Three books mark fourth installment by the foundation dedicated to introducing Southeast Asian cultures through literature
The literary world of the Philippines has had little exposure in Korea but one corporate foundation is changing that by offering a glimpse into the country's literature.
On Friday, the Hansae Yes24 Foundation unveiled three books featuring works by two Filipino authors, Nick Joaquin and Mica De Leon.
Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, introducing Joaquin as a national figure and recipient of the National Artist of the Philippines award, expressed her hopes that Korean readers “will gain a deeper understanding of the society, history and culture of the Philippines through these books.”
Joaquin (1917–2004) is renowned for his short stories, novels and essays that explore the country’s colonial history, identity and cultural heritage. For the latest series in Hansae Yes24's Southeast Asian literature series, Joaquin's “The Woman Who Had Two Navels” and "Tales of the Tropical Gothic" have been translated.
Also featured in the series is "Love on the Second Lead" by Mica De Leon, a contemporary Filipino writer known for her evocative storytelling and exploration of modern Filipino life, relationships and identity.
While discussing authors to recommend with various people to choose, the Ambassador said that De Leon's name would always come up.
Because it's a love story, De Leon said readers from all walks of life could enjoy reading her book.
"Because my book is deeply Filipino in its writing and has a limited global reach, I often worry that my stories might not be relatable enough. So when I write, I focus on what's unifying among all the people," the author said during the press conference.
“Last year marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines. In celebration of this milestone, the foundation selected works by two authors that encompass both the historical depth and contemporary sensibilities of Philippine literature,” said Baek Soo-mi, chairperson of the Hansae Yes24 Foundation, during a press conference.
The foundation reaffirmed its commitment to introducing lesser-known Southeast Asian literature to Korea, announcing plans to publish Indonesian and Malaysian works in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Founded with private funding in 2024 by Kim Dong-nyung, chairman of Hansae Yes24 Holdings Co., the foundation launched its Southeast Asian Literature Series in February 2022 with translations of three books from Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian authors into Korean.
gypark@heraldcorp.com
