"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

"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

"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

Winning the Nobel Prize in literature is not the final stop but a beginning, said Chon Soo-young, president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, during a press conference marking her first 100 days in office in Seoul, Monday. “We aim to establish a strong foundation for Korean literature to thrive as a vital part of world literature,” said Chon, who has been leading the government-affiliated institute charged with promoting Korean literature globally since August. The 70

Picture books with contemporary messages and vibrant, imaginative illustrations were recognized on Monday at the second annual Korea Picture Book Award, co-hosted by the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea and the Culture Ministry. In the fiction category, the grand prize went to "How to Be a True Friend" by Park Hyun-min, a dark comedy set in the snowy Himalayas that follows a mythical yeti. The story explores the coexistence of humans and nature, delivering a satirical tak

The 27th edition of the Singapore Writers Festival kicks off this weekend, inviting audiences to explore the theme “In Our Nature.” Running from Friday through Nov. 17, this year’s festival will be held across venues throughout Singapore, offering over 200 programs that delve into humanity’s relationship with the natural world. For Yong Shu Hoong, the newly appointed festival director, poet and educator with a background in computer science, this theme took shape during h

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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