[Latest Read] Feeling stressed? Shanna Tan translates 'healing' Korean books

SINGAPORE -- A wave of "healing" Korean literature has gained momentum this year, with a growing number of titles winning hearts and more to come just over the horizon. At the center of the wave stands Shanna Tan, the Singaporean translator who debuted with runaway bestseller "Welcome to Hyunam-dong Bookshop" by Hwang Bo-reum, followed by bestseller after bestseller, including "Yeonnam-dong's Smiley Laundromat” by Kim Ji-yun and the latest, “Marigold Min

Dec. 13, 2024

Edward Lee's cookbook sizzles its way to Korea

Korean American celebrity chef and restaurateur Edward Lee from the Netflix hit "Culinary Class Wars" will have his debut cookbook "Smoke & Pickles" translated and published in Korea next month, according to the book's Korean publisher, Wisdom House. In the cookbook, Lee shares his culinary journey through more than 130 recipes and essays that offer a unique patchwork of flavors that combine his Korean heritage with Southern cuisine from the US. This approach reflect

Dec. 13, 2024

Han Kang says South Korea's martial law crisis is 'not that awful,' praises citizens' courage

Han Kang, this year's Nobel Prize laureate in literature, said South Korea's political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration is "not that awful," highlighting the courage and sincerity of citizens who have mobilized in response. Han, author of "Human Acts," which is about the stories of survivors and victims of the May 18, 1980, pro-democracy Gwangju uprising in South Korea, spoke about the situation during the Nobel Ni

Dec. 13, 2024

'Literature stands in opposition to all acts that destroy life': Han Kang

In a historic night for South Korea, Han Kang received the Nobel medal and diploma from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during the award ceremony held at the Concert Hall in Stockholm. "Just as inevitably, the work of reading and writing literature stands in opposition to all acts that destroy life. I would like to share the meaning of this award, which is for literature, with you -- standing here together," said Han in English during her acceptance speech at the banquet following the a

Dec. 11, 2024

[Books News] Kim Ae-ran’s 'One of Them is a Lie' leads year-end writer recommendations

Kim Ae-ran’s coming-of-age novel "One of Them is a Lie" topped the list of the most recommended books of the year by writers, according to a survey released by Kyobo Book Center on Monday. The "Book of the Year from 50 Writers" initiated by the country's largest bookstore in 2016, features recommendations from 50 fiction writers who share their favorite books. Each writer can recommend up to five titles. The year-end list includes releases from November 2023 to October

Dec. 9, 2024

Han Kang's 'Human Acts' reverberates once again

Just weeks after her groundbreaking Nobel Prize win, Han Kang's books have sold millions of copies nationwide. Last week, annual sales reports from major Korean bookstores revealed that half of the year's top-10 bestsellers were Han's works. Particularly noteworthy is that among her titles, "Human Acts" holds the No. 1 spot on both Kyobo Book Center, the country’s largest bookstore chain, and Yes24, the leading online retailer. With the global acclaim of "The

Dec. 8, 2024

Overdue library book? You're forgiven thanks to Han Kang's Nobel win

To celebrate Han Kang's historic Nobel Literature Prize win, the Seoul Metropolitan Library will host a special event Tuesday, coinciding with the Nobel Prize award ceremony. A special pardon will also be offered to individuals with overdue books, with borrowing restrictions lifted at the Seoul Library and 232 other public libraries across the city, provided they return their overdue books by Tuesday. Under current library rules, overdue books result in a suspension of borrowing privileges,

Dec. 7, 2024

Nobel Prize winner Han Kang expresses shock over martial law news

South Korean author Han Kang, this year's Nobel laureate in literature, expressed her shock Friday over the martial law turmoil in her native country. "I am following the news in a state of shock," she said during a press conference held in Stockholm, Sweden, to commemorate her win. "Like many South Koreans, I am deeply shocked over the last few days by the news of a martial law situation unfolding in 2024," she said. President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial la

Dec. 6, 2024

Han Kang dominates annual bestseller lists with multiple titles

Han Kang’s “Human Acts” has topped this year’s bestseller lists in Korea. The Nobel laureate dominated the top three spots, with “Human Acts” in first place, followed by “The Vegetarian” in second and “We Do Not Part” in third, according to the two 2024 year-end bestseller rankings released Monday by major booksellers -- Kyobo Book Center, the country’s largest bookstore chain, and Yes24, the leading online retailer. Han previousl

Dec. 4, 2024

2024 Korea Translation Award recognizes 20 translators

The Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced the winners of the 2024 Korea Translation Award on Wednesday, recognizing 20 translators for their contributions to translating Korean literature, including three Grand Prize recipients. This year’s grand prizes were awarded to Lee Seung-min and Julio Cesar Abad Vidal for their Korean to Spanish translation of Kim Tak-hwan’s historical crime novel “Death by Fiction.” The judging committee praised their work for its &

