Most Popular
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[Grace Kao] American racism against Stray Kids
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Key S. Korean, USFK special operations officials to hold rare meeting amid NK threats
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Controversy brews over shakeup of prosecutors amid probe of first lady
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Jennie, Stray Kids's Met Gala attendance puts them on 'digital guillotine' blacklist
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OpenAI gives ChatGPT new powers to see, hear
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[KH Explains] Naver’s Line dilemma: Lose global footing for cash?
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Another suspect behind murder of Korean tourist in Pattaya arrested in Cambodia
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S. Korea to inject $70m into AI-powered public education
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[Herald Interview] Carbon breakthrough in Korea: Making diamonds at atmospheric pressure
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[Graphic News] Only 34% of S. Korean elites favor nuclear arms
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World of chef Corey Lee captured in debut book ‘Benu’
Korean-American chef Corey Lee, the mastermind behind the three Michelin-starred restaurant Benu in San Francisco, has packed his debut book, “Benu,” to the brim. “It’s ultimately a cookbook first, but also a book that was trying to communicate the inspiration behind the restaurant and meditation on the menu,” he said.The book is stunning, a big, white hardcover with over 250 pages of recipes, essays, and breathtaking photography. Corey Lee, chef and patron of Benu. (Phaidon 2015, www.phaidon.c
June 4, 2015
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A gay N.K. defector’s journey to find love
With almost 30,000 North Korean escapees calling South Korea home now, many of their stories have been printed in novels, essays or poems. In fact, there are so many that literary works by or about North Korean defectors now form a new genre in South Korean bookstores. North Korean refugee Jang Young-jin’s debut novel “A Mark of Red Honor” departs from the typical conventions of this genre. In the 368-page book, written in Korean, he narrates his own childhood, growing up and major events that l
May 28, 2015
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Bae searches for meaning in life in 'Nowhere To Be Found'
Bae Suah’s fiction gives rise to the underrepresented voice of the young, female working class of South Korea. Her latest novella, “Nowhere to Be Found,” echoes her excellent short story “Highway with Green Apples” which also follows a young, socially displaced female protagonist who flits from job to job unable to find meaning in her life while the people around her strive for material love and success. Bae’s prose is stark and dreary, effectually framing the life of our nameless protagonist. W
May 26, 2015
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[Herald Interview] Exploring modern Korea in ancient trappings
Beneath its ultramodern facade, Korea is a country with all the trappings of shamanism and Confucianism, a new book says. In “Contemporary Korean Culture: the Persistence of Shamanistic and Confucian Values and Practices,” coauthors Kim Eun-gi and Choi Joon-sik seek to explain the social fabric and the mindset of Koreans through the lens of shamanism and Confucianism, examining the origins and manifestation of some of the most enigmatic Korean customs as well as their critique. “In the 21st cent
May 20, 2015
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The Korean inside Lee Chang-rae
Two decades ago, Lee Chang-rae’s “Native Speaker” addressed issues of identity, assimilation and language that immigrants faced while settling in a foreign country.In the book, Lelia says to Henry Park, “You look like someone listening to himself. You pay attention to what you’re doing. If I had to guess, you’re not a native speaker.”The Seoul-born, Korean-American novelist has often said the same of his own experience growing up in the U.S. ― that he felt very conscious of his surroundings, tha
May 14, 2015
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Children’s book guru on ‘chew up mom’ poem controversy
A poem by a 10-year-old girl has stirred up a controversy in Korea that touches upon an array of thorny issues from the literary freedom of expression to the country’s obsession with private education. The poem, titled “Days I Don’t Want To Go To Hagwon,” depicts how the author would like to “chew up mom” as painfully as possible, “digging out her eyes and pulling out all her teeth” to escape hagwon, private educational institutes. Accompanied by an illustration, cruel words from the fifth-grade
May 7, 2015
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[Book Review] Asan delves into ‘Pax Americana 3.0’
Amid the rise of China in the economic and military domains, academic discourse has been focused on the waning U.S. power and a looming shift in the global order that America has led since the end of World War II. The growing Sino-U.S. rivalry has triggered speculation that the U.S.-led global system would be reshaped by the ascendant, revisionist power ― China. And the decline of U.S. power appears to be viewed by many as a fait accompli.However, “Pax Americana 3.0,” a new book published by the
May 7, 2015
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Korea’s bare face captured in ‘Sketches’
Teenagers huddle in the subway, taking a selfie while raising two fingers in a peace sign. A man dunks a soju shot into his beer glass, then puts up a hand to cover his mouth as he laughs at his boss’ joke. Middle-aged delivery ladies carry trays full of dishes on their heads, nonchalantly strolling along as if simply wearing a hat. If you are a foreigner roaming the streets of Korea, these are sights that would have drawn your attention and caused you to tilt your head in curiosity and, perhaps
May 6, 2015
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[Weekender] The joy of coloring
The last time Lee Soo-jin carried her own coloring book inside her bag was more than 25 years ago, but it’s a hobby she’s recently picked up again. Lee is not alone ― coloring books are no longer just for kids. “When I was young, I would use my crayons and color until it was broken,” she said. “My favorite was the book of Disney princesses.” Now, the 33-year-old office worker doesn’t use pink and red to color Cinderella’s dress, nor does she ask her mom to buy her a new book. Instead, she takes
April 17, 2015
