Lifestyle - The Korea Times

EXCLUSIVE Psychological thriller 'Perfect Happiness' to hit US, UK bookstores

Barbara Zitwer, a New York-based literary agent and founder of Barbara Zitwer Agency / Courtesy of Barbara ZitwerNew York-based agent Barbara Zitwer calls it this year's most sought-after book worldwideBy Kang Hyun-kyungStar novelist Jeong You-jeong's chilling psychological thriller, “Perfect Happiness,” published by EunHaengNaMu Publishing Co., has been on the bestseller list of the nation's largest bookstore, Kyobo Books, for weeks since it went on sale in Korea in early June. According to the Seoul-based publisher, over 100,000 copies have been sold so far. “Perfect Happiness” revolves around a self-absorbed sister who develops a victim mentality toward her older sister. Their sibling rivalry leads to a tragic showdown. The protagonist tries to achieve happiness for her own sake at the expense of others and endeavors to remove what she perceives as obstacles standing in her own pursuit of happiness. Her version of perfect happiness turns out to be self-destructive. While Korean readers have been drawn to the riveting thriller as it unravels the darkest side

Jul 7, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

[EXCLUSIVE] Psychological thriller 'Perfect Happiness' to hit US, UK bookstores

Yun Ko-eun's 'The Disaster Tourist' wins UK's crime fiction award

Author Yun Ko-eun / Courtesy of Munhakdongne PublishingBy Park Han-solThe cover of "The Disaster Tourist" (2020), written by Yun Ko-eun and translated by Lizzie Buehler / Courtesy of Serpent's TailBest-selling author Yun Ko-eun's novel, “The Disaster Tourist,” became the first Korean literary piece to win the prestigious crime fiction award in the UK, Thursday, local time.The eco-thriller, translated into English last year through sponsorship of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea), was named the winner of the Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger category, awarded by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA).“I was surprised to hear my name called and it feels like I just found a wormhole to another dimension,” Yun remarked at the online award ceremony. “I am willing to dive into this fantastic wormhole and write even more freely from now on.”The CWA Daggers has celebrated quality crime writing since 1955 and is the country's longest-running prize for the genre, awarding works of both fiction and non-fiction in a total of eleven cate

Jul 2, 2021By Park Han-sol

Yun Ko-eun's 'The Disaster Tourist' wins UK's crime fiction award

INTERVIEW Priest and Sogang University president translates book on LGBT people to bridge gap

Fr. Sim Jong-hyeok, a Jesuit priest and president of Sogang University, poses during an interview with The Korea Times at the university in western Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Park Ji-wonFr. Sim Jong-hyeok, a Jesuit priest and president of Sogang University, recently translated a book into Korean to help bridge the gap between religious people and sexual minorities. The book, titled “Building a Bridge,” introduces actual tips like helpful Bible lines for both religious people and sexual minorities to communicate more effectively with each other. The original English-language book was written by Fr. James Martin in 2017 under the title “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.” It is known as the first book in Korean by the Catholic ministry on sexual minorities. The Korean edition came out in April, at a time when the Protestant church has been engaged in fierce resistance against LGBT people's rights and acceptance in society. While the Cat

Jun 24, 2021By Park Ji-won

[INTERVIEW] Priest and Sogang University president translates book on LGBT people to bridge gap

Best-seller lists do not coincide with ideals

The best-selling books section of Kyobo Books in central Seoul / Korea Times fileMoney-making playbooks, literary works that pit conservative and progressive voters against each other dominate best-seller listsBy Kang Hyun-kyungThe most-read articles and top 10 best-selling books at bookstores compiled by media outlets have one thing in common: readers here don't seem to find well-researched, insightful works to be fascinating.This week's best-seller list from Kyobo Books, the nation's largest bookstore, reaffirmed this trend. Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's memoir, “Cho Kuk's Time: Pains, Truth and Untold Thoughts” published by Hangil Books, topped the list, while several books that teach people how to get rich or profit from property speculation also made it on the list.Yet, this week's best-sellers delivered some positive news for the literary industry.Star novelist Jeong You-jeong returned with a new crime thriller tentatively titled in English as “Perfect Happiness.”Jeong's new novel has been on the best-selling books list since late May when the publis

Jun 18, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Best-seller lists do not coincide with ideals

Korea's No. 3 bookstore chain goes bankrupt

A store of Bandi Luni's / Korea Times fileBandi & Luni's, the country's third-biggest bookstore chain that runs both online and in-person channels, has filed for bankruptcy.Seoul Mungo, the company behind the bookstore chain, sent an emergency letter notifying the bankruptcy to members of a local publishers' association on Wednesday. The company reportedly failed to pay a promissory note due the previous day."(I) understand that Seoul Mungo failed to pay a 160 million won ($141,718) promissory note," an official from the Korean Publishers' Association said.Bandi & Luni's has also posted a notification on its website telling customers that orders will no longer be available from its online and mobile channels.Industry officials said they plan to meet with company officials to discuss ways to minimize damage and handle the remaining stock.The bankruptcy comes as bookstores that run in-person stores are increasingly suffering from a slump in sales amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Bandi & Luni's had also closed down some of its retail outlets due to the

