Articles by Hwang Dong-hee
Hwang Dong-hee
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com-
[New in Korean] Choi Eun-young of 'Shoko's Smile' returns with loving narrative on women
"Even a Very Faint Light" By Choi Eun-young Munhakdongne Publishing Award-winning author Choi Eun-young of “Shoko’s Smile” returns with a collection of short stories, titled "Even a Very Faint Light.” This year marks the 10th anniversary of Choi’s literary debut. One of the most prominent young female writers in Korea of the past decade, Choi has delved into the intricate and subtle emotions of characters as they navigate the complexities of connectio
Books Sept. 3, 2023
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[New in Korean] Alien parasite transforms human violence into deadly 'Blue Flesh'
"Blue Flesh" By Lee Tae-je Vookda Kyobo Book Center, the largest bookstore chain in Korea, has taken steps to strengthen its content business recently by establishing an intellectual property team within the company. The company launched its very own publishing brand, Vookda, which has released its first book, “Blue Flesh.” The sci-fi dystopian novel won the grand prize at the 10th Kyobo Book Center’s story content competition. The author, who writes under the pen nam
Books Sept. 2, 2023
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Gugak welcomes autumn
Autumn is drawing near and the weather sets the stage for a harmonious indulgence in the sounds of gugak, or Korean traditional music. Major traditional music orchestras and troupes are gearing up for colorful programs this September. Taking the lead for the 2023-24 season is the National Orchestra of Korea, a traditional Korean music orchestra affiliated with the National Theater of Korea, set to grace the stage this Friday night with “Discovery” at the Haeoreum Theater. The inaugur
Performance Aug. 30, 2023
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Seoul International Writers’ Festival to bridge language and discord through literature
A literary festival bringing together 24 Korean and international writers will take place on Nodeul Island in Seoul in September. Under the theme of “Crossing the Bridge of Language,” the 2023 Seoul International Writers’ Festival responds to the heightened isolation and discord brought about by the pandemic. The annual festival is organized by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, also known as LTI Korea. “There was an anticipation that things would return to no
Books Aug. 29, 2023
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Seoul International Dance Festival explores death and aging through movement
The 26th Seoul International Dance Festival (SIDance), organized by the Seoul Section of the International Dance Council CID-UNESCO, is set to kick off this Friday. A total of 23 dance troupes (196 dancers) from nine countries including Korea will showcase 26 works across Seoul until Sept. 17. As the curtains rise, the theme that will also carry over into the next year is “death and aging,” aiming to explore the profound dynamics of mortality and the human life cycle through the medi
Performance Aug. 28, 2023
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Musical 'Frida' paints empowering story of Frida Kahlo
Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is well-recognized for expressing pain through her art. Based on her life, the musical "Frida" sings of her experiences, painting her story just as vividly as her painting "Viva La Vida" (1954), meaning "Long Live Life" in Spanish. Premiered in March 2022, the original production by the EMK Musical Company follows the life of Kahlo. The 110-minute show takes on the form of “The Last Night Show,” where Kahlo appears as a guest a
Performance Aug. 21, 2023
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ChangMu festival showcases contemporary within tradition
The ChangMu International Performing Arts Festival, led by choreographer-dancer Kim Mae-ja, is set to take place from Wednesday to Aug. 31 at various venues in Seoul, including the Arko Arts Center, Seoul Namsan Gugakdang and the National Jeongdong Theater. Kim is the founder of the festival and a leading figure of changmu, a contemporary dance rooted in traditional Korean dance. Since 1993, the annual festival has been inviting dancers and dance groups from around the world who are committed to
Performance Aug. 20, 2023
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[New in Korean] Son traces stories of conscripted soldier father and comfort woman mother
