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Passion for life pierces Yu’s poems

Yu Chi-hwan’s poems translated into English By Chung Ah-young Renowned for his representative poem “Flag,” Yu Chi-whan (1908-1967) was one of the most prolific poets in the 20th century in Korea. Born in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, he was not only a leading poet but also a school teacher and a brother of Yu Chi-jin, a prominent playwright. Yu wrote more than 160 poems and published 10 anthologies of his poetry during his lifetime. A collection of his carefully selected poems has recently been translated into English by Lee Sung-il, a professor emeritus of English literature at Yonsei University. The title of the poetry collection “Blue Stallion” was borrowed from Yu’s penname “cheongma,” which literally means a blue horse. The translator began translations of Yu’s poetry through an annual contest of translating modern Korean literature into English organized by The Korea Times in 1970. His translations of Yu’s works made him a prizewinner. “It was Yu Chi-whan’s poetry that initiated me into the challenge of translating Korean poetry into English,” Lee said

Oct 14, 2011

Recent books

The Birth of Hangeul: Miracle of Characters Hideki Noma; Translated by Kim Jin-ah et al; 448 pp., 15,000 won There have been a lot of eulogistic discussions over the invention of “Hangeul” (Korean alphabet) among Koreans. However, it is exceptional that Hideki Noma, a Japanese scholar, lauds the excellence of Hangeul historically and linguistically. “The birth of Hangeul is a great incident in East Asian culture and history,” says Noma in this book. The author said that the Korean alphabet was a kind of “cultural revolution.” He researches it through insightful and basic questions of what language and characters are. This book isn’t just about Hangeul but explores people’s lives before the invention of the characters and the enormous efforts of King Sejong and his scholars to create a new system of letters through creativity and innovation. The author explains how important Hangeul is in East Asian civilization by comparing other languages and introduces the process of the power struggles between the pros and cons concerning the creation of the Korean writing system

Oct 14, 2011

Recent Books

Taiwan, Where Is It? Hu Young-sup; Chaeryun: 347 pp., 15,000 won Taiwan might be one of the countries that have a similar historical background with the Korean Peninsula. Both experienced Japanese colonial rule and are subject to two different political regimes. Also, they witnessed democracy and succeeded in economic development, emerging as one of Four Asian Tigers. More recently, Taiwan is suffering from ideological conflicts between conservatives and progressives, like South Korea. It still faces military confrontation and tensions with the mainland China. This book gives insights to readers about the country’s past, present and future with rare photographs showing its history. Before releasing the book, the author had an opportunity to look around the country in February. The author introduces both achievements and problems along with challenges Taiwan now faces. Particularly, it deals with the new era of “Chi-wan” (China and Taiwan) as they increase economic cooperation and exchange despite cross-Strait political tensions. _ Chung Ah-young

Oct 7, 2011

Busan expat’s personal narrative on Korea

By Chung Ah-young Is home a place that we’re from, or is it something we take with us wherever we go? That is the question haunting Chris Tharp, a travel writer and English teacher in Busan, the southern port city of Korea, who lives in the city far from his hometown Seattle in the United States. He was sometimes embarrassed at the language barrier, cultural differences and periodic outbursts of hyper-nationalism that is deeply rooted in Korean society. Tharp also experienced the personal tragedy of the deaths of his parents during his six-year journey in Korea. Nevertheless, he says “Korea can be both hard to like and hard to leave.” His new book “Dispatches from the Peninsula:Six Years in South Korea” is his personal narrative about experiences in Busan and other areas he has traveled in for six years as an English lecturer and expat in Korea. The author explores exotic Korean society through his pictures of alleys and neon streets of Korea’s cities mixed with

Oct 7, 2011

Zany scientists honored in alternative Nobels

Compiled from news reports In the ultimate accolade for the world's mad scientists, spoof Nobel prizes were awarded Thursday for studies into beetle sex, turtles yawning, the desperation of people dying to urinate and other daffy investigations. The annual Ig Nobel prizes, now in their 21st year, were given at Harvard University in front of 1,200 spectators, with real Nobel Prize winners handing out the honors. To win, scientists must "first make people laugh, and then make them think," according to the Ig Nobel ethos. The 2011 Ig Nobel winners awarded by the Annals of Improbable Research magazine include: PHYSIOLOGY: Anna Wilkinson, Natalie Sebanz, Isabella Mandl and Ludwig Huber for their study ``No Evidence of Contagious Yawning in the Red-Footed Tortoise.'' CHEMISTRY: Makoto Imai, Naoki Urushihata, Hideki Tanemura, Yukinobu Tajima, Hideaki Goto, Koichiro Mizoguchi and Junichi Murakami for their wasabi alarm. MEDICINE: Matthew Lewis, Peter Snyder, Robert Feldman, Robert Pietrzak, David Darby, Paul Maruff along with Mirjam Tuk, Debra Trampe and Luk Warl