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Ex-aid worker compiles speeches of world leaders
A former veteran aid worker has published a compilation of the greatest speeches in history that have inspired him during his overseas missions for 23 years, including a stint in the earthquake-hit Haiti.Titled “History Development and Human Prosperity,” the book compiles 39 speeches of world leaders in religion and politics. They range from ancient figures such as Socrates, Jesus Christ, the founder of the early Korean kingdom Dangun to leaders of the modern time, including U.S. Presidents Fran
April 12, 2015
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N. Korea, no longer confidential
Two journalists, after covering the two Koreas for a while, were frustrated with the narrow focus of media reports and books on North Korean leadership, its nuclear program and propaganda. “We wanted to clearly and concisely explain the real daily challenges ordinary people face, and the surprises which that brings,” James Pearson, a Korea correspondent for Reuters, told the Korea Herald through an email interview. Daniel Tudor (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)“There are few (books) which really
April 2, 2015
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Voicing diversity through books
Growth is conspicuously absent in Korea’s book industry, as evidenced by the number of bookstores closing down in Seoul.Yet, a new type of publishing is on the rise, attracting readers, writers and sellers with rarely-written about topics, creative new designs and a niche approach. Independent publishing, which covers both self-publishing and small, independent press, is a rare bright spot in the country’s moribund book industry, said Kim Kwang-chul, the owner of Propaganda Press, an independent
March 19, 2015
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WWF-Korea publishes children’s book on environment
A children’s book that encompasses the theme of environmental awareness and sustainability was published Wednesday in English and Korean. “Our Beautiful Earth” was published by the Korea office of World Wide Fund for Nature, an international conservation organization. The picture book centers on the critical threats the Earth will face if people keep their consumption-oriented habits and do little to protect the nature. “Scientists continue to say that we are at a critical point, where if we do
March 18, 2015
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Comprehensive Goryeo history translated into English
The “Koryosa choryo” (Essentials of Koryo History) is arguably one of the most substantial historical records of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392).Written in 1452, few decades after the fall of the kingdom, the 35-volume book is an abridged version of the 135-volume annals “Koryosa” (History of Koryo). Photocap: “Koryosa choryo II” translated by Edward J. Shultz and Hugh H.W. Kang (Jimoondang)In an effort to provide in-depth understanding of Korea’s history internationally, the English version “Kor
March 18, 2015
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Park Chung-hee biography published in Vietnamese
A book that chronicles former Korean president Park Chung-hee (1917-1979) and first lady Yuk Young-soo (1925-1974) has been published in Vietnamese.“Human Park Chung-hee, Human Yuk Young-soo,” written by Kim Doo-young, a Cheong Wa Dae secretary during Park’s tenure, was originally published in Korean last year. Park ― the third president of Korea from 1962 until his assassination in 1979 ― is the father of the current president Park Geun-hye. Cho Jae-hyun, the vice president of the Korea-Vietnam
Feb. 26, 2015
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Superheroes and space travelers in ‘Get in Trouble’
It’s tempting to describe Kelly Link as a fantasist or a magical realist of a particularly homegrown sort. Her stories take place within recognizable landscapes ― suburban bedrooms, reality TV locations, a wedding weekend ― that open into something else. Slipstream author Bruce Sterling has called this style of writing: genre work that blurs the lines of genre, merging elements of science fiction, realism, fantasy. Yet all that seems too restrictive, too didactic, for what Link appears to have i
Feb. 5, 2015
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Amid 'Mockingbird' sequel buzz, worries about Lee's wishes
Hometown friends and fans of "To Kill A Mockingbird" author Harper Lee are struggling to reconcile a publisher's sensational announcement -- that her decades-old manuscript for a sequel had been rediscovered and will be released -- with the image of the reclusive writer at her sister's recent funeral. Grieving, ill and seated in a wheelchair, Lee talked loudly to herself at awkward times during the service for her beloved older sister and attorney, Alice, according to two family friends who atte
Feb. 5, 2015
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‘Fiction can tell larger truth’
Anchorwoman and author Baik Ji-yeon talks about her new work of fiction “Handstand” in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Tuesday. (Bookfolio)Baik Ji-yeon is the epitome of a successful modern woman. Having become the youngest-ever news anchorwoman in Korea at age 24, she possesses a refined appearance, elegance, confidence and celebrated career that many young women admire.While earning her many different titles ― anchorwoman for local TV channel MBC, interviewer in a talk show and host of current affairs pro
Feb. 4, 2015
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'Mockingbird' author Harper Lee to publish second novel
American author Harper Lee is to publish a second novel, more than half a century after the release of her much-loved classic "To Kill a Mockingbird," HarperCollins announced Tuesday. "Go Set a Watchman" was written in the 1950s and features many of the same characters as "Mockingbird." It was rediscovered last year and will be released on July 14, the publishing house said. Lee won the Pulitzer Prize for "To Kill a Mockingbird" -- a searing tale of racial injustice in the Great Depression-era
Feb. 4, 2015
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Alexander, Santat win top children’s book prizes
NEW YORK (AP) ― Kwame Alexander’s “The Crossover,” a novel in verse about basketball and coming of age, has won the John Newbery Medal for the year’s best children’s book. Author-illustrator Dan Santat’s “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend,” a fantasy featuring an island for pretend playmates, received the Randolph Caldecott Medal for best picture book. Kwame Alexander’s “The Crossover.” (HMH Books for Young Readers) Dan Santat’s “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend.”
Feb. 3, 2015