To Be Found'

Bae Suah’s fiction gives rise to the underrepresented voice of the young, female working class of South Korea. Her latest novella, “Nowhere to Be Found,” echoes her excellent short story “Highway with Green Apples” which also follows a young, socially displaced female protagonist who flits from job to job unable to find meaning in her life while the people around her strive for material love and success. Bae’s prose is stark and dreary, effectually framing the life of our nameless protagonist. W

May 26, 2015

[Herald Interview] Exploring modern Korea in ancient trappings

Beneath its ultramodern facade, Korea is a country with all the trappings of shamanism and Confucianism, a new book says. In “Contemporary Korean Culture: the Persistence of Shamanistic and Confucian Values and Practices,” coauthors Kim Eun-gi and Choi Joon-sik seek to explain the social fabric and the mindset of Koreans through the lens of shamanism and Confucianism, examining the origins and manifestation of some of the most enigmatic Korean customs as well as their critique. “In the 21st cent

May 20, 2015

The Korean inside Lee Chang-rae

Two decades ago, Lee Chang-rae’s “Native Speaker” addressed issues of identity, assimilation and language that immigrants faced while settling in a foreign country.In the book, Lelia says to Henry Park, “You look like someone listening to himself. You pay attention to what you’re doing. If I had to guess, you’re not a native speaker.”The Seoul-born, Korean-American novelist has often said the same of his own experience growing up in the U.S. ― that he felt very conscious of his surroundings, tha

May 14, 2015

Children’s book guru on ‘chew up mom’ poem controversy

A poem by a 10-year-old girl has stirred up a controversy in Korea that touches upon an array of thorny issues from the literary freedom of expression to the country’s obsession with private education. The poem, titled “Days I Don’t Want To Go To Hagwon,” depicts how the author would like to “chew up mom” as painfully as possible, “digging out her eyes and pulling out all her teeth” to escape hagwon, private educational institutes. Accompanied by an illustration, cruel words from the fifth-grade

May 7, 2015

[Book Review] Asan delves into ‘Pax Americana 3.0’

Amid the rise of China in the economic and military domains, academic discourse has been focused on the waning U.S. power and a looming shift in the global order that America has led since the end of World War II. The growing Sino-U.S. rivalry has triggered speculation that the U.S.-led global system would be reshaped by the ascendant, revisionist power ― China. And the decline of U.S. power appears to be viewed by many as a fait accompli.However, “Pax Americana 3.0,” a new book published by the

May 7, 2015

Korea’s bare face captured in ‘Sketches’

Teenagers huddle in the subway, taking a selfie while raising two fingers in a peace sign. A man dunks a soju shot into his beer glass, then puts up a hand to cover his mouth as he laughs at his boss’ joke. Middle-aged delivery ladies carry trays full of dishes on their heads, nonchalantly strolling along as if simply wearing a hat. If you are a foreigner roaming the streets of Korea, these are sights that would have drawn your attention and caused you to tilt your head in curiosity and, perhaps

May 6, 2015

[Weekender] The joy of coloring

The last time Lee Soo-jin carried her own coloring book inside her bag was more than 25 years ago, but it’s a hobby she’s recently picked up again. Lee is not alone ― coloring books are no longer just for kids. “When I was young, I would use my crayons and color until it was broken,” she said. “My favorite was the book of Disney princesses.” Now, the 33-year-old office worker doesn’t use pink and red to color Cinderella’s dress, nor does she ask her mom to buy her a new book. Instead, she takes

April 17, 2015

Ex-aid worker compiles speeches of world leaders

A former veteran aid worker has published a compilation of the greatest speeches in history that have inspired him during his overseas missions for 23 years, including a stint in the earthquake-hit Haiti.Titled “History Development and Human Prosperity,” the book compiles 39 speeches of world leaders in religion and politics. They range from ancient figures such as Socrates, Jesus Christ, the founder of the early Korean kingdom Dangun to leaders of the modern time, including U.S. Presidents Fran

April 12, 2015

N. Korea, no longer confidential

Two journalists, after covering the two Koreas for a while, were frustrated with the narrow focus of media reports and books on North Korean leadership, its nuclear program and propaganda. “We wanted to clearly and concisely explain the real daily challenges ordinary people face, and the surprises which that brings,” James Pearson, a Korea correspondent for Reuters, told the Korea Herald through an email interview.  Daniel Tudor (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)“There are few (books) which really