Sep 30, 2011

Recent books

You Can Succeed As Much As You Play Kim Jung-un; Book 21: 336 pp., 15,000 won There are many books that introduce how to study and work for success. But this book looks into how to play in leisure time to make society better. The author says that Koreans are known as hard-working people but they don’t have a good sense of spending their time. Lacking decent hobbies, they drink and sing in the bars and karaoke. According to the book, such a culture could impair national competitiveness as creativity is psychologically synonymous with fun in this knowledge-oriented society. He argues that those who are good at playing “efficiently” have more chances to succeed through his cultural and psychological concepts. Particularly, Korean society’s biggest problem lies in its lack of communication that can be restored through fun and play. In the book, he points out the so-called baby boomers are the main culprit for anger and hatred in our society. He says they are good at fighting for democracy but unaware of pursuing true happiness and fun. ― Chung Ah-young Alep

Sep 30, 2011

Religions’ insights for modern world

By Chung Ah-young Sometimes religions cause conflicts and feuds among different believers and even threaten world peace at historical points, resulting in antagonism rather than philanthropy. For many atheists and agnostics, religions seem to do more harm than good. Nonetheless, Alain de Botton, a London-based Swiss author, argues that religions still important have things to teach the modern secular world. His new book titled “Religion for Atheists” suggests that the secular world should steal from religions as they have insight and inspiration to mend human relations and contribute to education and even art. “The book is an attempt to ask how religion can be interesting even to people who don’t believe in anything supernatural,” he said in a recent press conference in Seoul. The book, which hasn’t been published in English yet, has been first released in Korea. He is visiting Seoul to promote the publication of the book and give lectures to young Korean students. He will leave Korea Sunday. The author said that in the West for the last few years, there has been

Sep 30, 2011

Recent Books

A Letter to the Japanese Written in Tanka Poetry Lee Sun-shine; Seochon: 209 pp., 14,000 won In March, a devastating earthquake shook Japan and the world with countless victims and much damage. Poet Lee Sun-shine, daughter of the late renowned poet Son Ho-yun (1923-2003), was one of the people who despaired at the news as she and her mother have a deep relationship with Japan. Her late mother had published six volumes of tanka — Japanese poems of 31 syllables — in Japan. And the daughter follows in her mother’s footsteps with the publication of her tanka collection to comfort the Japanese victims. “I felt hopeless when I heard of the unexpected quake, tsunami and ensuing nuclear disasters. At that moment, I thought ardent love about Japan of my mother who was loved by Japanese and if she was alive, a line of her tanka might console them,” Lee said. Lee wrote some 250 poems right after the quake and introduced them in both Japanese and Korean newspapers. Her poems reflect her wish for a quick recovery from the quake of, the pains of the Japanese victims

Sep 23, 2011

’Storytelling, universality key to overseas success’

Korea Literature Translation Institute celebrates 10th anniversary of foundation By Chung Ah-young The Korea Literature Translation Institute (KLTI) celebrates the 10th anniversary of its foundation this year after helping Korean literature become known to overseas readers. Translators and publishers from English-speaking countries as well as France, China, Germany and Poland gathered to discuss its current status on the world literature scene and to give advice for the further success of Korean literature. Lim Yeong-hee, a translator at KLTI and a planning manager of Philippe Picquier, a French publisher, said that to succeed in overseas markets, Korean literature should be universal and focus on storytelling rather than its tradition, history and cultural identity. “In the 1970s and ’80s, most Korean literary works dealt with the Korean War (1950-1953). When they were introduced in France in 1990s, they were not successful. But recently, young Korean authors mix fantasy and reality in a solid structure with more universal themes. These works are appealing overseas, eve

Sep 23, 2011

Recent books

The Royal Educational Methods Do Hyeon-shin; Midas Books: 411 pp., 23,000 won During the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), crowns were supposed to be passed on to the eldest sons of the kings. But only one fourth of 27 Joseon kings were eldest sons. Then how did others ascend to the throne? The book explores how the Joseon royal heirs could survive the hard academic trainings and become kings. They were supposed to spend most of their time studying except for attending official events. The royal heirs attended “seoyeon,” or lectures for crown princes that took place four times a day. The lectures mostly taught Confucian scriptures and historical classics and the princes regularly took the exams. Even after they came to the throne, they continued to study and discussed the scriptures with their high-ranking servants. King Seongjong was an avid student who didn’t skip a single class for six years when he was a crown prince. Even after he took the throne, Seongjong frequently attended the royal lectures. The book says the power of the great kings is attributed to their

Sep 16, 2011
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