Dec. 4, 2024

Literary community blasts Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree as attack on democracy

South Korea’s publishing and literary sectors have sharply condemned President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law on Tuesday, vowing to resist and protect the country’s democratic values. The Korea Publishers Society, representing more than 490 publishing houses, issued a statement Wednesday morning decrying the president’s late-night declaration, stating that it revived the painful trauma of Korea’s past struggles for democracy. “This action ha

Dec. 4, 2024

What to expect from Han Kang's Nobel week

With the awarding ceremony just one week away, Han Kang, the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in literature, is about to embark on a monumental week of events in Stockholm and Oslo. A series of official events -- including press conferences, lectures and readings -- will take place as part of Nobel Week, running from Friday to Dec. 12. The highlight will be Tuesday's ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall, where the Swedish Academy will present medals and diplomas to laureates in fi

Dec. 3, 2024

Baek Hee-na's 'Happy Birthday' reminds readers of life's quiet blessings

BUSAN -- Visitors to the inaugural Busan International Children’s Book Fair were treated to an exclusive first look at “Happy Birthday,” the latest picture book by Baek Hee-na, Korea’s first winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. "It’s only been a few days since I finished my latest book. I feel dazed, like a bear just waking from winter slumber -- awkward with words and unsure how to interact with people," said Baek during her keynote speech titled

Dec. 2, 2024

'Absence of text is invitation to endless imagination,' picture book artist Lee Suzy says

BUSAN -- Picture books are not just for children, said celebrated picture book artist Lee Suzy, the first South Korean national to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration category in 2022. On the first day of the inaugural Busan International Children's Book Fair, Lee took the stage as one of the headliners, her popularity evident in the size of the audience -- the 100-seat venue was packed and latecomers gathered outside the venue to listen to her deliver her keynote speech.

Nov. 29, 2024

Bucheon Diaspora Literary Award winner Mohamed Mbougar Sarr expresses surprise, appreciation

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- Winning the Bucheon Diaspora Literary Award came as “a complete surprise” for Senegalese author Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, who writes in French. The Goncourt Prize-winning author was on holiday in Senegal with his parents when he received the news. He said he hadn’t anticipated returning to Korea so soon after his first visit last year for the inaugural Choix Goncourt de la Coree, a literary event organized by the Academie Goncourt and the French Embass

Nov. 29, 2024

Hanna Cha invites readers into magical world of discovery, inspiration

Reading Julie Leung’s manuscript for “The Truth About Dragons” for the first time, Hanna Cha found herself moved to tears. A few lines from the story -- “Inside your heart is where the two forests meet. Both journeys are yours to take. Both worlds are yours to discover” -- struck the Cha, 30, on a deeply personal level. This year, Cha became the first Korean American picture book writer-illustrator to receive the prestigious Caldecott Honor. “I actually cried

Nov. 28, 2024

Award winners Lee Suzy, Baek Hee-na join inaugural Busan Children's Book Fair

The inaugural Busan International Children’s Book Fair will be held at Bexco in Busan from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, with “everyone in the children’s book field participating,” organizers said at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. The event is the country’s first book fair dedicated to children’s literature. The fair will host 193 publishing companies from 16 countries, featuring over 150 programs, including book exhibitions, talks, seminars and hands-on worksho

Nov. 19, 2024

[New in Korean] Endless trials and tribulations on journey to adulthood

"How to Grow Up Without Dying" By Kang Ji-young Vookda Known for her gripping noir series "The Killer’s Shopping Mall," which has been adapted into a Disney+ series starring Lee Dong-wook, author Kang Ji-young has captivated audiences with her dark, thrilling narratives. In her latest novel, Kang explores another thriller narrative, blending fantasy with the existential challenges faced by a girl named J, trapped in an endless loop of reincarnation. Each time she dies

Nov. 17, 2024

[New in Korean] Park Seol-yeon's magical mayhem returns with credit card-wielding heroine

"A Magical Girl Rehired" By Park Seo-lyeon Changbi Publishers Spoiler alert for those who have yet to dive into the first installment of Park Seol-yeon’s magical girl series, "A Magical Girl Retires." Translated by Anton Hur, the novel offers a wildly imaginative and witty twist on the magical girl genre, blending classic fantasy tropes with real-world issues like climate change. It was released worldwide in English by HarperVia in April. The sequel picks up right where

Nov. 16, 2024

[New in Korean] ‘A Thousand Blues’ author brings dystopian short story collection

"Mouer" By Cheon Seon-ran Munhakdongne Publishing In a distant future where humanity has endured 3,000 years of punishment following Judgment Day, language itself is banned, deemed the root of greed, mistrust and hatred. Instead, people communicate through "ui-eum" -- a form of thought-transmitted meaningless sound. Without the constraints of verbal language, humans no longer age. In this society, Chou discovers a crying baby by a lakeside. She names the child Mou and bring

Nov. 16, 2024