Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Westerners' accounts of pre-modern Korea open to public for 1st time

A promotional image for the Korean Cultural Center New York's upcoming exhibition “The Wonder Unbound” / Courtesy of KCCNYBy Park Han-solIt was centuries ago when Korea, known as Joseon (1392-1910), earned a curious nickname ― the hermit kingdom. The term came from American author William Elliot Griffis' “Korea: The Hermit Nation” (1882) when recounting stories related to the country, which had deliberately shut itself off from the rest of the world.Still, a select few foreigners were able to set foot inside this reclusive nation: missionaries, diplomats, soldiers, historians and adventurers.The Korean Cultural Center New York's (KCCNY) upcoming exhibition, “The Wonder Unbound,” spotlights the written and illustrated documents on the country from the early 18th to mid-20th centuries penned by these very Westerners as a lens to examine pre-modern Korea's cultural, economic, sociopolitical and religious practices.Starting on March 15, the show coincides with Asia Week New York, a citywide celebration of Asian art held among art specialists, museums,

Mar 5, 2023By Park Han-sol

Westerners' accounts of pre-modern Korea open to public for 1st time

Korean nominees announced for celebrated children's literature awards

From left, writer Lee Geum-yi and illustrator Kwon Yoon-duck have been selected as the Korean nominees for the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award by the Korean Board on Books for Young People (KBBY). The organization has also named author Yoo Eun-sil, right, as the nominee for the 2024 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Courtesy of KBBYBy Park Han-solThe list of Korean nominees for the 2024 edition of the distinguished international children's literature awards was announced on Saturday. Writer Lee Geum-yi and illustrator Kwon Yoon-duck have been nominated for the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award (HCAA), according to the Korean Board on Books for Young People (KBBY).Also referred to as the “Little Nobel Prize,” the HCAA is the highest international recognition given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) to both an author and an illustrator for their lifelong contributions to children's literature. Named in honor of the 19th-century Danish author of celebrated fairy tales, the prize is awarded biennially based on the unique aesthetic and literary quali

Feb 19, 2023By Park Han-sol

Korean nominees announced for celebrated children's literature awards

'Jikji' to go on display in France for first time in 50 years

The cover of the second volume of “Jikji” / Courtesy of Cheongju Jikji Korea Organization"Jikji," the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, will be displayed for the first time in half a century at an exhibition in France.According to the homepage of the National Library of France on Thursday, "Jikji," the abbreviated title of "Jikji Simche Yojeol," will be shown as part of its exhibition on the history of printing technology, set to run from April 12 to July 16.It marks the first time in about 50 years that the book, currently kept at the library in Paris, is open to the public.The book about teachings of great Buddhist priests was printed at Heungdeok Temple in Cheongju, 112 kilometers south of Seoul, during the Goryeo Kingdom in 1377. This was 78 years before the Gutenberg Bible, the earliest substantial book printed using metal type in Europe."Jikji" was first shown to the public at the 1900 Paris Exposition in France, according to the Jikji Global website run by the Cheongju Early Printing Museum to promote the Korean cultural heritage.The book

Feb 16, 2023

'Jikji' to go on display in France for first time in 50 years

Gov't issues book on Korean alcohol in English

Munbaeju, a traditional Korean liquor made of grains including non-glutinous millet and red sorghum / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and TourismBy Kim RahnThe cover of “Hidden Charms of Korea: SOOL” / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and TourismAn English-language book featuring Korea's traditional alcohol, collectively called “sool,” has been published to help foreigners better understand the unique charms of Korean alcohol.The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it recently issued “Hidden Charms of Korea: SOOL.” The book is based on feature articles, interviews and expert contributions posted on the government's foreign language portal, Korea.net.The 112-page book introduces not only famous green-bottled Korean alcohol “soju,” but also traditional liquors that have not been widely known around the world, as well as foods that pair well with the alcohol and Korea's drinking culture. Under the main theme of “Sool-ution,” the book is divi

Feb 13, 2023By Kim Rahn

Gov't issues book on Korean alcohol in English

US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book

Barbara Zitwer poses in her New York home with copies of her new book, "The Korean Book of Happiness." Courtesy of Barbara ZitwerBy Jack LauBarbara Zitwer broke into tears. She had never told anyone about the stress when helping her husband go through an organ transplant after being diagnosed with liver cancer that ― if left untreated ― would have left him with three months to live. But engulfed in icy mid-January air and leafy mountains in South Korea's Jeondeung Temple, tended for over a millennium by Buddhist monks, she finally shared the fears she felt.“We are happy now,” the young monk told her, making her laugh. Why waste the present carrying burdens of the past, she thought, a message she still ponders on today whenever she feels anxious. Zitwer took her first trip to South Korea to discover writers from the country that were unknown to the English-speaking world, in hopes of making their translated works into international bestsellers. But she did not expect what she described as an epiphany about finding happiness while sipping tea with a monk.“It was a tot