"Mom Was There" (a literal translation of the Korean title) By Yun Jeong-mo Dasan Books “Mom Was There,” by the million-selling author Yun Jeong-mo, encapsulates the turbulent moments of modern and contemporary Korean history, delving into the sufferings endured by individuals. While Yun's previous works have dealt with major moments in Korean history such as the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, the "East Berlin Affair,” the Korean War and the Vietnam War
Books Aug. 20, 2023
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[New in Korean] Thrilling noir sequel reveals new twists, threats
"The Killer’s Shopping Mall 2" By Kang Ji-young Jaeum & Moeum Publishing Author Kang Ji-Young returns with the second volume of her noir series "The Killer’s Shopping Mall," picking up after the events of the first volume in Ji-an’s story. The first volume is set against the backdrop of an internet shopping mall warehouse. The protagonist is Ji-an, a young woman raised by her uncle Jin-man after her parents’ death. The story begins with the unexpec
Books Aug. 19, 2023
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[New in Korean] Chang Kang-myoung explores science, technology, society in SF collection
"The World You Want to See" By Chang Kang-myoung Munhakdongne Publishing The journalist-turned-writer Chang Kang-myoung, known for addressing pressing social issues in works like "The Bleached” and "Because I Don’t Like Korea," ventures into the realm of science fiction with his latest, "The World You Want to See." The compilation consists of seven SF short stories, three of them new. While he has established his reputation as a realist author, Chan
Books Aug. 19, 2023
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[Well-curated] Seoul Plaza Night Library, SAC outdoor cultural events, DIY stained glass
Literary escape to Spain, Brazil Seoul Plaza’s Night Library continues its weekend events with a thematic focus on Spain and Brazil. The outdoor library operates during the hours of 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering the feeling of "traveling" to different countries while relaxing with books. Imagine lying on a bean bag at Seoul Plaza, surrounded by the warm glow of LED bookshelves and moon balloon lights. There are booths dedicated to recommending books and cultural programs that repr
Culture Aug. 18, 2023
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[Herald Interview] 'Yojaya Yojaya,' Ahn Eun-me's ode to 'modern girls'
A group of 12 dancers dressed in white jeogori, or the upper piece of a hanbok, paired with black skirts move tirelessly through the practice room. The sound of gunshots can be heard as dancers mimic shooting using long plastic pipes. When the music quiets down, the dancers cast off their jeogori and put on vibrant red, yellow, green and blue skirts. Through a sequence of choreographed movements, they eventually discard the skirts as well, tossing them high into the air. The dancers then move gr
Performance Aug. 17, 2023
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Ra Hee-duk's 'Possibilist' and 15 others receive Daesan translation grants
Poet Ra Hee-duk’s collection of poems, “Possibilist” (2021), and 15 other Korean literary works have been selected for the 2023 Grants for the Translation, Research and Publication Literary Works, the Daesan Foundation said Wednesday. Since 2010, the Daesan Foundation has been awarding the annual grant, which introduces Korean literature to the world in various languages. This year, the foundation is providing a total of 230 million won ($171,800), supporting the translation an
Books Aug. 16, 2023
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NTCK to stage 5-hour modern take on Greek trilogy
In staging “This Restless House,” English playwright Zinnie Harris' contemporary reworking of the "Oresteia" Greek trilogy, the National Theater Company of Korea takes on a daunting challenge: keeping the audience engaged throughout the five-hour performance. Friday's rehearsal for the first part, which was open to the press, exceeded two hours. With a total performance time of five hours, including intermission, it is the longest work ever staged by the NTCK. &ld
Performance Aug. 15, 2023
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Summer sizzles with mystery, horror, thriller novels
As the heat wave swept through Korea, so did the feverish appetite for spine-chilling tales and gripping mysteries. In July, sales of mystery, horror and thriller novels rose by 56.1 percent over the previous month, according to Yes24, Korea's largest online book retailer. The novels behind recent drama adaptations led the July bestseller lists, while support for genre-specific writers remained strong and major publishing houses released anthologies. Original novels of drama adaptations l
Books Aug. 14, 2023
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