[New Book] Sequel to ‘I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki’ hits UK shelves

The sequel to the bestselling therapy memoir "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki" hit the shelves in the UK last week, on June 6, with a US release slated for August. Titled "I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki," the new volume continues the raw and honest conversations between essayist Baek Se-hee and her psychiatrist. International Booker Prize- shortlisted Anton Hur translated the text. Building on the first book, which captured readers with its candid

June 12, 2024

[New in Korean] Time-slip fantasy explores love, friendship and choices

"Shaker" By Lee Hee-young Rabbit Hole Bestselling author Lee Hee-young of "Paint," which sold over 400,000 copies, has released has released "Shaker," a time-slip fantasy. "Shaker" follows 32-year-old Na-woo, who, after a fateful encounter with a stray cat, finds himself reliving the most painful memory of his 19-year-old self. The unexpected plunge 13 years into the past sets the stage for a poignant exploration of love, friendship and consequences. Na-wo

June 9, 2024

[New in Korean] Space opera romance set against looming war

"The Proposal" By Bae Myung-hoon Book House A leading voice in the Korean science fiction scene, author Bae Myung-hoon has revised his 2013 novella “The Proposal” after 11 years. In an extensive revision, the author rewrote almost every sentence, updating descriptions and expressions to align with contemporary sensibilities. The book comprises 12 intimate letters sent by the narrator, "I," who is a space-born operations officer serving in the army near Jupiter, 18

June 8, 2024

[New in Korean] What if AI learns the most primal evils

"Anti Sapiens" By Lee Jung-myung EunHaengNaMu Publishing Eight years ago, during the historic Baduk, also known as Go, match between Lee Se-dol and AlphaGo, developed by DeepMind Technologies, what caught Lee Jung-myung’s attention was Aja Huang, then the lead programmer at DeepMind, who physically placed AlphaGo’s moves on the board. Observing Huang, who faithfully carried out the AI's moves, Lee wondered if humanity might become like that. Set in the near future, &ld

June 8, 2024

Four Korean authors to visit Paris for literary events

Four Korean authors -- novelists Lee Seung-u and Pyun Hye-young, poet Jin Eun-young and graphic novelist Ma Yeong-shin -- will meet with French readers in Paris next week, said the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea). LTI Korea is hosting the "Invitation to Korean Literature" event in conjunction with the Paris Olympics. It will kick off with all four authors discussing Korean literature on June 12 at Librairie Le Divan in Paris. From June 13 to 15, Librairie Le Pheni

June 7, 2024

Thriller 'The Consultant' shortlisted for Dagger award

Im Seong-sun's crime thriller "The Consultant," translated by An Seon-jae (also known as Brother Anthony), has been shortlisted for a prestigious crime fiction award, said the book's Korean publisher, EunHaengNaMu Publishing, on Monday. The novel is among the six finalists in the Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation category at the 2024 Crime Writers' Association Dagger awards. Originally published in Korean in 2010, Im's debut novel, which won the Segye Literary

June 4, 2024

[Off the Pages] SF novel 'A Thousand Blues' comes alive on stage with language of theater

In April and May, the heartwarming story "A Thousand Blues," the bestselling SF novel by Cheon Seon-ran, found new life through different adaptations by two performing arts troupes -- the National Theater Company of Korea and the Seoul Performing Arts Company. First published in 2020, the story envisions a Korea of 2035, where humanoid robots are commercialized. The plot weaves two storylines. One follows Collie, a humanoid jockey, and his partner horse, Today. A researcher's mist

May 23, 2024

Hwang Sok-yong's 'Mater 2-10' misses out on International Booker Prize

South Korean literary giant Hwang Sok-yong's missed out on the 2024 Booker International Prize after making the shortlist with "Mater 2-10." The prestigious literary award ceremony took place at the Tate Modern in London on Tuesday, where the jury announced German author Jenny Erpenbeck's "Kairos," translated by Michael Hofmann, as this year's winner. Erpenbeck's winning title tells the story of a tangled love affair during the final years of East Germany.

May 22, 2024

Renowned poet Shin Kyung-rim of 'Nongmu' dies

Shin Kyung-rim, a prominent figure in Korean poetry and author of the works "Nongmu" (Farmers' Dance) and "A Poor Love Song," died Wednesday, sources in the literary community said. He was 88. He passed away at the National Cancer Center in Goyang, in the northwestern suburbs of Seoul, after a battle with cancer. Considering the high status of the deceased and his works in Korean modern poetry and literary circles, his funeral is planned to be organized by major literary

May 22, 2024

National Museum of Korean Literature set to open doors in 2026

The National Museum of Korean Literature broke ground Monday at Gijachon Neighborhood Park, in Eunpyeong-gu, northern Seoul, five years after the plan for the museum was announced in 2019. The museum, located in Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, at the foot of Bukhansan National Park, will have a total floor area of 14,993 square meters and a site area of 13,248 square meters. The building with two underground floors and two above-ground floors is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026. T