Feb 6, 2023

US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book

Publisher suspends supplying books by disgraced poet amid criticism

Poet Ko Un / Korea Times file A publisher on Friday apologized for releasing new books of poems by disgraced poet Ko Un and said it will suspend supplying the books to bookstores in consideration of public opinion against his return without any apology for his alleged past sexual misconduct.Silcheon Munhak has come under strong public criticism for opening the way for the disgraced poet to return to the literary scene by publishing the books without any explanation on or apology for the allegations of sexual misconduct.The books published last month were a collection of 129 poems by the renowned writer under a Korean title roughly translated as "Song of Nothingness" and "Conversations with Ko Un," a compilation of conversations between him and Iranian-Canadian philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the poet's debut in 1958.Ko, who had long been listed as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, suspended his writing career in 201

Jan 20, 2023

Publisher suspends supplying books by disgraced poet amid criticism

New books by disgraced poet Ko Un spark calls for boycott

The book covers of “Conversations with Ko Un,” left, and “Song of Nothingness” (literal translation) / Courtesy of Silcheon MunhakBy Kwak Yeon-sooPoet Ko Un recently published two new books, sparking a boycott movement in protest of his alleged past sexual misconduct.Last month, publisher Silcheon Munhak released Ko's collection of 129 poems titled, “Song of Nothingness” (literal translation), and “Conversations with Ko Un,” a compilation of conversations between him and Iranian philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the poet's debut in 1958.This marks the disgraced poet's return to the literary scene following multiple sexual misconduct allegations that were brought forth against him beginning in 2017. Neither the publisher nor the poet made any mention of the allegations. The publishing house did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The release of Ko's books immediately led to a campaign to boycott the books online, with many urging others to give his books a miss.“It's nothing but the

Jan 11, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

New books by disgraced poet Ko Un spark calls for boycott

Genre fiction likely to lead book trend in 2023

Novelists Bora Chung, left, and Yun Ko-eun / Courtesy of Arzak, Hyundae Munhak By Kwak Yeon-sooWith new works from genre-fiction authors Kim Un-su, Chung Bora and Yun Ko-eun, the year 2023 looks exciting for Korean literature. Kim will release his new novel “Big Eye” this year, completing his so-called “repugnance” trilogy of novels following “The Plotters” (2010) and “Hot Blooded” (2016).Set in the early 20th century, the upcoming novel is about deep-sea fishing workers. To write this book, Kim was aboard a deep-sea fishing vessel that operated in the Pacific Ocean for over six months from December 2017 to June 2018. Fantastical crime novel “The Plotters” has been translated into several languages and published in dozens of countries, including the U.S., France, Australia and Russia. In 2016, the book was shortlisted for the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere ― the most prestigious award for crime and detective fiction in France. “Hot Blooded,” about a third-rate

Jan 3, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Genre fiction likely to lead book trend in 2023

Fantasy novel series earns largest export contract for Korean books

This photo provided by The Golden Bough shows Lee Yeong-do's four-part Korean fantasy series "The Bird That Drinks Tears." Yonhap"The Bird That Drinks Tears," a fantasy novel series by Lee Yeong-do, has set a new record for foreign exports of Korean books, its publisher said Monday.The four-part series has recently been sold to a European publisher at about 300 million won ($235,997) in advance royalty payment for the right to publish it, Minumsa said, without specifying the European publisher."Advance royalty payment" is a royalty paid in advance to writers when signing a publishing contract. The 300 million won is the highest amount for any Korean book exported to a single country.The previous record was set when Kim Soo-hyun's essay "Comfortably Without Trying Too Hard" was exported to Japan at about 200 million won in 2020. Lee has already received more than 600 million won in advance royalty payment for the overseas rights to publish the book from publishers in 12 countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands and Ukraine, according to t

Jan 2, 2023

Fantasy novel series earns largest export contract for Korean books

Korean literature continues to ride high on global stage

The covers of Chung Bora's “Cursed Bunny” (2021), left, and Park Sang-young's “Love in the Big City” (2021), both translated by Anton Hur / Courtesy of Honford Star, Tilted Axis PressBy Park Han-solFrom genre-defying short story collections to poetry and graphic novels, a string of translated Korean literary works continued to ride high on the global stage in 2022 as they were nominated for or won coveted prizes.In 2022, Korean literature published overseas scored a total of four wins and nine nominations, according to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea).Chung Bora's short story collection “Cursed Bunny” ― a gripping mix of absurdist tales that draw on science fiction, horror and fantasy ― made headlines after making it on to the shortlist of six titles for 2022's International Booker Prize.Earlier, the U.K. prize's longlist of 13 nominees included another Korean writer's work: Park Sang-young's queer romance novel “Love in the Big City.” Both pieces were translated by Anton Hur.In Japan, Sohn Won-pyung's “Co

Dec 30, 2022By Park Han-sol

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