Articles by Hwang Dong-hee
Hwang Dong-hee
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com-
Prix Medicis winning Han Kang wants next novel to be 'spring'
Her happiest moment in writing so far was when she finished “I Do Not Bid Farewell,” said novelist Han Kang at a press conference in Yangcheon-gu, western Seoul, Tuesday. “Because it was a work that took me a long time and was so difficult to write,” she said. Han made history Thursday by winning the Prix Medicis for foreign literature in France, becoming the first South Korean author to achieve the feat. Portuguese author Lidia Jorge’s “Mercy” was named
Books Nov. 14, 2023
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S. Korean literary giant Hwang Sok-yong turns to folktales for children
Folktales are passed down through generations, evolving as they move from one storyteller to another. They transcend being merely old stories, but "stories of the present" and "stories of the future," according to South Korean novelist Hwang Sok-yong. A towering figure in the country’s literary scene since his debut in 1962, Hwang announced a distinctive turn in his literary journey: He will focus on folktales for children as he approaches the twilight of his career. Fo
Books Nov. 14, 2023
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Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra meets electronic beats
When traditional Korean instruments such as gayageum, haegeum and daegeum meet electronic music, what kind of harmony will emerge? The Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra is set to perform the second stage of its 2023 Mixed Orchestra series on Dec. 7 at the Sejong Grand Theater. Breaking free from convention, the Mixed Orchestra series seeks to push the boundaries of Korean traditional music by intertwining it with various genres, this time turning its attention to electronic music. The tri
Performance Nov. 14, 2023
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After robot conductor, National Orchestra of Korea explores virtual reality
The National Orchestra of Korea, a traditional Korean music orchestra under the National Theater of Korea, is set to deploy a cutting-edge exhibition to help the audience to explore the roots of Korean music. Titled “The Origin of Orchestra,” the exhibition featuring virtual reality technology is scheduled for Nov. 23-24, with a concert of the same title at the Haneul Round Theater on Nov. 26. Building on the momentum initiated in the 2022 concert with media artist Lee Lee-nam's
Performance Nov. 13, 2023
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[Herald Review] 'Different, but in harmony' -- Traditional orchestras of Korea, Taiwan exchange melodies in joint concert
In a mesmerizing display of cultural harmony and melodic beauty, a haegeum player in traditional Korean hanbok and an erhu player in a purple gown graced the stage together side by side. Performing the double concerto for erhu and haegeum titled “Two Strings,” the two string musicians from Taiwan and Korea exchanged eye contact and melodies, creating a harmonious fusion. The joint performance was held at the National Gugak Center in Seoul, featuring the Contemporary Gugak Orchestra a
Performance Nov. 12, 2023
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Han Kang wins Prix Medicis for 'I Do Not Bid Farewell'
South Korean author Han Kang’s latest novel, “I Do Not Bid Farewell,” has clinched the prestigious Prix Medicis for foreign literature in France, the first time a work by a South Korean author has received the prize. Portuguese author Lidia Jorge’s “Mercy” (“Misericordia” in French) is a co-recipient of the prize, which was announced Thursday. The Prix Medicis is one of the four major literary awards in France, along with the Goncourt, Renaudot and
Books Nov. 12, 2023
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[Well-curated] LP listening pleasure, Pokemon pop-up and Korean traditional archery
Groove to LP sounds at Music Complex Seoul The Music Complex Seoul, located inside the Anyoung Insadong shopping center in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, offers the special experience of listening to music in an old-fashioned yet captivating way -- via records on turntables. Adorned with retro red wallpaper and neon lights, the Music Complex Seoul boasts a music library with over 20,000 vinyl LPs. Choose a record from the shelves and bring it to your table to play it on one of the many turntables and
Culture Nov. 10, 2023
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[Herald Interview] Korean 'changgeuk' meets Peking opera