May 21, 2024

Seoul International Book Fair to kick off in June

The 2024 Seoul International Book Fair, the country's largest literary festival, will kick off June 26 at Coex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Over 90 overseas publishers and publishing-related organizations from 17 countries and 350 Korean publishers will participate in the five-day event. Visitors can look forward to various activities including markets, book exhibitions, talks and signing events. This year's theme, "Houyhnhnm," is inspired by Jonathan Swift's satirical 1726 nov

May 17, 2024

[Latest Read] Bora Chung on finding utopia amid dystopian worlds

Few voices resonate as uniquely as that of Bora Chung, whose gripping stories like the haunting narratives of “Cursed Bunny” captivate readers worldwide. With her genre-defying short story collection, translated by Anton Hur, Chung became a finalist for the UK International Booker Prize in 2022 and the US National Book Award in 2023. Chung once again plunges readers into her blend of horror and absurdity, sprinkled with dark humor in her second short story collection “Your Utop

May 14, 2024

[New in Korean] Bee expert solves mysterious murder in 1930s Korea

"The Yellow Lady" By Lee Alam Safehouse Inc. In the gloomy and turbulent period of the 1930s, Han Kyung-ae, also known as the "Yellow Lady," returns to Gyeongseong, the name for present-day Seoul during the Japanese colonial period. Benefiting from her affluent pro-Japanese family background, she traveled the globe and studied entomology in the US following her education at a Japanese medical school. In the US, she was regarded simply as "the Asian woman," and upon

May 12, 2024

[New in Korean] Million-selling Kim Ho-yeon returns with nostalgic novel

"My Don Quixote" By Kim Ho-yeon Namu Bench Novelist Kim Ho-yeon, known for his bestselling "The Second Chance Convenience Store" series (previously known as the "Uncanny Convenience Store"), which has sold a whopping 1.5 million copies, returns with “My Don Quixote." Inspired by Cervantes' "Don Quixote," the novel delves into the aspirations and pursuits of young individuals chasing their dreams, anchored in the backdrop of a bygone era. Th

May 11, 2024

[New in Korean] Aching first love in revamped coming-of-age novel 'Elsa's Ha-in'

"Elsa's Ha-in" By Kang Ji-young Jaeum & Moeum Publishing Author Kang Ji-young, best known for the novel "A Shop for Killers," which has been adapted into a Disney+ drama series of the same title starring Lee Dong-wook, revised and rewrote the ending of her 2013 coming-of-age novel "Elsa's Ha-in." "It was completely unplanned. After receiving a revision suggestion, I slowly reread the manuscript, and suddenly something came to mind, so I just wrote

May 11, 2024

Korean American author wins 2024 Pulitzer Prize for biography

A nonfiction book by a renowned Korean American author won this year's Pulitzer Prize in the biography category Monday, according to Columbia University, which administers the prestigious annual award. "Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom" by Ilyon Woo was announced as the winner of the prize. The book is based on the story of a young enslaved couple that made their escape together from Georgia to the free states of the North in 1848. Woo holds a BA

May 7, 2024

[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist

People are now living longer, well up to the age of 100. Many things have changed compared to 100 years ago, but the pursuit of happiness remains a constant thread. Rhee Kun-hoo was in his 70s and retired from a prestigious career in psychiatry when he took up writing. Born in 1935, the 88-year-old lived in a pastoral society in his youth, survived the Korean War (1950-1953), witnessed turbulent events in Korean history and even served time in prison for opposing the country’s totalitarian

May 4, 2024

[New in Korean] Time travel to retrieve lost items, relationships

"Lost Property Returns" By Kim Hye-jung Originals Books YA writer Kim Hye-jung returns with her first work for adult readers, "Lost Property Returns." The novel, which has been serialized on Millie's Library, one of South Korea's largest e-book subscription platforms, since November, received favorable reviews and was released as an e-book in January. It rose to the top of the platform's bestseller list just a month after its release. In response to readers

April 20, 2024

[New in Korean] In colonial Gyeongseong, young artists gather at Western-style cafe Kakadu

"Kakadu" By Park Seo-lyeon Anonbooks A Western-style cafe called Kakadu opens in the bustling heart of Gyeongseong, as present-day Seoul was called during the Japanese colonial era. The city is evolving with the echoes of the March 1st Movement still lingering in the air. The cafe is owned by filmmaker Lee Kyung-son, who experiences fleeting triumphs and frequent failures alongside his enigmatic cousin, Alice Hyun. Kakadu becomes a gathering place for young artists who discuss literatu

April 20, 2024

[New in Korean] Lee Seo-su's experience opening cafe reflected in her latest novel

"Ma-eun's Store" By Lee Seo-su Moonji Publishing Ma-eun is working hard, but is she happy? No, she cannot sleep soundly, afraid the store will go out of business. She smiles brightly at the customers, but is she happy? No, she is counting losses and skipping dinner. “Am I happy? Possibly not,” thinks Ma-eum, a 37-year-old woman who has just opened her cafe. When Ma-eum's mom asks why she chose to run a business among many options, Ma-eum answers she does not hav

April 20, 2024