Lifestyle - The Korea Times

56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards

The Korea Times is inviting translators from around the world to participate in the 56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards. Since 1970, The Korea Times has been dedicated to recognizing excellence in literary translation and promoting Korean literature to a global readership through this annual competition. Many of the leading translators and scholars working in the field today began their careers as winners of the Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, and The Korea Times looks forward to ushering in a new generation of skilled translators in the years to come. The annual competition awards English translations of works of contemporary Korean literature in two categories: fiction/drama and poetry. Prize • Grand Prize in Fiction/Drama: 7 million won • Grand Prize in Poetry: 4 million won • Commendation Awards: 2 million won each to entries in either fiction/drama or poetry • Kevin O'Rourke Award: 1 million won to an entry in either fiction/drama or poetry * The Korea Times Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards are sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and

Apr 30, 2025

Han Kang's 'Light and Thread' paints intimate portrait of novelist beyond her writing desk

“After having lived a little more / When I stand at the edge of death / Will I be able to think / That I truly held life tight (through writing).” So begins “After Having Lived a Little More,” a contemplative two-page essay that drifts between lyrical poetry and prose, by Han Kang. This brief meditation on the act of writing graces the final pages of her latest book, “Light and Thread,” her first publication since winning the historic Nobel Prize in Literature last October. “Light and Thread” gathers 12 essays and poems — some previously published, others unveiled for the first time — paired with black-and-white photographs captured by Han herself. The 172-page volume draws its title from the writer’s Nobel lecture, delivered on Dec. 7 at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm. The book presents ample opportunity to revisit her stirring Nobel Week speech, as it includes the full text of both her Nobel lecture and her banquet address, “In the Darkest Night.” In the speech, she describes writing as a worthwhile “tradeoff” — an exchange between her personal life a

Apr 29, 2025By Park Han-sol

Han Kang's 'Light and Thread' paints intimate portrait of novelist beyond her writing desk

BOOK REVIEW Robin Ha's graphic novel 'The Fox Maidens' offers fierce tale of gumiho

"The Fox Maidens" is an inspired take on one of the most subversive themes in East Asian folktales: that of the female cooptation of the male body in a patriarchal society. Among the most common representations of this theme are the tales involving a nine-tail fox (gumiho) that takes on the form of a comely maiden who seduces a man and thereby deprives him of his psychic energy, or ki. The story begs for visual treatment, and Robin Ha’s graphic novel, the result of three and a half years of creative work and running more than 300 pages, with an average of five panels per page, more than fills the bill. Kai (Ka-hŭi in Korean), the protagonist, is the daughter of Meorhu, a low-born woman rescued by a gumiho that maintains itself by feeding on the livers of evil men, and Tamjin, orphaned by the murder of his family by a corrupt royal guard but restored to elite status by hunting gumiho. Early on, Kai distinguishes herself in the martial arts program run by her father, a general of the local Royal Legion. But at puberty, a crisis ensues when her first menstrual flow (the moonblood) is a

Apr 24, 2025By Bruce Fulton

[BOOK REVIEW] Robin Ha's graphic novel 'The Fox Maidens' offers fierce tale of gumiho

5 book cafes in Seoul to celebrate World Book Day

There's no better time to highlight the cozy corners of Seoul where book lovers can escape the city’s bustle for a quiet read than on World Book Day. While bookstores and libraries are classic havens, some readers crave a bit more — serenity paired with a warm latte or a refreshing iced Americano. That’s where book cafes come in: part sanctuary, part café, these spaces blend the joy of literature with the comfort of a good drink. These aren’t just places to grab coffee — they’re immersive environments where the scent of espresso mingles with the rustle of turning pages, offering both refuge and inspiration. We hope you'll enjoy World Book Day! 1. Deosup Chosochaekbang (@deosup_chosochaekbang on Instagram) Tucked away on the side of Mount Inwang, Deosup is set off beautifully by its tranquil location, surrounded by forest and mountain views. The remote setting makes it a bit harder to access than other cafes on this list, but that’s part of the charm. Housed in a former military guard post, it boasts a spacious outdoor area and is highly recommended for readers who enjoy hi

Apr 23, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

5 book cafes in Seoul to celebrate World Book Day

K-LIT REVIEW Reality TV becomes reality in Soyoung Park's sci-fi YA novel 'Snowglobe'

"Snowglobe," written by Soyoung Park and translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort, is a sci-fi YA novel about uncovering the secrets of a climate-controlled city called Snowglobe. It was originally published in Korean in 2020. The sequel will come out in spring 2025. The novel features strong worldbuilding. Also, it is effectively surprising to the reader when what you thought the entire book was built on was really something entirely different. However, the book leans heavily on its plot, and I feel more character development is needed. The author included a lot of details to make this dystopian world seem plausible. The world is frozen over except for Snowglobe, where actors and directors make reality TV shows for the rest of the world to watch. However, the directors pull the strings behind the scenes. The background actors, called ‘the licorice’, also get paid a lot of money, even though they are just in the background. I like how it reflects the real world more realistically than other sci-fi stories I’ve read — it explores the complexities of both high society and the lower cla

Apr 21, 2025By Beatrice Nickolai

[K-LIT REVIEW] Reality TV becomes reality in Soyoung Park's sci-fi YA novel 'Snowglobe'

No win for 'Your Utopia' at Philip K. Dick Award, but Bora Chung still makes history

