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Novelist Jo Jung-rae chooses love for his final novel
Jo Jung-rae had spent more than five decades writing about war, history and the upheavals of Korean society. He had never written a love story. "I'm getting older, and the time I have left to write stories is growing shorter as I approach the final chapter of my life," Jo, 83, said at a press conference Monday in central Seoul. "The thought suddenly came to me: Why not write a love story now?" Jo made his literary debut in 1970 and devoted much of his career to exploring Korea's turbulent histor
Aug. 25, 2026 -
Disney taps Korean fantasy bestseller for live-action film
South Korean author Lee Mi-ye's bestselling fantasy novel "The Dallergut Dream Department Store" will be adapted into a feature by Disney Live Action. British author and screenwriter Patrick Ness is on board to adapt the screenplay. Ness is best known for his books for young adults, including the "Chaos Walking" trilogy and "A Monster Calls," both of which he has adapted for the screen. Wildfire, the novel's English-language publisher in the UK, shared the news of the project Thursday on Instagr
Aug. 18, 2026 -
'The pressure to be exceptional is making us miserable'
In Korea, an ordinary life is often treated as one that falls short, says Han Gru, a professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut and the creator of the life-advice YouTube channel newyorkcrab, which has about 90,000 subscribers. In his new memoir, "I've Decided to Live Like an Enlightened Wild Animal" (literal translation), Han reflects on the value of an unremarkable life, suggesting that there is nothing wrong with not being exceptional — and that the pressure to become so can make people
Aug. 18, 2026 -
Who are we? Writers gather in Seoul to explore humanity in the AI age
Who are we to invent artificial intelligence, only to immediately start biting our nails over its technological proficiency? Who are we to come together and protect one another, while surrounded by conflict and violence? Those questions underpin this year's Seoul International Writers' Festival and its theme, "Who Are We?" bringing together writers from around the world to explore identity, humanity and literature. The Literature Translation Institute of Korea said Monday that this year's festiv
Aug. 11, 2026 -
The summer that stayed with RM finally reaches English readers
That summer I stood in the centers of storms That summer my despair burst out into crimson but still I weathered the wind and rain These lines come from "That Summer's End," the title poem of Lee Seong-bok's celebrated poetry collection. When BTS' RM shared a photo of the book on social media in September 2022, the 1990 poetry collection found a new generation of readers at home and abroad. Nearly four years later, the work that captured the artist's attention is finally available in English.
Aug. 4, 2026 -
Which Korean novel became biggest overseas bestseller?
The Korean novel that sold the most copies in translation overseas last year was a quiet story about a neighborhood bookstore. The Turkish edition of Hwang Bo-reum's "Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop" sold more than 60,000 copies in 2025, making it the bestselling translated Korean novel overseas last year, according to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. The Culture Ministry-affiliated organization said the Turkish-language edition, published in 2023, has sold more than 160,000 co
Aug. 2, 2026 -
Korean graphic novel wins Eisner Award for 1st time
A South Korean graphic novel has won a prestigious US comic industry award for the first time, marking a milestone for the country's comics. "Purgatory Funeral Cakes" by Korean cartoonist Sanho took the Best US Edition of International Material-Asia prize at the 38th Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, often dubbed the "Oscars of comics," the book's Korean publisher Munhakdongnae said Friday. The awards ceremony was held on July 24 (US time) at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego, during Comic-Con I
Aug. 1, 2026 -
Korean cartoonist Sanho wins Eisner Award for 'Purgatory Funeral Cakes'
South Korean cartoonist Sanho has become the first Korean creator to win an Eisner Award, one of the comics industry's most prestigious honors. Publisher Munhakdongne announced Friday that Sanho's "Purgatory Funeral Cakes" won Best U.S. Edition of International Material — Asia at this year's Eisner Awards. The 38th Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards were presented on July 24 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront during Comic-Con International in California, with winners announced across 32 categories
July 31, 2026 -
Between stadiums, BTS' V turns to a book on quiet power of everyday life
Between stadium performances and global commitments, BTS' V has drawn attention to a book that explores the quiet power of simply getting through everyday life. Late Thursday night, the singer shared on his Instagram story "The Sensibility of an Everyday Person" (a literal translation of the Korean title), a newly published essay collection by the celebrated Korean lyricist Kim Eana. The publisher, Storyseller, said messages poured in almost immediately after V shared the book. "Seeing the respo
July 27, 2026 -
Latest K-healing novel 'The Seoul Letter Shop' now available in English
A quiet Seoul letter shop is the latest setting to carry South Korea's bestselling "healing fiction" overseas, with the English release of Baek Seung-yeon's novel "The Seoul Letter Shop." Published by Fourth Estate, an imprint of HarperCollins, the English edition translated by Clare Richards was released on July 16. Translation rights have also been sold in 12 countries, including the United States, according to the publisher. The novel follows Hyo-young, a 28-year-old woman who abandons her dr
July 24, 2026 -
New slice-of-life novel finds comfort in food and human connection
A new Korean novel explores the quiet comforts of food and human connection through 15 interwoven stories drawn from ordinary life. Set against the backdrop of everyday routines — exhausting commutes home, the pressures of prolonged exam preparation and unexpected crises at work — Lee Su-min's debut novel "When You Start With Something Delicious" (literal translation) follows seemingly ordinary people navigating moments of uncertainty and change. While fatigue and emotional numbness have become
July 12, 2026 -
Rookie Korean novelists land major translation deals abroad
An emerging generation of Korean novelists is breaking into the international publishing market, with debut novels securing translation deals across North America and Europe. Changbi Publishers said this week that the debut novels of three writers — Moon Hye-jung, Park Hae-soo and Park Cho-eun — have been acquired by major publishers in the United States and Europe, underscoring growing global demand for contemporary Korean fiction beyond its best-known literary names. Leading the group is Moon
July 10, 2026 -
Han Kang's 'The Tear Box' adapted into choral music theater production
Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang's children's story "The Box of Tears" has been adapted into an original choral music theater production. The National Chorus of Korea said Thursday it will present the work at its annual Liberation Day commemorative concert on Aug. 14 at the Seoul Arts Center. "The Box of Tears" centers on a child who cries over things that ordinary people in the village cannot understand. The child sets off with a mysterious man who collects tears in a box and meets an elderl
July 10, 2026 -
Funny, spooky graphic novel on Korea's first full moon holiday earns Harvey nomination
A graphic novel inspired by Korea's traditional holiday marking the year's first full moon has been nominated for a 2026 Harvey Award, one of the prestigious honors in the US comics industry. "Good Old-Fashioned Korean Spirit" by Kim Hyun-sook and Ryan Estrada was named a finalist in the best young adult book category. Set in the 1980s, the graphic novel follows Tae-hee, her boyfriend Ki-woo and their friends from a traditional mask dance club as they travel to a remote village to celebrate Jeon
July 8, 2026 -
Han Kang's bookstore closes after 8 years
The independent bookstore once run by Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang closed Tuesday after eight years in business. Chaekbang Onul (Bookstore Today), in Jongno-gu, Seoul, announced the closure on social media. "On July 7, 2026, three years after we left Yangjae-dong and began welcoming visitors in a small alley in Tongui-dong, Seochon, we will have our final day of business in this space," the bookstore said in a post ahead of its final day of business. "It has been a deeply meaningful journ
July 8, 2026