Lifestyle - The Korea Times

From translator to translated: Anton Hur on debut novel 'Toward Eternity'

Acclaimed literary translator Anton Hur, known for bringing celebrated Korean works to a global audience, has made his debut as a novelist with the science-fiction titled "Toward Eternity." At a press conference in Seoul on Monday marking the novel's Korean release, Hur said his career in translation was part of his strategic path to fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming an English-language fiction writer, a goal he has achieved with this book. Originally written in English and published by HarperVia last July, "Toward Eternity" is a sci-fi novel set in the near future that explores immortality and what it means to be human. At the event, Hur shared his creative philosophy, explaining he sees himself not as the one crafting the language, but as a vessel through which "the language materializes itself." "I was once very touched when poet Lee Seong-bok told me the words came to him, not that he was writing them," Hur recalled. "While writing this book, I realized that I am a means for the language to materialize themselves and that I am a secretary to these words, who only prepares a

Jul 28, 2025By Yonhap

From translator to translated: Anton Hur on debut novel 'Toward Eternity'

Korean stories inspire Saudi readers at Ithra Children’s Book Fair

Korea was invited as the guest of honor country at a children’s book fair at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where young Saudi readers can explore Korean culture through children’s books. The 2025 Ithra Children’s Book Fair, running through Sunday, July 19 (local time), is in its fifth year of shedding light on literacy, creativity and cultural enrichment, primarily for children aged 4 to 14. Previous guest countries included Belgium, Sweden, France and Egypt. Ghadeer Yamani, head of children’s literacy programs at the King Abdulaziz Center, also known as Ithra, noted how Korea’s storytelling culture resonates with Saudi Arabians. "Korean children’s books are widely appreciated for their emotional depth, visual richness and ability to engage young readers in creative and meaningful ways," she said during an interview with The Korea Times. She said Korean children’s books often invite readers to slow down, reflect and look inward. "The stories explore emotion with care and encourage thoughtful observation of the world around them. This ki

Jul 17, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Korean stories inspire Saudi readers at Ithra Children’s Book Fair

Cheong Wa Dae insider's essay offers glimpse into life inside Korea's presidential office

As Korea’s former presidential compound Cheong Wa Dae prepares to resume its role as the official seat of power, a new memoir by a longtime employee offers an intimate look at the rhythms and rituals under its blue-tiled roofs. In May 2022, then-newly elected President Yoon Suk Yeol relocated the presidential office to Yongsan District in Seoul, vacating Cheong Wa Dae — also known as the Blue House for its distinct blue tiles — for the first time in decades. The iconic compound was opened to the public, drawing crowds of visitors eager to explore the once-exclusive site. Now, with President Lee Jae Myung announcing his plan to reinstate the office at Cheong Wa Dae soon after his election in June, preparations are underway to return to the complex. Public tours are winding down and renovations are set to begin in August. Leading up to this transfer, Kang Seung-ji, a Cheong Wa Dae employee of seven years, published a candid account of her time inside the compound. Her book, "Behind the Blue House: The People of Cheong Wa Dae," captures the unseen work and humane moments behind the s

Jul 16, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Cheong Wa Dae insider's essay offers glimpse into life inside Korea's presidential office

Popular Naver webtoon ‘Wind Breaker’ canceled over plagiarism allegations

The popular Naver Webtoon series "Wind Breaker" was canceled last week following allegations of plagiarism. According to the platform, "the manuscript of 'Wind Breaker' was found to have compositional and directorial similarities with another work. We have decided to stop the serialization and service of the work." Webtoons — digital comics originating in Korea — are typically read on mobile phones and have gained global popularity. The creator of "Wind Breaker," Jo Yong-seok, confirmed the cancellation and issued an apology to readers. "I sincerely apologize for the distress caused by the recent tracing allegations related to my work," he wrote in Korean. Tracing refers to drawing over the lines of another image using tracing paper or digital tools. "Among the reference materials I used during production, some scenes ended up being very similar to — or nearly identical in expression to — those from other works. This is clearly my fault," Jo said in an apology posted at the end of the series' final episode on the Webtoon platform. The comic is no longer available. He continued, "Fo

Jul 13, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Popular Naver webtoon ‘Wind Breaker’ canceled over plagiarism allegations

From spotlight to stove, actor Ryu Soo-young serves up his first cookbook

Veteran actor Ryu Soo-young sees acting and cooking as bearing “different temperatures.” On set, his heart races — something burning and alive stirs within him, setting him alight. “But those on fire are only admired from afar. People watch, but rarely come close. To be an actor is to glow alone,” he reflected on a sun-drenched Tuesday morning in Seoul, as he sat down for a press conference for his new venture. Cooking, on the other hand, kindles a softer flame. “There’s no blaze — just a gentle warmth," he said. "And it’s that warmth that draws others near as we share the same food. To me, that means everything.” Perhaps that’s why, for Ryu, who has captivated audiences with his magnetic presence on both big and small screens since his 1998 debut, the kitchen has become more than a personal retreat. Since 2020, when he began sharing his own recipes on KBS’ popular program “Stars’ Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant,” his cooking videos have racked up over 300 million views on YouTube. What began as a private joy has blossomed into something larger — a second self, s