Bora Chung’s short story collection “Your Utopia,” translated by Anton Hur, did not take home this year’s Philip K. Dick Award. The top honor went instead to Brenda Peynado’s “Time’s Agent,” as announced Friday (local time) at Norwescon in Seattle. Named after the iconic American sci-fi visionary, the Philip K. Dick Award has recognized outstanding works of science fiction originally published in paperback in the U.S. since 1983. Chung made history as the first Korean writer ever nominated in the prize’s 42-year run. "Your Utopia” was also just the third translated work to be recognized, following special citations for “Harmony” by Project Itoh, translated from Japanese by Alexander O. Smith, in 2011 and "In the Mothers' Land" by Elisabeth Vonarburg, translated from French by Jane Brierley, in 1992. Like her acclaimed collection “Cursed Bunny” — a finalist for both the 2022 International Booker Prize and the 2023 National Book Award — “Your Utopia” showcases the writer’s signature blend of the surreal and the tender. Across eight genre-defying storie

Apr 19, 2025By Park Han-sol

No win for 'Your Utopia' at Philip K. Dick Award, but Bora Chung still makes history

Han Kang to release first book since Nobel win

Korean author Han Kang will publish her first book since receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature last December, her publisher said Thursday. The essay collection, titled "Light and Thread," will be released next Thursday by Moonji Publishing Company. It marks the ninth volume in the publisher's ongoing essay series and shares its title with Han's Nobel lecture, delivered in Stockholm, ahead of the award ceremony. The book will feature about 10 pieces, comprising Han's Nobel lecture, previously published poems and diary-like essays that reflect on her experiences with poetry, gardening and the act of writing itself. Roughly half of the content will be published for the first time, while the rest is previously released works from literary magazines, according to the publisher. Two poems — "North-Facing Room" and "Meditation on Pain" — originally featured in last year's autumn issue of Moonji's Literature and Society journal, will also be included. "This is a book through which readers can enter the author's quiet inner world, or the world of a quiet first-person perspective," a Moonji of

Apr 17, 2025By Yonhap

Han Kang to release first book since Nobel win

INTERVIEW Bora Chung shows us what sci-fi with its fists raised looks like

An AI-powered elevator harbors an unrequited love for an apartment resident it ferries up and down each day. It hides secrets in its coded database, pines in tender silence and serenades her with a 1941 poem by a Polish resistance fighter — its language so achingly sensuous, “it feels like gold and silver melting into verse” (“A Song for Sleep”). Elsewhere, at a high-tech research institute, a low-level employee battles cosmic bureaucracy to plan a flashy gala, only to be swept into a crime she didn’t commit. But she can’t be fired. Not now, not ever (“The Center for Immortality Research”). Welcome to “Your Utopia” — another wonderfully bizarre collection of short stories from Bora Chung, the acclaimed Korean author of “Cursed Bunny.” Deftly rendered into English by Anton Hur, the collection, like its International Booker Prize- and National Book Award-nominated predecessor, traverses a landscape where the uncanny meets droll humor and tenderness lurks in the unlikeliest places. The eight featured stories leap across fantastical worlds — from space cannibal

Apr 16, 2025By Park Han-sol

[INTERVIEW] Bora Chung shows us what sci-fi with its fists raised looks like

K-LIT REVIEW Bora Chung's 'Your Utopia' offers the breath-giving sci-fi we needed

As a university student, I needed a third-year art elective. Another science major had told me about a class that was popular among our cohort — a comparative literature course with a focus on science fiction. I needed no further convincing. I was already a fan of science fiction, and the course taught me new tools to enjoy and understand it further. The reading list was a great introduction to new works and authors, including Philip K. Dick, who I now count among my favorite authors. "Your Utopia" by Bora Chung is a collection of eight short stories. Its nomination for the Philip K. Dick Award — one of the "Big 3" science fiction awards, along with the Nebula and Hugo awards — seems appropriate, as Dick was himself a prolific short story writer. It was the first Korean nomination for the award — fitting, since breaking new ground is something Chung does very well. Truly impressive science fiction requires a willingness to break down the barriers between the present and future, not just in technology but in perception, culture and experience. "Your Utopia" impresses with its u

Apr 16, 2025By Arlo Matisz

[K-LIT REVIEW] Bora Chung's 'Your Utopia' offers the breath-giving sci-fi we needed

Forgotten bosses: Women entrepreneurs in Korea's postwar economy

The Korean War forced Lim Hyung-seon and her young daughter to flee Seoul for Busan — a harrowing journey marked by poverty and despair. As she struggled to care for her sick child and survive the war’s economic fallout, Lim even considered suicide. However, amid the chaos, Lim found an unexpected opportunity. She had hairstyling skills she had honed over the years — skills few women possessed at the time. "After just three months of work, I managed to buy a shanty house in Yongdusan (a region in Busan), with two rooms and a kitchen," Lim recalled. "I had arrived with nothing. Even professors were working the docks then, so for a beauty salon owner to afford a home in that area — that was extraordinary." With millions of men drafted to the front lines, countless women stepped into the workforce to support their families in a country left impoverished by the war. In 1953, just after the armistice, Korea’s per capita gross national income was only $67. Kim Mee-sun, a research professor at Ewha Womans University’s Korean Women’s Institute, tries to offer a different lens throu

Apr 12, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo

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