April 2, 2015

Voicing diversity through books

Growth is conspicuously absent in Korea’s book industry, as evidenced by the number of bookstores closing down in Seoul.Yet, a new type of publishing is on the rise, attracting readers, writers and sellers with rarely-written about topics, creative new designs and a niche approach. Independent publishing, which covers both self-publishing and small, independent press, is a rare bright spot in the country’s moribund book industry, said Kim Kwang-chul, the owner of Propaganda Press, an independent

March 19, 2015

WWF-Korea publishes children’s book on environment

A children’s book that encompasses the theme of environmental awareness and sustainability was published Wednesday in English and Korean. “Our Beautiful Earth” was published by the Korea office of World Wide Fund for Nature, an international conservation organization. The picture book centers on the critical threats the Earth will face if people keep their consumption-oriented habits and do little to protect the nature.  “Scientists continue to say that we are at a critical point, where if we do

March 18, 2015

Comprehensive Goryeo history translated into English

The “Koryosa choryo” (Essentials of Koryo History) is arguably one of the most substantial historical records of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392).Written in 1452, few decades after the fall of the kingdom, the 35-volume book is an abridged version of the 135-volume annals “Koryosa” (History of Koryo).  Photocap: “Koryosa choryo II” translated by Edward J. Shultz and Hugh H.W. Kang (Jimoondang)In an effort to provide in-depth understanding of Korea’s history internationally, the English version “Kor

March 18, 2015

Park Chung-hee biography published in Vietnamese

A book that chronicles former Korean president Park Chung-hee (1917-1979) and first lady Yuk Young-soo (1925-1974) has been published in Vietnamese.“Human Park Chung-hee, Human Yuk Young-soo,” written by Kim Doo-young, a Cheong Wa Dae secretary during Park’s tenure, was originally published in Korean last year. Park ― the third president of Korea from 1962 until his assassination in 1979 ― is the father of the current president Park Geun-hye. Cho Jae-hyun, the vice president of the Korea-Vietnam

Feb. 26, 2015

Superheroes and space travelers in ‘Get in Trouble’

It’s tempting to describe Kelly Link as a fantasist or a magical realist of a particularly homegrown sort. Her stories take place within recognizable landscapes ― suburban bedrooms, reality TV locations, a wedding weekend ― that open into something else. Slipstream author Bruce Sterling has called this style of writing: genre work that blurs the lines of genre, merging elements of science fiction, realism, fantasy. Yet all that seems too restrictive, too didactic, for what Link appears to have i

Feb. 5, 2015

‘Fiction can tell larger truth’

Anchorwoman and author Baik Ji-yeon talks about her new work of fiction “Handstand” in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Tuesday. (Bookfolio)Baik Ji-yeon is the epitome of a successful modern woman. Having become the youngest-ever news anchorwoman in Korea at age 24, she possesses a refined appearance, elegance, confidence and celebrated career that many young women admire.While earning her many different titles ― anchorwoman for local TV channel MBC, interviewer in a talk show and host of current affairs pro

Feb. 4, 2015

Alexander, Santat win top children’s book prizes

NEW YORK (AP) ― Kwame Alexander’s “The Crossover,” a novel in verse about basketball and coming of age, has won the John Newbery Medal for the year’s best children’s book. Author-illustrator Dan Santat’s “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend,” a fantasy featuring an island for pretend playmates, received the Randolph Caldecott Medal for best picture book. Kwame Alexander’s “The Crossover.” (HMH Books for Young Readers) Dan Santat’s “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend.”

Feb. 3, 2015

Putting a human face on North Korea

The world’s most isolated and brutally repressive state, North Korea, is a place that intrigues writers and readers alike. Although very few, there are travelogue-type books, memoirs by defectors and even a Pulitzer-prize winning novel by an American writer, all set in North Korea.Korean-American author Suki Kim’s account of her six months in Pyongyang teaching English to the sons of North Korea’s elite, “Without You, There is No Us,” published in 2014, takes its title from a popular North Korea

Jan. 30, 2015

CICI chief reveals 10 life principles in new book

The Ten Habits of Designing My Life, 10CBy Choi Jung-wha (HUINE)People often ask me how to be successful, says Choi Jung-wha, the president of Corea Image Communication Institute. But she admits that she doesn’t really like the term “success.”“Success is a result, not the end-goal itself,” says Choi in her new book, “The Ten Habits of Designing My Life, 10C.” She believes that many so-called successful people live by principles and habits in their lives. As the title suggests, the book is Choi’s

Jan. 29, 2015