Jul 8, 2025By Park Han-sol

From spotlight to stove, actor Ryu Soo-young serves up his first cookbook

Experts say Korean literature still struggles globally despite Nobel win

To many Koreans, writer Han Kang’s Nobel Prize win last year was more than a personal triumph for the author. It was a long-overdue international recognition of the brilliance of Korean literature. But on Thursday, professor Kwon Young-min of Seoul National University, who spent five decades promoting Korean literature abroad, offered a sobering reality check: Despite the prestige of the Nobel Prize, Korean literature remains on the global periphery. “It cannot be said that, with Han Kang’s win of the Nobel Prize, Korean literature has instantly risen to the highest level in the world,” Kwon said during his keynote speech at the 2025 Korea Global Literature Forum organized by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) in Seoul. “Korean literature remains on the margins of global literary discourse, with international readers still lacking a deep understanding of its essence.” Titled “Strategies for Fostering the Global Expansion of Korean Literature,” the forum was attended by almost 100 scholars of Korean literature and Korean studies, as well as literary

Jul 3, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Experts say Korean literature still struggles globally despite Nobel win

'Sgt. Reckless' remembered: Hero horse of Korean War

Commemorating a war is about remembering the people who sacrificed their lives for a cause. As South Korea marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War on Wednesday, however, there is also a horse worth remembering: Reckless. A recently published Korean-language book, "Sgt. Reckless: Korean War Horse," tells the story of a racehorse that played a vital role during one of the war’s fiercest battles. It is a Korean translation of the book originally published in the U.S. in 2015 by Robin Hutton, who spent years researching the horse’s life. On March 26, 1953, Chinese forces launched a massive artillery barrage against the U.S. first Marine Division and South Korean troops in what is now Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, then known as the Nevada Outpost. It became one of the bloodiest battles of the war for the U.S. Marines. Though it lasted only five days, it resulted in nearly 1,000 casualties on the U.S. and South Korean side and an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 on the Chinese side. The battle cemented the legacy of Reckless, as she tirelessly transported ammuni

Jun 25, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

'Sgt. Reckless' remembered: Hero horse of Korean War

Park Chan-wook, AI and stories that shape us: Highlights from Seoul Int'l Book Fair

This year’s Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) opened in a blaze of literary fanfare. Tickets had sold out a week in advance. On opening day, Wednesday, throngs of visitors lined up well over an hour before the doors parted. If the momentum mirrors last year, more than 150,000 people are expected to pass through the fair’s halls by the time it closes, Sunday. Among the event’s luminaries were some of today’s most magnetic young literary voices: “Cursed Bunny” author Bora Chung, “Ghost Town” writer Kevin Chen and Cheon Seon-ran, whose sci-fi bestseller “A Thousand Blues” recently inked a Hollywood film deal. But it wasn’t only authors who drew crowds. Cultural heavyweights brought their own kind of gravity — former President Moon Jae-in, now the proprietor of indie bookstore Pyeongsan Books; Cannes-winning filmmaker and devoted bibliophile Park Chan-wook; and actor-publisher Park Jeong-min, head of Muze. By the fair’s third day, the energy hadn’t waned, with the venue still buzzing with readers. Adding to the fervor were talks that were enough to stop even th

Jun 21, 2025By Park Han-sol

Park Chan-wook, AI and stories that shape us: Highlights from Seoul Int'l Book Fair

‘Bookseller’ Moon Jae-in draws crowds at Seoul International Book Fair

Former President Moon Jae-in drew cheers and excitement as he made a surprise appearance at the Seoul International Book Fair 2025 on Wednesday, where his bookstore, Pyeongsan Bookstore, attracted the largest crowd at the event. “Wow, I can’t believe I just saw former President Moon Jae-in at a book fair,” one visitor said, summing up the general reaction to Moon’s appearance at COEX in southern Seoul. Pyeongsan Bookstore, which Moon has run since April 2023 in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, joined the annual book fair in Seoul for the first time this year. Moon arrived at the booth with his wife Kim Jung-sook at around 2:30 p.m., wearing an apron emblazoned with the bookstore’s name. He stayed for about 20 minutes, during which hundreds of visitors swarmed the booth, shouting messages like “We love you,” “You look great” and “We support you.” Moon responded with a smile, saying, “Thank you.” Also present were Yun Cheol-ho, chairman of the Korean Publishers Association, and poet and former Culture Minister Do Jong-hwan. Moon also exchanged greetings with wri

Jun 19, 2025By Hankookilbo

‘Bookseller’ Moon Jae-in draws crowds at Seoul International Book Fair

Seoul Int'l Book Fair opens as Nobel win fuels heightened interest

The Seoul International Book Fair, South Korea's largest literary event, opened Wednesday, featuring over 530 publishers, writers and book-related organizations from 17 countries. This year's theme, "A Pillar of Support," encourages attendees to find their own source of reliance at the book fair in an increasingly harsh reality, the organizers said. Following author Han Kang's Nobel Prize in literature win last year, this year's event is garnering heightened public attention, and all tickets have already sold out. The organizers anticipate around 150,000 visitors for the fair, which includes booths from approximately 100 overseas publishers and participation from about 430 Korean publishers. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Yoon Chul-ho, president of the Korean Publishers Association, said, "Books are our soul, future and nourishment that enriches our lives." "I hope this fair becomes a space where visitors share their perspectives and cultures," he added. This year, Taiwan serves as the guest of honor. Over 30 Taiwanese authors, including acclaimed novelists, picture book writers and com

Jun 18, 2025By Yonhap

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