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Recent books

Tsunami: Never-Ending Warning Ryu Seung-il; Fir Forest: 264 pp., 13,800 won On March 11, Japan’s northeastern coast was peaceful as usual until the most powerful earthquake with a 9.0 magnitude hit the region, triggering a massive tsunami. All eyes were fixated on Japan with great concern over the damage to nuclear power plants and snowballing destruction. Photographer and author Ryu Seung-il captured the scenes from the disaster zones from March 14 and unfolds the stories behind the disaster. He tried to capture despair, frustration and sorrow through his lens. Some victims became aggressive in front of their houses that had turned into ruins while others tried to find hope amid the chaos. The book focuses on the human stories of the victims who tried to overcome the disaster and struggled to be calm. The photos reveal a vivid record of ghost towns in which only the frames of houses are left. Just severed railroads and flooded playgrounds remain. The writer released the book in the hope that the disaster should not be forgotten by Koreans who tend to forget tragedies e

May 27, 2011

Top authors discuss globalization, literature

By Chung Ah-young In a rapidly globalizing world, conventional borders are blurred in every sphere of daily life such as trade, multinational corporations, regional economies, cultures and technology. Globalization has brought both positive and negative effects but it is true that there is an increasing concern of dehumanization alongside homogenization of cultures and commoditization of values in an ever expanding global market economy. To tackle such issues in the context of literature, world renowned authors such as Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Gao Xingjian and Andrew Motion are gathering at the 3rd Seoul International Forum for Literature 2011. The forum kicks off today and will continue through Thursday at the Kyobo Convention Hall and Seminar Room in Gwanghwamun under the theme of “The Globalizing World and the Human Community.” The Daesan Foundation hosted the forum in 2000 and 2005 under the themes “Writing Across Boundaries” and “Writing for Peace,” which may be said to fall in the categories of the problems of glob

May 24, 2011

Recent Books

Ha Jung-woo, Feeling It Ha Jung-woo; Munhak Dongne: 256 pp., 13,800 won Renowned for starring in popular local films such as “Beasty Boys” and “The Chaser” and “My Dear Enemy,” movie star Ha Jung-woo has made a name for himself by mastering a wide range of versatile characters. Now he is showing off his talents as a painter having held three exhibitions and producing more than 100 paintings. More than 80 percent of his paintings have been sold already to high-profile collectors and he is receiving frequent calls to hold exhibitions overseas such as in China. The book introduces his 60 paintings, including rough sketches, drawings, and essays about his acting career, family, love, friendship and daily life in a candid manner. In his writings, Ha reveals personal opinions rather than hiding behind an actor persona. Modern artists such as Edward Hopper, Elizabeth Peyton and Louise Bourgeois are also introduced in the book as inspiration for his artistic work when he first started painting in 2003. The actor said that he is more comfortable when he is introduced as a

May 20, 2011

Pooneh Nedai bridges Korean, Iranian literatures

By Chung Ah-young After Korean epic dramas such as “The Jewel in the Palace” and “Jumong” became big hits on Iranian television, the country began reaching out not only to Korean pop culture but also its literature. The Korean book section at the recent Tehran International Book Fair, which ended on May 14 in Tehran, drew many Iranian visitors, showing their avid interest in Korea. Behind the phenomenon lies Iranian poet and publisher Pooneh Nedai’s efforts to bridge the two cultures with her literary exchanges to introduce Korean literature to her native country. Her recent translation of the Korean book “Point Story” written by Kang Woo-hyon, CEO of Nami Island, an illustrated essay, came into spotlight at the Iranian book fair and further ignited the interest in Korean literature there. “Point Story” is a tale about inspiration and creativity as one single tiny point goes through a life of transformations, making friends and becoming part of the world. In the book, just a person or a flower can be seen as the point. The sun, the moon, the stars and even people’s min

May 20, 2011

Indigenous portrait of haenyeo

Jeju divers draw island’s history, ethos By Chung Ah-young Wrinkled faces, rough knuckles, gray hair and strong personalities might well define the livelihood of “haenyeo” (female divers), a symbolic face of Jeju Island, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Korea for its beautiful beaches, exotic atmosphere and mild weather. Their features epitomize the haunting tales of the island natives saddled with the ups and downs of a hard life for survival. The new book “Moon Tides: Jeju Island Grannies of the Sea” written by Korean-American photo journalist Brenda Paik Sunoo with Han Young-sook documents the stories of the island through the eyes of the haenyeo. The author, a third-generation Korean-American writer and photojournalist based in Orange County, California, gathered the women’s stories while living in their diving villages for seven months between 2007 and 2009 to capture their lives through intimate interviews and vivid photographs. The book consists of seven chapters from survival, shamans, suffering, aging, compassion, family and future to track do

