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Book review: Physician warns of medical misinformation

By Kang Hyun-kyung “How to Use a Doctor” by Hwang Se-won Hwang Se-won's “How to Use a Doctor” published by Raon Books warns of the dangers of self-informed patients' quack remedies for their medical symptoms, saying their self-diagnosis based on medical misinformation could make their condition worse. Using an eatery analogy, the physician urges patients to consult with their doctors if they have questions or are experiencing certain symptoms. “You can see lots of places to eat when you surf the web to find good eateries. Many of the restaurants that pop up there are ones that hired social media influencers to promote their businesses. Their sponsored reviews make it tough for consumers to find real good restaurants,” she writes. “A similar thing happens when we search information about certain diseases or symptoms. The internet is flooded with information but little of it is reliable or verified. This is what's happening in medical fields as people having no medic

Feb 5, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung

Book review: Physician warns of medical misinformation

INTERVIEW Novelist Cho Hae-jin gives voice to voiceless people

Cho Hae-jin, author of “I Met Loh Kiwan” and “Simple Sincerity,” poses during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe inside the Changbi Publishers building in Mapo District, western Seoul, Feb. 1. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Park Han-sol“I am a person who wishes to write about sincerity, with sincerity.”With this phrase, fiction writer Cho Hae-jin explained her literary focus based on recounting the stories of nameless figures ― politically marginalized Koreans, immigrants and adoptees. She said she finds parts of herself in those voiceless people, and that her sense of solidarity forces her to keep writing their tales.Since her literary debut with the 2004 novella, “Asking for Directions to a Woman,” Cho has been the recipient of prestigious prizes, including the Shin Dong-yup Prize for Literature, Lee Hyo-seok Literature Award and Daesan Literary Award. Cho is a prolific novelist. Almost every year, she has published either anthologies, short story collections or full-length novels, such as “City of Angels”

Feb 5, 2021By Park Han-sol

[INTERVIEW] Novelist Cho Hae-jin gives voice to voiceless people

Polish novel 'Koreanska Syrena' tells modern haenyeo fantasy story

Oliwia In, author of Polish novel "Koreanska Syrena," or “Korean mermaid” in English, about "haenyeo," or female divers, of Jeju Island / Courtesy of Oliwia InBy Kwon Mee-yooOliwia In, a Polish citizen having lived in Korea for over 12 years, is about to publish her first book "Koreanska Syrena," or “Korean mermaid,” in English, in her home country.In, who studied art history and Korean studies in Warsaw, obtained a Korean government scholarship to come to Korea and major in fashion at Yonsei University.In fell in love with Korea's southern resort destination of Jeju Island and even got married there back in 2016. That's when she first saw haenyeo making a dive, which mesmerized her. "They dive without any breathing equipment and stay underwater for quite a long time. I immediately thought of mythical mermaids when I saw the haenyeo," In said. "They could wear diving gear, but instead they get closer to nature without artificial equipment. They seemed like mystic sea creatures to me."As a fashion major, In is also much interested in the unique fashion of haeny

Feb 4, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

Polish novel 'Koreanska Syrena' tells modern haenyeo fantasy story

Russian author and illustrator imagines haenyeo as ballerina

Nika Tchaikovskaya's illustrations for "Haenyeorina," a book about the "haenyeo," or female divers, of Jeju Island / Courtesy of Nika TchaikovskayaBy Kwon Mee-yoo"Haenyeo," or female divers on Jeju Island, are symbols of strength and tenacity. They make a living by diving to depths of up to 10 meters without oxygen masks to harvest seafood such as abalone and sea urchins around the island.In 2016, haenyeo were recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, in recognition of their unique culture as well as their contribution to the advancement of the status of women in the community and promotion of environmental sustainability through their eco-friendly fishing methods.Many of them are in their 60s or even older, but spend up to seven hours a day in the water, holding their breath for one full minute during each dive. Nika Tchaikovskaya, a Russian author and illustrator living on the island, which is located off the southern coast of the Korean mainland, compared the nimble movements of haenyeo underwater to the graceful moves of ballet dancers. This comparison ins

Feb 4, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

Russian author and illustrator imagines haenyeo as ballerina

Oldest metal-printed book published in Korean, English

The cover of “Jikji Simche Yojeol” in Korean, left, and English. Courtesy of the Jogye OrderJikji, the world's oldest book printed with movable metal type, has been published in Korean and English, the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, said Sunday.Jikji, written in Chinese characters by Buddhist monk Baegun Gyeonghan, is the abbreviated title of a Buddhist document whose full title, "Jikji Simche Yojeol," can be translated as "anthology of great Buddhist priests' Zen teachings."It was printed in 1377 at the Heungdeok Temple in the central city of Cheongju during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). That was 78 years prior to the printing of Gutenberg's 42-line Bible in Europe.The Jogye Order first published the Korean and English translations of Jikji in 2005, and the latest editions have been completed through reviewing and reediting throughout last year.The Buddhist order said it will publish the French translation of Jikji this year and push ahead with other relevant projects to publicize the core of Zen Buddhism and Korea's cultural capabilities associated w