Jun 17, 2021

Korea's No. 3 bookstore chain goes bankrupt

Book review: Community, collaboration between poets, artists forged during dark colonial times

Painter Jung Hyun-woong's illustration accompanying Baek Seok's poem, “Me, Natasha and the White Donkey” (1938) / Courtesy of Adan Mungo By Park Han-sol The cover of “Poets and Painters” (2021) by Youn Bum-mo / Courtesy of Dahal Media The fact that the golden age of Korea's modern literature and art occurred during the early 20th century may seem like an ironic twist to many. How was it that the bleak times of Japanese colonial rule formed the backdrop to a cultural flourishing of lively, communal interactions among artists and poets?In fact, colonial Seoul, known back then as Gyeongseong, from 1910s to 1940s, was shaped and defined by a wave of clashes between tradition and modernization. The influx of new ideas, philosophies and culture from the West captivated young Korean intellectuals ― artists and writers alike ― who felt defeated by Japanese i

Jun 16, 2021By Park Han-sol

Book review: Community, collaboration between poets, artists forged during dark colonial times

Books about Yoon Seok-youl: like parable of the blind and the elephant

Former Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl's strong showing in public opinion surveys have spurred a publication boom around him. A total of eight books about him have been published this year alone.Books about the former prosecutor-general give fragmented information about the possible presidential contender By Kang Hyun-kyung Former Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl, 61, has yet to declare a bid to run in the 2022 presidential election slated for March 9. Despite rampant rumors about his candidacy, he has played a waiting game about his presidential run. His every action, word and whereabouts spark speculation about his motives, maybe because he is currently one of the most popular ― albeit unofficial ― presidential contenders. A Gallup poll conducted on 1,000 people in May found Yoon and Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung in a tight two-way race. When asked who they think should become Korea's next president, 25 percent said Lee, while 22 percent opted for Yoon. The poll had a plus or minus 3.1 percentage points margin of error. Some other surveys showed that Yoon was ahead of Lee. The

Jun 15, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Books about Yoon Seok-youl: like parable of the blind and the elephant

'Grandpa Nomura is a living saint'

A fishmonger poses in front of Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market in Seoul in this photo, taken by activist-photographer Choi In-gi. A banner hanging on the blue building to the left announces that the building will be destroyed and that entry is forbidden without approval from the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives. Courtesy of Noonbit PublishingA tale of Korean and Japanese activists who teamed up to improve the lives of the urban poor By Kang Hyun-kyungActivist Choi In-gi's camera was damaged and broken during a photo project in Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market on Oct. 29 of last year. At that time, he was shooting photos of dozens of fish merchants who were protesting the closure of the old market space where they used to sell fish, refusing to move into a brand-new building that was built a few years back.Suddenly, people hired by the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives shot high-velocity water out of a water cannon, deployed there to control and disperse protestors. The blast completely broke Choi's camera, worth some $5,000.A deep sense of loss hit

Jun 13, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Korean children's books win big at Bologna Children's Book Fair

Seen is the cover of the book “Iparapa Yamooyamoo” by Lee Gee-eun which won the BolognaRagazzi Award for comics in the early reader category at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Courtesy of Bologna Children's Book FairKorean book 'Iparapa Yamooyamoo' wins comics category; two others earn special mentions at prestigious children's book awards By Park Ji-wonLee Gee-eun's book “Iparapa Yamooyamoo” won the prestigious BolognaRagazzi Award in the Comics/Early Reader category in awards announced prior to the 58th Bologna Children's Book Fair, the world's largest children's book expo and one of the most prestigious events of its kind.Two other children's books written by Korean authors also won special mentions. “Rice Rice Rice” written by Bamco and “So Much Snow” written by Park Hyun-min were awarded in the non-fiction and debut work categories, respectively.Considering that the BolognaRagazzi Award is regarded as the most illustrious prize for children's literature, the world-class book fair's recognition of three Korean books is an encourag

Jun 2, 2021By Park Ji-won

Korean children's books win big at Bologna Children's Book Fair

Korean fashion designer recounts Elon Musk's 'inspiring' mother

Designer Yuna Yang, right, and Maye Musk in this 2016 file photo / Courtesy of Suo Books 'Fearless' explores adventures of Yuna Yang in New York's fashion industry, experiences with US celebrities By Kang Hyun-kyungKorean fashion designer Yuna Yang praised business tycoon Elon Musk's mother, Maye, portraying her as an inspiring woman and highly-successful model. In her recently published autobiography, “Fearless: World-Class Korean Fashion Designer's Way to Succeed,” Yang described Maye Musk as “a strong woman who chose to migrate all the way to Canada from South Africa for her three children's education.”Mentioning her brief work experience with Maye Musk during the 2016 Met Gala, the Korean fashion designer lauded the model for her work ethic. Yang said Musk chose to live a life as a model, instead of as a mother of the billionaire son, saying she was amazed by her way life and professionalism.In “Fearless,” Yang shares her impression of some of her models and cel

Jun 1, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

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