Lifestyle - The Korea Times

'Seoul Punx' captures counterculture of yesteryear

Korean punks gather for a group photo in Hondae Playground in this undated photo. Jung You-jin, the author of the photo book "Seoul Punx," is third from the right. / Courtesy of Jung You-jinBy Jon DunbarShortly after the hashtag “#seoulpunx” appeared on social media, news broke this was a preview for an upcoming photo book. The book by cartoonist Jung You-jin came out on Oct. 27 with a release party at Club Steel Face that reunited many familiar punks from the past 13 years.In going over this book, of which only 500 copies have been printed, I reflect on the cultural value of this book, as well as what makes a photo and a photographer “good” and also my own memories of the time.I was here at the same time as You-jin, also taking pictures, often of the same events, bands and people. But You-jin mostly kept hers to herself and her close friends, until now, giving a private, intimate look of this counterculture, which came to Korea barely over two decades ago.“Seoul Punx” is like a yearbook to those of us who were there, but a challenging read to outs

Nov 10, 2017

'Seoul Punx' captures counterculture of yesteryear

Award-winning cartoons reflect present day society

Winners of the 2017 Today’s Our Manhwa Award pose at an award ceremony at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 3. / Courtesy of the Korea Manwha Contents AgencyBy Baek Byung-yeulThe smartphone has enabled more people to read “manhwa,” or comic books, anywhere. Thanks to the industry’s growing popularity and success, readers can experience more comic books that are entertaining and thought provoking.On Nov. 3, five local cartoonists were recognized for their comic books, becoming recipients of Today’s Our Manhwa Award. They are “Danji” by cartoonist Danji, “Myeoneuragi” by Soo Sin-ji, “San Francisco Hwa Rang Kwan” by Dolbae, “I Forgot to Bring My Wallet” by Miyeokuihyoneung, and “Cashero” by team befar. All received prize money of 5 million won ($4490) and the culture minister’s award at a ceremony at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province.The annual award, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and given to the five best cartoon works

Nov 9, 2017

Award-winning cartoons reflect present day society

Gwangju: The 1st Asian Literature Festival

Nobel Prize laureate Wole Soyinka from Nigeria speaks at Asian Literature Festival in Gwangju, Nov. 4.   / Yonhap By Brother AnthonyGWANGJU _ The vast, recently completed Asia Culture Center in the heart of Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, was the scene of Korea’s first Asian Literature Festival last week, Nov. 1 to 4. It brought together writers from Asia and beyond, together with a number of Korean writers, for a time of sharing and encounters designed to establish stronger bonds between writers across the globe. In his opening remarks, the senior Korean poet, Ko Un, stressed until now the sheer size of the region known as “Asia,” together with its linguistic diversity, have been a great obstacle to free communications between the writers of the region. Korean poets have remained unaware of and unable to read the poetry written in other countries and on other continents, and vice versa. Ko Un recalled how the Korean poet Oh Sang-sun wrote a poem titled “Asia’s Night” in 1920, in the aftermath of Japan’s suppression of the Kore

Nov 7, 2017

Gwangju: The 1st Asian Literature Festival

Bonner gives glimpse into North Korean graphics

North Korean labels for tins of apples, flatfish and beef featured in Nicholas Bonner's book "Made in North Korea" / Courtesy of Phaidon Press By Kwon Mee-yooCover of "Made in North Korea: Graphics From Everyday Life in the DPRK" by Nicholas BonnerNorth Korea is the closest country to South Korea, but it is the furthest from South Korea as well. While each and every movement of the North is closely watched by the whole world, what is going on inside the country still remains enigmatic.A Westerner, who has been closely related to one of the obscurest countries in the world for over two decades, provides new insight into North Korea through its visual culture."Made in North Korea: Graphics From Everyday Life in the DPRK," published by Phaidon is authored by Nicholas Bonner, a landscape architecture expert based in Beijing, China.Bonner first vested North Korea in 1993 and the experience changed his life. He established Koryo Tours, a travel agency specializing in tourism to North Korea and produced documentaries and films and collaborated with other cultural projects in

Nov 3, 2017

Bonner gives glimpse into North Korean graphics

The 14th International Christian Medical Conference Was Held in Russia

“God the Healer”The 14th International Christian Medical Conference Was Held in Russia  Dr Jaerock Lee Author God the Healer and Founder of WCDN Many worldwide Christian doctors came together to present and share various divine healing cases, which had occurred by the power of God, at the 14th WCDN Conference held in the city of St. Petersburg of Russia that is a Russian Orthodox Church country. This has great significance in view of Russia’s anti-terrorism laws, which restrict Christians from evangelizing outside of their churches: for example, the Yarovaya Law is in effect to restrict the practices of religious minorities, such as evangelism or the importation of foreign religious literature, so the Russian government can give priority to the Russian Orthodox Church. The 14th International Christian Medical Conference was held Oct. 20 and 21 hosted by the World Christian Doctors Network (WCDN) and it was attended by approximately 500 medical doctors and professionals from 13 countries including Russia, Korea, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Be

