Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Late US scholar ventures deep into Korean traditional painting 'chaekgeori'

Seen above is a ten-panel trompe l'oeil-type chaekgeori screen created by Yi Ung-nok, probably between 1864 and 1866. The painter used ink and mineral pigments on silk or hemp. Courtesy of National Museum of KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-sooChaekgeori, are Korean folk paintings that refer to “books and things.” They first appeared in King Jeongjo's time, who ruled the country from 1776 to 1800, and were popular during the latter period of Joseon Kingdom. The paintings usually depict scholarly objects such as books, calligraphy brushes and carved jade seals and ornaments such as peacock feathers and ceramic vases.Kay E. Black (1928-2020), who published “CH'AEKKORI PAINTING: A Korean Jigsaw Puzzle” in June, fell in love with chaekgeori when she visited the Emille Museum in Seoul in 1973. The difference in spelling of “ch'aekkori” in the book title versus “chaekgeori” ― the common spelling in modern Korea ― reflects past and present systems of Romanization of the Korean language.Fascinated with Korea's brightly colored folding screens and abstract pat

Jul 23, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Late US scholar ventures deep into Korean traditional painting 'chaekgeori'

Controversial author stripped of literary prize, his books recalled

Author Kim Bong-gon Courtesy of Munhakdongne PublishingBy Park Ji-wonTwo publishers ― Munhakdongne Publishing and Changbi ― announced Tuesday that they would refund readers who purchased controversial author Kim Bong-gon's two books and take inventory of the books in bookstores to retrieve them. The author's works have been under fire over privacy concerns, after it was alleged he shared private information and may have even disclosed people's sexual orientations without their permission.Munhakdongne said it will recall the books “Summer, Speed” (2018) and “The 11th Young Writer Award Collection,” (2020) which includes Kim's “Such Lives” from local bookstores and would refund those who already purchased them. It added that it will republish the collection book without Kim's work which won the Young Author of the Year Award. Changbi Publishers also said it has started to recall “Times and Mood,” which includes Kim's “Such Lives,” and will refund the book.The two publishers made such decisions days after the eruption of contro

Jul 22, 2020By Park Ji-won

Controversial author stripped of literary prize, his books recalled

Bolton's memoir shows Trump is only hope for North Korea and 'Moonshine' policy

A copy of the book, "The Room Where It Happened," by former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, is seen at the White House in Washington DC on June 18. The 500-plus page memoir was released in South Korea last week. APBy Jung Min-hoTop U.S. officials in current and past administrations have maintained that “the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization” is an essential precondition for any negotiations with North Korea. A new book by former National Security Advisor John Bolton suggests that President Donald Trump has been the only one open to other possibilities.In his memoir, “The Room Where It Happened,” Bolton criticized Trump's way of dealing with North Korea, which, in his view, was “naive” and “dangerous.” Trump, the book clearly shows, truly believed it would be possible to rid North Korea of its nuclear arms through diplomatic means and was ready to make concessions he deemed necessary ― if he was not stopped by his key aides.One of many such moments came during Trump's meeting with North Korean leader Kim

Jul 22, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Bolton's memoir shows Trump is only hope for North Korea and 'Moonshine' policy

Publishers stop selling gay author's embattled novels over privacy concerns

From left are cover images of “Summer, Speed,” “Times and Mood” and “The 11th Young Writer Award Collection.” The titles were translated from Korean. Courtesy of Changbi Publishers and Munhakdongne PublishingBy Park Ji-wonThe nation's leading publishers suspended publication of award-winning gay author Kim Bong-gon's books as they stirred up a controversy by revealing private information of acquaintances without their consent in his novels, even disclosing their sexual orientations.Munhakdongne Publishing said Friday it will stop selling Kim's embattled “Summer, Speed” (2018) and “The 11th Young Writer Award Collection” (2020) over the complaints raised against the two books, while making apologies to the victims over the situation.“We confirmed that there were complaints against author Kim Bong-gon's novel Summer, Speed on social media and Kim admitted it. To prevent further damage and take additional measures over the situation, we decided to stop publishing the book and The 11th Young Writer Award Collection…

Jul 19, 2020By Park Ji-won

Publishers stop selling gay author's embattled novels over privacy concerns

'Iran is not our enemy'

Iranians, some wearing face masks, go shopping around Tehran's grand bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday. / EPA-Yonhap'The Way Time Goes by in Iran' calls for realistic Iran policyBy Kang Hyun-kyungHow much do we know about Iran? How do we know what we've been told about Iran is true? “The Way Time Goes by in Iran” published by Hani Books raises these two questions and author Yu Dal-seung tries to answer them based on his first-hand experiences with Iranians and their culture during his years of stay in two different time periods ― first in the 1990s as a doctoral degree student and then last year when he returned as a visiting scholar.Telling the stories of Iranians and their culture is one of the two core parts of the book. The author also shares his insights into U.S.-Iran relations which shifted in 1979 after some 50 Americans _ diplomats and civilians _ were held hostage for 444 days during the Iranian Revolution, trying to draw practical lessons for Korean policymakers when they build a foreign policy toward Iran and other parts of the Middle East. “The Way Time G

