[Herald Interview] Irish ambassador and literary critic discuss power of translation

The Ireland Literature Festival in Korea provided a platform to explore the rich tapestry of the Irish and Korean literary landscapes. During a recent interview with The Korea Herald, Michelle Winthrop, Irish ambassador to Korea, and novelist and literary critic Ronan Hession emphasized the critical role of translation in bridging cultural divides and enriching global literature. Ambassador Winthrop, an avid reader herself, talked about how this year’s festival was inspired by the legacy o

Nov. 7, 2024

Books open doors to adventures around the world

In its final few weeks, the Seoul Outdoor Library was transformed into a Travel Library, with weekly programs themed around different countries. The journey began with Denmark in May and continued through Colombia in August, with each week offering unique cultural experiences tied to that week's country. Programs included curated book selections, film screenings, live music, or author talks, all designed to capture the spirit of each destination. In October, the Travel Library resumed, begi

Nov. 6, 2024

Seoul’s Outdoor Library closes the year with music, films, an autumn farewell

This year's chapter of Seoul Metropolitan Library’s beloved outdoor reading program, the Seoul Outdoor Library, comes to an end this week. The program that has transformed some of the city’s most iconic spaces into bustling hubs of literary culture since its April launch is closing its seven-month run with a lively schedule of performances and film screenings from Thursday through Sunday. The outdoor library program enjoyed an unprecedented success, attracting an estimated three

Nov. 6, 2024

Kim Hee-sun wins Daesan Award with dystopian take on post-pandemic world

Novelist Kim Hee-sun won the fiction category of the Daesan Literary Awards on Tuesday for her latest novel "All About 247,” a thought-provoking work that explores a post-pandemic society shaped by the aftermath of COVID-19. Set in near-future Korea, after the pandemic, society has built systems to prevent large-scale outbreaks. A global Disease Control Center now coordinates efforts worldwide to fight infectious diseases. Fever-reducing drugs are banned to curb virus spread, heat sen

Nov. 5, 2024

‘Children have the right to great stories': Head of Astrid Lindgren Award stands firm against book ban

Speaking out against book bans, Asa Bergman, head of office at the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, expressed strong opposition to banning books at school libraries, emphasizing that “access to literature for children and young adults will always be a precondition for democracy and openness.” “I’m against book bans of any kind, anywhere,” Bergman told The Korea Herald on Thursday in Seoul, following her lecture on the prestigious children’s literature award and

Nov. 4, 2024

Pak Kyongni Prize winner Sylvie Germain laments tragedy of global conflict

Acclaimed French writer Sylvie Germain, known for her profound exploration of eras marked by violence and turmoil, including the Franco-Prussian War and the Algerian War, said it’s “disheartening” to see the current global situation, particularly the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. “It’s tragic that humanity hasn’t learned from history, and we continue to see the same situations recur. The violence and destruction caused by war are deeply concerning.

Oct. 24, 2024

Dive into Irish literature this weekend

The Seoul Outdoor Library will feature a special focus on Irish literature this Friday and Saturday. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., a special Irish-themed booth will be open at Seoul Plaza, with an Irish step dancing performance at the plaza at 6 p.m. on Friday. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, a "Meet the Authors" session will be held on the first floor of the Seoul Metropolitan Library in Jung-gu. Three writers from Dublin -- Anne Griffin, Sinead Gleeson and Ronan Hession -- will discuss

Oct. 24, 2024

Han Kang's Nobel win sparks reading boom in Korea

Han Kang's historic win of the Nobel Prize in literature appears to have sparked a reading boom across South Korea, with data showing that locals have bought substantially more books following the Oct. 10 announcement. BC Card, one of the biggest credit card companies here, analyzed online and offline sales at major book outlets in recent weeks. It found that book sales of BC Card users for the period of Oct. 10-16 jumped by 39.2 percent compared to the previous week. Book sales in that sev

Oct. 24, 2024

[Eye Interview] Charting remarkable year, Anton Hur's journey in literature continues

Acclaimed Korean-to-English translator and newly minted novelist, Anton Hur is navigating his busiest year yet. Based in Seoul, Hur was born in Stockholm and raised in Hong Kong, Ethiopia and Thailand, "but mostly in Korea." So far this year, he has published six translated works, made his debut as a fiction writer, and embarked on a whirlwind international book tour -- with more to come in the remaining months. “I've been traveling a lot this year,” Hur said in an int

Oct. 23, 2024

Han Kang’s works in 28 languages available at National Library

The works of this year’s Nobel Prize winner Han Kang are now on display at the National Library of Korea, on a specially curated bookshelf. The library's Literature Room on the second floor features 14 of Han’s major works published in Korea, including her early novel “Your Cold Hands” (2002) as well as the internationally acclaimed “The Vegetarian,” “Human Acts” and “We Do Not Part.” In addition to the Korean editions, the collect

