Lifestyle

'Pachinko' becomes local best-selling book

The novel “Pachinko" topped the best-selling list of Kyobo Book Center. Korea Times fileBy Lee Gyu-leeThe novel “Pachinko” has become the best-selling book in Korea about four years after its release in the country, as its live-action adaptation on Apple TV+ has been gaining popularity.The book, written by Korean American novelist Min Jin Lee, has topped the weekly bestsellers list for its second week in April. It soared to the top from the fifth spot on the list last week. The Korean-translated version of the book, which came out in March 2018, regained attention following the release of Apple TV+'s original series of the same name. Sales for the two-part book surged drastically by about 15 times last month compared to the same period last year, according to the local online bookstore Aladdin.Despite its growing sale, the book's publisher, Munhak Sasangsa, halted the sales of both volumes of the books Tuesday, saying it may not keep up with the demand for the book in time for publishing contract renewal with the author. It said that the current publishing contract

DAILY FORTUNE - APRIL 18, 2022

'Shanghai 1932-34' depicts friendship between Korean, Chinese revolutionaries

Actors perform a scene from the original musical “Shanghai 1932-34” at Dongguk University Lee Haerang Art Theater, Thursday. / Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-sooThe new musical “Shanghai 1932-34,” based on the life of the ethnically Korean Chinese actor Jin Yan during China's golden age of cinema, is being staged to mark the 30th anniversary of Korea-China diplomatic relations.Also intended to commemorate the 90th anniversary of independence activist Yun Bong-gil's death, the original musical tells the story of Jin, a Korean who fled to China with his family to escape Japan's brutal repression, and Chinese musician Nie Er, who composed the national anthem of the People's Republic of China.The aspiring actor and composer both struggle with the reality of pursuing their artistic dreams in Shanghai. After witnessing Korean independence hero Yun's patriotic bombing attack on Japanese colonial officials in Shanghai in 1932, Jin and Nie join the movement to fight imperial Japan. It

Exhibition traces history of Korea's commercial photography beyond 1984

Koo Bohn-chang's photograph taken for Korean menswear brand Alexio's catalog in 1987 / Courtesy of Ilmin Museum of ArtBy Park Han-solThere's a certain raw and adventurous spirit that exists in veteran photographer Koo Bohn-chang's series of images taken for the 1987 catalog of menswear brand Alexio, which was popular at that time.Models, either suspended in mid-air or posing with a cheeky smile in front of a now-gone building in Seoul's Namyeong-dong, give off a rather jaunty vibe that is not found in other commercial photography of his time.“Back then, taking photos for fashion catalogs, especially those featuring models instead of products, hadn't been fully established in the Korean commercial photography scene. This was a product of experimentation born from the hands of Koo,” Lee Mee-hye, former features director of Vogue Korea and guest curator for the “UNCOMMERCIAL: Korean Commercial Photography, 1984 and Beyond” show, said at a recent press conference.As its title indicates, the ongoing exhibition at the Ilmin Museum of Art in central Seoul brings to t

DAILY FORTUNE - APRIL 15, 2022

Guided tour of Songpa Trail's urban forest

A forest path along the Songpa Trail, Seoul / Courtesy of Songpa DistrictInhale the scent of spring along scenic urban trail, encourages forest guideBy Lee Hae-rin“Here, this light brown tree is a mulberry tree,” Yim Hong-soon, 70, a forest guide, said, pointing to the tree standing at the entrance of the Songpa Trail in Seoul's southern district of the same name. “The mulberry tree is the symbol of Jamsil― 'Jam' comes from the Chinese character meaning silkworms and the region has long been a silkworm facility since the Joseon Dynasty.” Yim went on to say how the tree is a generous giver from its roots to its leaves.Old records show that King Sejong of Joseon Dynasty designated Jamsil, one of the neighborhoods in Songpa District, as a site for the national silkworm farm and built a mulberry forest to boost the country's key sericulture business. Apartment complexes and skyscrapers now stand where the silkworm nursery was located in the past, but one of the oldest mulberry trees in this area, which is over 500 years old, was registered as Seoul's first regiona

DAILY FORTUNE - APRIL 14, 2022

Publishing rights to 'Cursed Bunny' sold to major US publisher

The cover of Korean novelist Chung Bora's "Cursed Bunny" (2021), translated by Anton Hur / Courtesy of Honford StarThe publishing rights to "Cursed Bunny," a novel by Korean author Chung Bora shortlisted for this year's International Booker Prize, has been sold to a major American publisher, the book's local agency here said Wednesday.According to Greenbook Agency, it signed a deal with Algonquin Books, a publisher of literary fiction and narrative nonfiction under Hachette Book Group, to sell the rights to publish the book in print, audio and electronic versions in the United States.Based in New York, Hachette Book Group is one of the biggest publishing companies in the U.S., issuing more than 1,600 books per year.Greenbook Agency said it has sold or is about to sell the local publishing rights of "Cursed Bunny" to 15 countries, including Japan, China, Spain and Germany.Published in Korea in 2017, "Cursed Bunny" is a collection of 10 science-fiction short stories on curses and revenge. Its English translation, published by Honford Star of Britain, was among the six finalists for the

Korea to participate in this year's Bogota book fair as honorary guest

A poster for the program organized by Koreans at the 2022 Bogota International Book Fair / Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Korea will take part as a guest of honor in the Bogota International Book Fair (FILBO) set to open in Colombia's capital this month to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the South Korean culture ministry said Wednesday.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the country will hold various exhibitions, seminars as well as literary and cultural events under the theme of "togetherness, convivencia" at the fair. Launched in 1988, FILBO is the second-largest event of its kind in South America, where an average of 600,000 people visit every year. This year's edition will run from Tuesday to May 2 with about 600 companies from around the world attending. It will be held in-person for the first time since 2019.On display will be about 100 Korean books that deal with the theme, an antho

Michael Craig-Martin's vividly colored images give new meanings to mundane

Contemporary conceptual artist Michael Craig-Martin / Courtesy of UNCBy Park Han-solA purple football with green laces, a neon pink pepper mill, a sky blue dress shoe and a bright red screw.Irish-born artist Michael Craig-Martin's compendium of images marries instantly recognizable everyday objects that have become the face of modern consumer culture with untrue-to-life colors ― a fun mix of bland familiarity with a flavor of “unrealness.”“These are mass-produced, manmade objects. Almost everybody in the world can see (them) and have an idea of what they are. They are universal. They are everywhere,” the 80-year-old creator said at the Seoul Arts Center, where some 150 of his paintings, installations, media works and drawings produced over the last five decades are on display at his largest retrospective to date in the world.“And for me, the color is what makes these general objects specific … In a sense, the color completes the drawing by making each object individual.”“Cassette” (2002) ⓒ Michael Craig-Martin / Courtesy of UNC,