Oct 29, 2017

George Mason University celebrates Choonwon's first publication

"Mujong" by Choonwon Yi Kwang-suBy Kang Chang-wuk, Choi Yearn-hongGeorge Mason University is hosting a centennial symposium to commemorate Korean writer Choonwon’s first publication, “Mujong,” featuring three distinguished scholars from Korea and Japan on Oct. 28, 2017, in the Washington area.In the beginning of 1917, the daily newspaper Maeilshinbo started to publish the first Korean serial novel, titled “Mujong,” by literary giant Choonwon Yi Kwang-su.“Mujong” was unprecedented in terms of its literary style, language, serialization and other aspects. At the time, it had been seven years after Japan annexed Korea, and thus, Korean culture was in a precarious state. Nonetheless, the serial novel became an instant success, not only among the learned but also the less educated Koreans. It was written entirely in the Korean script, Hangul, and was read by well educated, which was unheard of. This literary phenomenon destroyed class boundaries. In this sense, the serial novel more than told a story — it changed Korean society. This serial

Oct 20, 2017

George Mason University celebrates Choonwon's first publication

'Memoir of Murderer' most saught-after book of this fall

"Memoir of a Murderer" by Kim Young-ha / Courtesy of Munhak DongneBy Kim Jae-heunFall is often seen as the best season for reading books and many people search the best-seller list for something to enjoy.According to the artificial intelligence-based big-data analyst Daumsoft, Monday, reading was the second-most-popular activity to enjoy in the fall, after traveling.The word “travel” was mentioned 22,160 times on blogs, Twitter and online news between Sept. 1 and Oct. 12, followed by “reading,” which was mentioned 3,136 times. “Camping,” “hiking” and “fishing” followed.Daumsoft said travelling surpassed reading overwhelmingly this month as Korea enjoyed the 10-day Chuseok holiday in the first week of October.  Popular Korean writer Kim Young-ha’s best-seller, “Memoir of a Murderer,” became the most-mentioned novel during Daumsoft’s research period. It was mentioned 1,724 times.The book, which was published in 2013, received attention after a movie based on it with same name was released on Sept.

Oct 20, 2017

'Memoir of Murderer' most saught-after book of this fall

K-Poet series published with English translation

Some major works of renowned Korean poets have been published as a "K-Poet" series with English translations, the ASIA Publishers announced Monday.Works of well-known poets Ko Un and Ahn Do-hyun have been published in the first edition. Works of other poets will follow in the series. Twenty works from each poet were selected for the publication.The translations were done by Brother Anthony, professor emeritus at Sogang University. U.K.-born Brother Anthony is a naturalized Korean citizen and has lived in Korea since the 1980s. He has translated over 40 publications of poems and novels from Korean to English. For Ko Un's works, Ko’s wife Lee Sang-hwa, professor emeritus at Chung-Ang University, participated in the translations.The publishing company plans to print anthologies of poets Baek Seok, Huh Soo-kyeong, Kim So-wol, Lee Yook-sa, Lee Sang, Kim Yong-taek and Do Jong-hwan as part of the series. Do is the culture minister.Prior to releasing the K-Poet series, the publishing firm had released the K-Fiction series featuring major works of well-known novelists, such as Park Wan-

Oct 16, 2017

K-Poet series published with English translation

British author Kazuo Ishiguro wins Nobel Prize in Literature

British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro smiles during a press conference at his home in London, Thursday Oct. 5, 2017. Ishiguro, best known for "The Remains of the Day," won the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday, marking a return to traditional literature following two years of unconventional choices by the Swedish Academy for the 9-million-kronor ($1.1 million) prize. / AP-YonhapKazuo Ishiguro, the Japanese-born British novelist best known for ``The Remains of the Day,'' won the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday. The selection of the 62-year-old Ishiguro marked a return to traditional literature following two years of unconventional choices by the Swedish Academy for the 9-million-kronor ($1.1 million) prize.``He's a very interesting writer in many ways,'' said Sara Danius, the academy's permanent secretary. ``I would say that if you mix Jane Austen -- her comedy of manners and her psychological insights -- with Kafka, then I think you have Ishiguro.''Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, but moved with his family to Britain when he was 5.The academy said that Ishiguro's eight books ar

Oct 5, 2017

British author Kazuo Ishiguro wins Nobel Prize in Literature

Han Kang wins Italian literary award

Han Kang / YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiKorean author Han Kang has won this year's Malaparte Prize, Italy's most authoritative literary award, for her latest work, “Human Acts.”Han, 47, accepted the prize on Sunday at a ceremony on the southern island of Capri in the Gulf of Naples for her novel, released in 2014.The novel tells the story of Dong-ho, a young boy killed in the military's bloody crackdown on the Gwangju citizens' pro-democracy uprising in May 1980.Italian publisher Adelphi published the novel under the title "Atti Umani” on Sep. 14.It was translated from the Korean by Deborah Smith, who received global recognition for her translation of Han's novel “The Vegetarian”, which won the 2016 Man Booker Prize.“I wanted to dedicate this book to those bereaved families, the dead, and the survivors from the Gwangju uprising,”  Han said in an acceptance speech.“I did nothing but write a book. They indeed helped me.” 

Oct 3, 2017

Books