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Historian Yuval Harari warns of paradox of trust behind AI race
Author of 'Nexus' discusses threats to democracy, truth and equality As humanity faces unprecedented changes driven by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, historian and best-selling author Yuval Noah Harari warns of significant potential risks. While humanity has created many impactful tools -- such as knives, the printing press and even atomic bombs -- Harari, known globally for influential books such as “Sapiens” and “Homo Deus,” which examine humanity’s past and future, stressed th
March 20, 2025 -
From 'text hip' to 'writing hip': How handwriting has become the new cool
For Park Min-ha, 28, reading has always been a hobby. But in the wake of Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize in literature win last year, her interest has deepened. Lately, she has adopted a new habit: "pilsa," the practice of writing passages from books by hand. "Just reading a book and moving on didn’t feel like I had truly absorbed it," Park said. "Writing a full review felt like too much work, so instead, I started jotting down lines that resonated with me." She finds the process meditative. "Sl
March 15, 2025 -
Japanese translator of Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' receives Yomiuri Literary Award
Japanese translator Saito Mariko has won the Research and Translation category at the 76th Yomiuri Literary Awards for her Japanese translation of “We Do Not Part” by 2024 Nobel Prize in literature winner Han Kang, according to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea on Thursday. Considered one of Japan’s most prestigious literary awards, the Yomiuri Literary Award is presented annually in six categories: Fiction, Play/Screenplay, Essay/Travelogue, Criticism/Biography, Poetry (including Ha
March 13, 2025 -
Daesan Foundation opens applications for Korean literature translation grants
The Daesan Foundation is accepting applications for the 2025 Grants for the translation, research and publication of Korean literature.
March 11, 2025 -
Government agency to operate rights center at London Book Fair
The Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA), a government agency under the Culture Ministry, said it will operate a rights center at the 54th London Book Fair, taking place Tuesday to Thursday (local time). The booth will be shared with 10 participating Korean publishers, including Munhakdongne Publishing, Darakwon, iPortfolio and BC Agency. Additionally, the booth will showcase 101 books from 38 Korean publishers that could not participate in person. After the event, the books wi
March 10, 2025 -
Park Sang-young and Bora Chung to meet with Swedish readers
Two internationally recognized novelists, Park Sang-young and Bora Chung, are to meet with readers in Sweden at Korean Literature Week events organized by the Korean Cultural Center Sweden. On Monday, Park will meet local readers at Kulturhuset, a cultural complex in Stockholm, following a screening of "Love in the Big City," a film adaptation of his book starring Kim Go-eun and Noh Sang-hyun. The event will be moderated by Kim Eun-ah, who translated the book into Swedish. On Wednesday, Chung wi
March 7, 2025 -
Seoul International Book Fair presses on without state funding
The Korean Publishers Association, which remains at odds with the Culture Ministry over government subsidies for the Seoul International Book Fair, will once again hold the event without direct government funding this year.
March 6, 2025 -
They weren’t Korean, but they still gave everything for Korea’s independence
Films and drama series set during the Japanese colonial period from 1910 to 1945 often feature people from overseas who join Korea's independence movement. Are these activists for Korea's independence from overseas purely fictional characters, created for dramatic effect, or are they rooted in historical fact?
Feb. 28, 2025 -
Enduring legacies of survival: Stories set in shadows of colonialism, war
Two novels set in Japanese colonial period In the shadow of Japan's colonial rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945, two compelling literary works, "The Investigation" and "Grass" delve into the profound struggles and resilience of the Korean people. "The Investigation" takes readers inside Fukuoka Prison, intertwining the life of beloved poet Yun Dong-ju with a gripping murder mystery that highlights the transformative power of literature, while "Grass," a powerful graphic novel, tells the harrowing
Feb. 28, 2025 -
Kim Keum-hee's memoir on plant care secures overseas deal
Novelist Kim Keum-hee's second essay collection, "Diary of a Korean Plant Parent: Four Seasons of Growth," has secured overseas publication deals with a British publisher, Munhakdongne Publishing announced Tuesday. Scribner UK, the British imprint of Simon & Schuster, triumphed in a six-way auction for the book. It is reported that the preemptive advance is a six-figure deal (or nine figures in Korean won). Rights have also been sold to DTV (Germany), Planeta (Spain), Cargo (Netherlands) and Fok
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Pope Francis’ autobiography to hit Korean shelves in March
Pope Francis’ memoir, the first-ever by a sitting pope, will be published in Korean on March 13. The autobiography “Hope: The Autobiography,” six years in the making, was already published in 18 languages in January. “Hope,” a 524-page compendium exploring the pope’s childhood memories, reflects on the world as seen by the son of Italian immigrants to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It also offers insight into his reform-minded thinking on major political and social issues. His aversion to war is commu
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Korean mystery thriller 'Plant, Lady' secures global rights deals totaling over 1B won
Kang Min-young's mystery thriller "Plant, Lady" (working title) has secured overseas publication deals, digital content platform company Ridi announced Tuesday. Ridi has inked a deal with Doubleday, an imprint of Penguin Random House, for the UK release, while Berkley, another imprint of Penguin Random House, acquired the rights for the US. The novel has been sold to publishers in nine countries, including France, Italy and Germany, with total contract values exceeding 1 billion won. The interna
Feb. 25, 2025 -
'White Mulberry' tells fictionalized story of author's grandmother
Rosa Kwon Easton debuts at 60 with coming-of-age historical novel The historical novel “White Mulberry” by Rosa Kwon Easton is a fictionalized story of the author’s grandmother, following a young Korean woman growing up in 1930s Japan, torn between two worlds and identities. Set in Japan-occupied Korea, the novel introduces 11-year-old Miyoung, a girl whose dream of becoming a teacher clashes with the harsh realities of her life. She yearns to leave her tiny farming village near Pyongyang, seeki
Feb. 21, 2025 -
Picture book capturing childhood through film photography wins BolognaRagazzi Award
'If You Want to Eat a Red Apple' becomes 1st Korean winner of BolognaRagazzi Opera Prima Award South Korean author Jin Joo and photographer Lee Ga-hee’s children's picture book, "If You Want to Eat a Red Apple," from Finger Publishing, has won the Opera Prima at the prestigious BolognaRagazzi Awards, becoming the first Korean author to win in the category. The picture book with images taken with a film camera captures moments of childhood against a backdrop of distinctly Korean elements, such as
Feb. 21, 2025 -
'If You Want to Eat a Red Apple' becomes 1st Korean winner of BolognaRagazzi Opera Prima Award
The South Korean picture book "If you Want to Eat a Red Apple" has won a prestigious BolognaRagazzi Award for debut works, the award's website showed Friday, making it the first recipient of the highest honor in the category. Written by Jin Joo and illustrated by Lee Ga-hee, the book won in the Opera Prima category, which recognizes debut works by authors and illustrators. Published by Finger Publishing, the picture book is based on photographs taken with a film camera and depicts two children w
Feb. 21, 2025