Jul 16, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

'Park Won-soon was odd man out in ruling camp'

The late Seoul mayor Park Won-soon / YonhapBook endorsing Seoul mayor as next president released after his deathBy Kang Hyun-kyung“Killing Park Won-soon,” the title of author Hwang Sei-youn's non-fiction book, is prophetic. It was initially scheduled to be published Friday, the day Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was found dead on Mount Bukak, Seoul, after having gone missing. Police told reporters that Park was believed to have committed suicide, noting there was no evidence that could support murder. The final draft of “Killing Park Won-soon” was completed, but the author put off its official publication until sometime after Park's funeral. “I'm afraid that people could misinterpret my intention if I push for publication as scheduled,” Hwang told The Korea Times over the phone, Saturday. “They would think I'm trying to profit from his death and sell my book. I'm not such an unethical, self-serving author.” Contrary to its title, the book was written to promote Park as the most qualified politician for the 2022 presidential election. The au

Jul 12, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

'Park Won-soon was odd man out in ruling camp'

Deaths of two leaders left Korean society divided

Author defines LA riots as multi-ethnic incident

Koreans in LA stage a protest in LA during the racial unrest in this May 2, 1992 file photo. / Korea Times file'LA Rising' puts forth US racial debate to overcome binary white-black tensionBy Kang Hyun-kyungKorean American author Kyeyoung Park's “LA Rising: Korean Relations with Blacks and Latinos after Civil Unrest” is a critical review of the dominant discourse in the U.S. about the 1992 social unrest that burned down Koreatown and left Korean immigrants helpless. Her analytic piece, published by Lexington Books in August 2019, and its findings are timely as the book was released months before the Black Lives Matter protests that gained traction in May following the death of George Floyd. He was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill.In 1991, Rodney King was beaten mercilessly by Los Angeles Police Department officers. Videos of police brutality in both cases that aired on TV created rage among black communities. Unlike Floyd, however, King survived his brutal beating. Revealing vividly systematic racism, the two tragic

Jul 9, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Author defines LA riots as multi-ethnic incident

Specter of LA riots haunts Koreans in US

What's wrong with Mr. Kim's English

Park Si-soo's book “Winning English” is on display at Kyobo Books near Gwanghawmun Square. Korea Times'Winning English' asks what kind of English you'd like to learnBy Kang Hyun-kyungPark Si-soo's “Winning English” is a witty, informative guidebook for Koreans who are eager to improve their English skills to a level at which they can freely use it for work.With his practical, realistic advice drawn from his 13 years of experience as an English newspaper reporter, "Winning English" will be useful particularly for those who have invested a lot of time, money and energy only to find little progress made in usable skills.The author revisits how Koreans learn English and analyzes why the time and money investments they've made haven't paid off. He uses a real-world case study to help readers understand what's wrong with the traditional way of learning English and how learners can hone their language skills to reach the level they desire. The author tells the story of a mid-career employee, Mr. Kim, who has been working with an unnamed established construction and m

Jul 3, 2020By Kang Hyun-kyung

Publishers outraged as book retailer's corporate rehabilitation filing gets nod

Publishers launch a protest against the book retailer Interpark in front of its headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap By Park Ji-wonPublishers and bookstore owners were outraged after Interpark Song-in Books began the procedure for court-approved corporate rehabilitation last month, less than three years after the retailer took over the bankrupt Song-in Books in 2017.The retailer sold books it purchased from publishers to 2,000 bookstores nationwide. Publishers received money from the retailer sometime after their books were sold. With the retailer initiating corporate rehabilitation last month, publishers have been unable to receive money from the retailer. They are also unable to get their unsold books returned.“Small publishing houses and one-person businesses will be the hardest hit,” an executive of a mid-sized publishing house in Seoul told The Korea Times asking for anonymity. “Small publishers don't have money for marketing, so they rely heavily

Jul 1, 2020By Park Ji-won

Publishers outraged as book retailer's corporate rehabilitation filing gets nod

Book Review 'Turtles Swimming Club' rediscovers value of being slow and steady

By Park Si-soo Newly published essay “Turtles Swimming Club” is like a stone making a soul-searching splash in our hectic, fast-paced lives where the value of being slow and steady is losing ground.Author Lee Seo-hyun, a journalist at Dong-A Ilbo daily, rediscovered the value of being slow and steady through her turbulent life in recent years ― suffering a displaced disc caused by accumulated physical and mental stress from work, pregnancy and childbirth, and thyroid cancer.She found her sunken body and soul salvaged gradually after jumping into a pool for swimming, a rehabilitation method she chose for the first time in her life with her body too weak to play field sports.As a novice swimmer, floating on water was a tall order in the first place. Yet she made it thanks to a coach's guidance that challenged her career-driven obsession with speedy learning: do everything slowly.“We will do nothing today but just walking around the pool together, then go into it and try to float on water,” the book quotes the coach as saying. (page 26-27) “I lay on wa

Jun 28, 2020

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