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

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

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

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

"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

"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

"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

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

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

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

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

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

A Liberation Day concert titled “815 Seoul, My Soul” will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Gwanghwamun Square. Commemorating the 78th anniversary of Liberation Day and the first anniversary of the reopening of Gwanghwamun Square, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is co-organizing the event with Seoul City. Pop, trot, modern rock, pansori, folk songs, and uniquely individual pieces that transcend the traditional genre of gugak will be performed under the theme of “Our Mus

Performance Aug. 14, 2023

The 2023 New Translator Prize, launched by the Charm Agency, a literary agency based in Seoul, together with New York-based Barbara J. Zitwer Agency, is seeking to discover emerging, talented Korean-English translators. The competition running from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31 welcomes submissions from both professional translators and budding enthusiasts who translate Korean literature into English, regardless of age or nationality. The chosen literary work is the winning title of the 2022 New Korean Voic

Books Aug. 11, 2023

What does a plaza or a square mean to you? A simple question yet when posed against the backdrop of Seoul’s iconic Gwanghwamun Square, it takes on a new dimension. This expansive space that stands before the majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace in the heart of the city, resonates with a tapestry of history, both past and ongoing. Exploring the theme of "gwangjang," plaza or square in Korean, “Gwang Gwang, Goeng Goeng,” one of the 12 productions presented by the Sejong Center

Performance Aug. 11, 2023