The Daesan Foundation is accepting applications for the 2025 Grants for the translation, research and publication of Korean literature.

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

South Korean director Jung Young-doo has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award, Britain's highest honor in theater, for his direction of the changgeuk production "Lear." Jung was nominated in the outstanding achievement in opera category for his work on the National Changgeuk Company of Korea’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s superlative "The Tragedy of King Lear" (1606). The adaptation was staged at London’s Barbican Theatre from Oct. 3 to 6, 2024. Changgeuk is akin to a genre of Kore

Gong makes stage debut as the town's beauty in 'Secret of Flowers' Actress Gong Seung-yeon shared her thoughts on making her stage debut in the play "The Secret of Flowers" during a recent interview with reporters. "It feels surreal to finally be on a stage I’ve long dreamed of performing on," she said. "I’ve always admired the theater because it’s a genre I never imagined myself doing. Actors on stage always seemed to shine." Gong, 32, who began her acting career in 2012, has starred in series

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

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.

National Changgeuk Company's ‘Boheoja -- The One Who Paces the Void’ walks the path of consolation The story of King Sejo (1417-1468), the 7th king of Joseon, is one of blood, ambition and political intrigue. Ruthless power struggles and their far-reaching consequences inspired many adaptations, including the series “The Princess’ Man” (2011) and the film “The Face Reader” (2013), in which “Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae portrayed Grand Prince Suyang before his ascent to the throne. Born the seco

Court Music Orchestra uses AI to restore court music's lost lyrics A traditional music performance will recreate the pomp and circumstance of the processions of Joseon-era kings as they departed from and returned to their palaces. The National Gugak Center’s Court Music Orchestra is set to stage a performance centered on haengak, or the music traditionally played during royal processions, as well as for governors and foreign envoys during the Joseon era (1392-1910). Titled “Haengak and Boheoja:

The American member of JYP Entertainment’s newly debuted global girl group VCHA, KG, has announced her departure from the group citing alleged abuse by a staff member. The 17-year-old singer shared the news Sunday on her Instagram, revealing that she had decided to terminate her contract and exit VCHA after experiencing “incidents of abuse and mistreatment by certain staff members.” VCHA, a joint Korean-US girl group, debuted in January this year as part of the global project A

Just weeks after her groundbreaking Nobel Prize win, Han Kang's books have sold millions of copies nationwide. Last week, annual sales reports from major Korean bookstores revealed that half of the year's top-10 bestsellers were Han's works. Particularly noteworthy is that among her titles, "Human Acts" holds the No. 1 spot on both Kyobo Book Center, the country’s largest bookstore chain, and Yes24, the leading online retailer. With the global acclaim of "The

To celebrate Han Kang's historic Nobel Literature Prize win, the Seoul Metropolitan Library will host a special event Tuesday, coinciding with the Nobel Prize award ceremony. A special pardon will also be offered to individuals with overdue books, with borrowing restrictions lifted at the Seoul Library and 232 other public libraries across the city, provided they return their overdue books by Tuesday. Under current library rules, overdue books result in a suspension of borrowing privileges,

Picture book fest at Seoul Forest library Throughout Dec. 15, Seoul Forest will turn into a magical winter haven with its "Picture Book Library in the Woods" festival. Held at the Seoul Forest Community Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the event offers enchanting exhibitions, live music and interactive activities, creating a cozy and festive experience for all ages. The event features performances involving storytelling with music, such as "I love you today as well," and a pict

Poet Na Tae-joo and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Kang Hyung-won highlighted the significance of culture and journalism during a session titled "Night of Poetry and Journalism" at the Global Business Forum on Wednesday. Addressing an audience of business leaders, Na emphasized the importance of caring for others and appreciating the value of everyday life, as expressed in his famous poem "Grass Flower." Na said he often takes walks with his wife, and after a long wal

Han Kang’s “Human Acts” has topped this year’s bestseller lists in Korea. The Nobel laureate dominated the top three spots, with “Human Acts” in first place, followed by “The Vegetarian” in second and “We Do Not Part” in third, according to the two 2024 year-end bestseller rankings released Monday by major booksellers -- Kyobo Book Center, the country’s largest bookstore chain, and Yes24, the leading online retailer. Han previousl

The Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced the winners of the 2024 Korea Translation Award on Wednesday, recognizing 20 translators for their contributions to translating Korean literature, including three Grand Prize recipients. This year’s grand prizes were awarded to Lee Seung-min and Julio Cesar Abad Vidal for their Korean to Spanish translation of Kim Tak-hwan’s historical crime novel “Death by Fiction.” The judging committee praised their work for its &