May 13, 2011

Recent books

Critical Mass Baik Ji-yeon; Yalma: 272 pp., 13,000 won Critical mass actually refers to the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Renowned anchorwoman Baik Ji-yeon applies this concept to the success factor ― the amount of effort and patience people need to become what they really want to be. Better known as the host of “Baik Ji-yeon’s People Inside,” an interview show on YTN, she has met 100 influential figures over the past two years. While listening to the interviewees’ stories behind their success, she has found something different from others. Those who succeed in their own fields experienced hardship while making enormous efforts to improve themselves. When there seemed no sign of progress, they wanted to give up but held on to finally achieve their dream. This is the critical mass which fuels the momentum to become self-sustaining and create further growth. Even if there seems no immediate change, the outcome will be favorable unless you give up. The author said that as frustration and despair run deep, they are close

May 13, 2011

Korean books gaining popularity at Iran fair

By Chung Ah-young Iranians are showing an avid interest in the Korean book section at the 24th Tehran International Book Fair which kicked off on May 4 in Tehran and runs until May 14. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the e-book section at the Korean booth is enjoying great popularity. Iranian visitors eagerly tried e-book readers while asking whether the content was available for Iranians and how much it cost. In particular books by Kang Woo-hyon, the CEO of Nami Island, and Zen Master Kim Chang-sik have been receiving positive feedback from Iranians. Kang’s “Point Story,” translated by Iranian author and publisher Pooneh Nedaih, is an illustrated essay featuring dots, lines and squares drawn in black ink. The book includes simple stories as well. Kim’s “Our Planet Is Nature’s Stage” consists of poems to express the birth and life of all kinds of living things on the planet. It also conveys emotional messages through the images. “As the interest in Korea is growing in Iran, we are trying to make more content available to Iranians in various fiel

May 10, 2011

Recent books

From Woman to Human Kim Heung-sook; Seohae: 211pp., 12,000 won Author Kim Heung-sook suggests 12 ways to age well, featuring, for instance, making good decisions, consistency, and kindness. She also cites the need to refrain from envy, worry, and comparing to live happily with others. Kim worked with The Korea Times for 12 years with stints at Yonhap News Agency and the U.S. Embassy in Korea. She is now contributing articles to English and other local dailies. Based on her experiences as a journalist she deals with various topics from social trends, love and human relations to more profound ones like death and suicide in this essay book. She touches on issues with journalistic objectivity but with a touch of warmth. She stresses the principle of the benefit of doubt as a means of finding a solution to conflicts in human relations by understating others. She says a mother should be a good role model for a ‘human.’ A mother needs to have a strong conviction alongside a deep love for her offspring. — SHIM JAE-YUN

May 6, 2011

Autobiographical reflections on journey to Korea

By Chung Ah-young Sent by the Society of Jesus’ Wisconsin Province in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, American Jesuit missionary John L. Mitchell came to Korea to help establish Sogang College (now Sogang University), which first opened in 1960. He remembers the first day he stepped onto Korean soil in 1959 as a Jesuit scholar. The nation was recovering from the horrors and destruction of the Korean War (1950-53) and still in a depressing condition. In the new foreign landscape, culture, and environment, he didn’t know the Korean language and was thrown into a “strange but fascinating country.” He recalls himself as “a mountain rabbit” that was on a journey to the war-stricken nation which was foreign and exotic to him in his book “Mountain Rabbit: Whither Goest Thou?” His 15-year “journey” to Korea had three dimensions — the obvious geographical one from America to Korea; an educational one from learning the Korean culture and language to becoming a university professor; and a spiritual one from being a religious missionary to becoming a Catholic priest in the Society o

May 6, 2011

Recent books

Korea Journal: The Horak Debate in 18th-Century Joseon Korean National Commission for UNESCO The “horak” debate was a Neo-Confucian polemic among Confucian scholars of Joseon (1392-1910) in the 18th century. In the term horak, “ho” denotes the Chungcheong region and “rak” represents Seoul, referring to the arguments between the scholars of the two different regions. The event marked an important series of debates based on Confucian ideas concerning the issues of the mind, heart and nature. Discussions ranged from philosophical topics to diverse themes of politics, society and governance. The esoteric exchange led to the construction of a new theory, enabling the development of Korean Neo-Confucianism that was distinct from its Chinese counterpart, the Zhu Xi school of thought. The journal includes: Choi Young-Jin’s “The Horak Debate in Eighteenth-Century Joseon,” Lee Kyung-ku’s “The Horak Debate from the Reign of King Sukjong to King Sunjo,” Cho Sung-san’s “Discursive Structures and Cultural Features of Nak-ron Thought in Late Joseon Korea,” Hong Jung-geun’s “ Is the Mor

Apr 29, 2011
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