Oct. 21, 2024

Han Kang says she wants to 'meet readers through writing'

Expressing gratitude to the people who have congratulated her, Han Kang, this year's Nobel laureate in literature, spoke publicly for the first time in Korea, Thursday, after her Nobel Prize win on Oct. 10, at the 18th Pony Chung Innovation Award ceremony held at the Pony Chung Hall in Seoul. "The past week will be remembered as a deeply moving experience," Han said, adding, "As always, I hope to continue meeting readers through my books." Han was named the recipient of

Oct. 17, 2024

'I would like to live in peace quietly,' Han Kang tells Sweden's SVT

In an interview with Swedish public television broadcaster SVT, this year's Nobel Prize laureate in literature Han Kang said that she "doesn't want to be in the spotlight right now." "I would like to live in peace quietly, and I need some time to reflect on what this prize means," Han told SVT. According to the SVT report on Sunday, the interview took place at Han's home in Seoul and was conducted in English. Regarding initial reports about her father's co

Oct. 16, 2024

Fake news post on Han Kang goes viral in Korea after Nobel win

Some fake news on Han Kang has been circulating on the Korean internet, following the news of her becoming Korea's first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. In particular, one post falsely claims that Han decided to donate her prize money of 11 million Swedish krona ($1.05 million) to support peace initiatives for Dokdo, South Korea’s easternmost islets, at the center of a historical dispute with Japan. However, Han made no such statement regarding the use of the prize funds.

Oct. 15, 2024

Nobel Prize sparks policies aimed at revitalizing publishing industry

In the wake of Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in literature win, new policies and laws are being discussed to foster future literary talents like Han. Culture Minister Yu In-chon said that next year’s budget for the publishing sector has been restored to its 2022 level, adding that it increased by approximately 3 billion won ($2.2 million) compared to this year. Speaking at the 38th annual Book Day ceremony on Friday, Yu called Han’s achievement “an unparalleled honor both person

Oct. 14, 2024

Han Kang’s Nobel Prize opens new horizons for Korean literature

Han Kang's Nobel Prize win Thursday brought the recognition Koreans have long sought: For decades Koreans have been fixated on the question of when Korea would win a Nobel Prize in literature. As novelist Kim Young-ha noted in his message of congratulations, the question of whether the Korean language, once threatened with extinction during the Japanese colonial era, could find its rightful place in world literature has haunted the collective consciousness of Koreans since liberation. The w

Oct. 13, 2024

Han Kang’s manuscript set to be unsealed in 2114 gets renewed attention

Author Han Kang's unpublished manuscript which has been sealed and locked away in Oslo, Norway is getting renewed attention following her Nobel Prize in literature win. The manuscript is shrouded in mystery -- its content, length and format unknown -- only its title, “Dear Son, My Beloved,” has been revealed. The manuscript is part of the Future Library art project launched by Katie Paterson in Norway in 2014. Each year, a writer is invited to contribute a manuscript that explor

Oct. 13, 2024

Explore Han Kang's Nobel-winning works at outdoor libraries

The works of South Korean Nobel laureate Han Kang are available in 20 languages at Seoul's open-air libraries, city officials said Sunday. The exhibitions, which opened Friday at three locations — Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Plaza and Cheonggyecheon — celebrate the 53-year-old novelist's Nobel Prize win and feature a curated selection of 10 works, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. In addition to her books in the original language, the exhibitions feature transl

Oct. 13, 2024

Han Kang's works fetch premium prices for limited editions

Since Han Kang became the first South Korean novelist to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, her works, especially limited editions, have become valuable premiums on the secondary market. As of Sunday, a hand-signed first edition of Han Kang's 2007 essay collection, "Quietly Sung Songs" was listed for a 700,000 won ($518), on Junggonara, an online secondary market platform. Another user on the same platform posted a purchase request for the first edition of Han Kang's "

Oct. 13, 2024

Han Kang speaks up on Nobel Prize, thanks ‘enormous wave’ of blessing

Han Kang, the first South Korean and Asian female writer to be decorated with the Nobel Prize in literature, spoke officially for the first time late Friday evening through her publishers, expressing shock and gratitude towards “enormous waves” of congratulations from across the world. “I am grateful for being chosen as the laureate. The amount of warm words of congratulations that poured in throughout the day like an enormous wave surprised me,” said Han in a statement r

Oct. 11, 2024

Han Kang declines press conference, not to celebrate, citing global wars

The 2024 Nobel Prize winner in literature, Han Kang has reportedly expressed that she will not be holding a press conference, according to her father, novelist Han Seung-won. According to media reports, Han Seung-won met with local reporters at his home in Jangheung County, South Jeolla Province, where he said, "I initially advised her to choose one of her publishers and hold a press conference, and she agreed. However, when we spoke again this morning (Friday), she told me she had changed

Oct. 11, 2024