Jan 31, 2021

Oldest metal-printed book published in Korean, English

Book Review 'Political snobs from 2012 still obnoxious today in South Korea'

Goh Gwang-ryul's latest novel "Cuckoo Flies" condemns the politically motivated selfish society of politicians, capitalists, businessmen and motley low-tiered social rankers in South Korea. Courtesy of Goh Gwang-ryulBy Ko Dong-hwanCover of the paperback version of "Cuckoo Flies"The book “Cuckoo Flies” opens with a quote from English novelist George Orwell: “In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.”Written by “uncanny realist” Goh Gwang-ryul, the 2021 novel uncovers the obnoxious world of a cross section of South Korean society in which politicians and their aides, gangsters, professors, journalists, police, prosecutors, undocumented immigrants, apartment security guards and drivers are all blinded by their own self-interest and desires. Although the characters are fictitious, they have traits recognizable to South Koreans.The motley characters try to stay afloat and get ahead of everyone else, motivated by variou

Jan 27, 2021By Ko Dong-hwan

[Book Review] 'Political snobs from 2012 still obnoxious today in South Korea'

Book review: forgotten heroes of April Revolution

“Agents of the April Revolution” by Oh Je-yeon et al. / Courtesy of Yukbi By Park Han-solIn the year 1960 ― 15 years after gaining independence from Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945) and just seven years after experiencing the devastating Korean War (1950-53) that ended in armistice ― a historic turning point in the battle for democracy came to Korea in the form of the April Revolution.Commonly referred to as the April 19 Revolution, the event actually consists of a series of nationwide mass protests spanning from Feb. 28 to April 26, 1960, against the autocratic rule and political corruption of Korea's first president, Syngman Rhee.What is characteristic of this decade-defining incident that eventually led to Rhee's abdication is that the movement was a result of the spontaneous solidarity formed among people of different social classes and backgrounds who largely resorted to non-violent resistance.But the historical narrative revolving around the April Revolution

Jan 25, 2021By Park Han-sol

Book review: forgotten heroes of April Revolution

In memory of Choi Jeong-rye (1955-2021)

By Mattho ManderslootPoet Choi Jeong-ryeOn Jan. 16, the world lost an incredible poet, thinker and, above all, human being. No amount of writing will suffice to sing her praises, but, as one of her translators, I will offer a few words here, in hopes of showing just how incredible she really was. I was privileged enough to make her acquaintance at a London event in 2018, after which we remained in touch. Words fail me to describe how fortunate I feel to have known her. Allow me to commit my impressions of her to memory.When Choi and I first crossed paths, after the School of Oriental and African Studies invited her to give a reading, she forever changed my perception of poetry. Up until then, I had thought of poetry as a pursuit reserved for a select few, to whom it chose to present itself. Choi made me realize poetry is not only for everyone, it is also everywhere. After reading some of her work, she candidly described her sources of inspiration for the poems in question, as she often uses personal experiences as her starting point. Her message was clear: you only need to look close

Jan 22, 2021

Poet Choi Jeong-rye passes away at 66

INTERVIEW Harvey Award-winning graphic novelist highlights history in cartoons

Graphic novelist Keum Suk Gendry-Kim poses after an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe on Ganghwa Island, Jan. 15. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Kwak Yeon-sooGANGHWA ISLAND ― In 2020, cartoonist Keum Suk Gendry-Kim's graphic novel “Grass” won the prestigious Harvey Award for best international comic book. She was the first Korean cartoonist to win the prize, becoming a trailblazer in showing how subtle and serious the graphic narrative can be. “Grass,” which has been translated into 14 languages, depicts the life of a “comfort woman,” a victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery. Based on the testimony of the now elderly survivor of wartime sex slavery, Lee Ok-sun, Gendry-Kim addresses issues related to women and social class. In addition to the Harvey Award, the book also earned the Slate Cartoonist Studio Prize, Krause Essay Prize, and nominations for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Eisner Awards, Believer Book Award, Ringo Award, YALSA Alex Award and YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.Gendry-Kim's latest book “The Wait

Jan 21, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Harvey Award-winning graphic novelist highlights history in cartoons

Award-winning novel comes under fire for plagiarism

A man looks at a notepad and a laptop computer in a home office in this undated photo. / gettyimagesbank By Park Ji-wonA novel that won five literary awards last year has been accused of plagiarizing another award-winning novel, drawing criticism for the poor screening process in selecting winners.Author Kim Min-jung, who won the Baekma Culture Award from Myongji University in 2018 for her short novel “Ppuri,” or root in English, alleged on social media last week and during a radio interview Monday that her novel was “stolen” by Sohn Chang-hyun who claimed to be a graduate student.“I found out Friday from an Instagram comment … He copied and pasted almost every part of my novel, and I take that as theft. To the best of my knowledge, he has won literary prizes from the Kyungbuk Ilbo and the Pocheon Literary Awards with works for which he simply changed some words from my novel; he changed 'hospital' in my novel into 'Pocheon hospital.' In the second Glory Senior Lite

Jan 18, 2021By Park Ji-won

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