The National Changgeuk Company of Korea is making a grand return to the stage with one of its most most unconventional repertoires, "Farewell My Concubine.” Premiered in the spring of 2019 and met with sold-out shows during its fall run, this "changgeuk" is a blend of traditional Korean and Peking operas, brought to life through the collaborative efforts of creative teams from Korea and Taiwan. Set in the turbulent Spring and Autumn Period in ancient China, "Farewell My
Performance Nov. 9, 2023
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[From the Scene] 20-hour pansori relay celebrates 20th anniversary of pansori's UNESCO listing
The inaugural World Pansori Festival, organized by the World Pansori Association, took place Tuesday and Wednesday, celebrating the 20th anniversary of UNESCO's recognition of "pansori," at the Seoul Namsan Gukakdang in Jung-gu, central Seoul. Pansori is a traditional genre of musical storytelling performed by a vocalist accompanied by a drummer. It is characterized by the deliverance of an epic tale by a single singer, who weaves together folktales using an expressive form of sin
Performance Nov. 8, 2023
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Nobel-winning Le Clezio talks about Jeju and myth
French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature, talked about myth and Jeju Island in a lecture at the Kyobo Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on Friday. Titled “The Myth and the Tale,” the lecture was hosted by the Daesan Foundation. Le Clezio emphasized the significance of myths, describing them as collective fictional creations. “Myths are collective fictional creations … and Korea has a rich source of inspiration through its
Books Nov. 7, 2023
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[Herald Interview] Through memories, Bora Jin pens ode to grandfather and Busan
Memories may fade with time, but the genuine emotions within the memories persist, Bora Jin, an author and winner of the 2022 New Korean Voice Prize, said about her debut novel, “A Prescription for You From Memory Care.” The award was launched by the New York-based Barbara J. Zitwer Agency in collaboration with the Charm Agency in Seoul to discover new voices in the Korean literary scene. After Jin's win a year ago, the book was published in August. The inspiration for the novel
Books Nov. 7, 2023
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'Oh, Jejudo' by Hyun Ki-young among this year's Daesan Literary Awards winners
Novelist Hyun Ki-young became the oldest recipient of the Daesan Literary Awards Monday for his latest three-volume novel, "Oh, Jejudo” (Changbi Publishers), which narrates the whirlpool of Jeju Island myths and tales following the history of the island from the late Joseon period, the Japanese colonial period to the April 3 uprising and tragedy. “I am quite embarrassed to receive an award at this age when I should be giving out (awards),” said the 82-year-old writer durin
Books Nov. 6, 2023
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[New in Korean] 'The path to happiness is forgiveness,' says Korea's first million-selling author
"Condolences for the Lost Time" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Kim Hong-shin Hainaim Kim Hong-shin, the author of Korea's first million-selling novel, "Human Market" (1981), meets readers with "Condolences for the Lost Time," a narrative that delves into the torment and redemption of a person unfairly stigmatized by a group. The story begins with Han Seo-jin's daughter, Ja-in, reading her father's posthumous letter and retracing his li
Books Nov. 5, 2023
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[New in Korean] Even in city overrun by mold, humans dream of stars, sunsets
"Ground Explorers" By Kim Cho-yeop Publion Best-selling science fiction writer Kim Cho-yeop has published her second full-length novel in two years. While her first novel, “Greenhouse at the End of the Earth,” which sold over 150,000 copies, told a story about plants taking over the Earth, her latest dystopian sci-fi novel, “Ground Explorers,” deals with fungi. Fungal spores that spread madness to humans take over the Earth, driving humans into dark, musty und
Books Nov. 5, 2023
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[New in Korean] Millionaire dog sponsors human artist in Yun Ko-eun’s ‘Art on Fire’
"Art on Fire" By Yun Ko-eun EunHaeng NaMu Publishing Author Yun Ko-eun, the winner of the prestigious CWA Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger in 2021 for the novel "The Disaster Tourist” (translated by Lizzie Buehler), returns with the black comedy "Art on Fire." The story follows an artist named Ahn Yi-ji, who once aspired to be a painter but now makes a living as a delivery rider. One day, she receives an interesting offer from a foundation called the Robert Foun
Books Nov. 4, 2023
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