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. 13 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 Voi

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

Water Gun Festival at Oil Tank Culture Park After a four-year hiatus, the much-awaited Water Gun Festival is set to make a splash at the Oil Tank Culture Park in Seoul's Mapo district this weekend. Reviving the festival's vibrant spirit, this year's aquatic celebration is themed "I Am Alive," promising a thrilling departure from everyday routines. The event brings a dynamic change in venue, moving from the Sinchon district in Seodaemun-gu to the Oil Tank Culture Park thi

Culture Aug. 11, 2023

South Korean conductor Yoon Han-kyeol clinched the prestigious Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award in Salzburg, Austria, on Sunday. Taking to the stage at the main auditorium of the Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation, Yoon led the Camerata Salzburg orchestra in performances of four works in the final competition: Overture from Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" (The Barber of Seville); Mozart’s Aria for Soprano and Orchestra in F major, K. 538; a chamber orchestra piece t

Performance Aug. 7, 2023

The Korean National Ballet is set to present separate productions of modern and classic ballet in August, with a back-to-back schedule. Kicking off on Aug. 25, “Triple Bill” features three distinct works within a single program, while “Ballet With Commentary, Le Corsaire” is scheduled for Aug. 30-Sept. 3. Both productions will be staged at the CJ Towol Theater of the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul. In “Triple Bill,” the audience will experience

Performance Aug. 6, 2023

"No Human's Land" By Kim Jeong Changbi Publishers Heat wave warnings are a daily occurrence and the UN says Earth is now in an "era of global boiling." What will Seoul look like in 2050? In “No Human’s Land,” an unprecedented climate disaster strikes and the UN designates various places as uninhabitable. The Korean Peninsula, too, sees its entire territory designated as a “No Human's Land,” and people have left, leaving behind a desolat

Books Aug. 6, 2023

"Mundus" By Kim Jong-young Galmuri Publisher The Hwang Woo-suk scandal in 2005 plunged the entire nation into shock and confusion. The promising scientist claimed an epic scientific breakthrough by successfully cloning human embryos. However, after a series of controversies, it became apparent that his revolutionary research had been manipulated. Kim Jong-young, a sociology professor at Kyung Hee University, created a 21st-century Faust inspired by the disgraced scientist, who was once

Books Aug. 5, 2023

"The Tank" By Kim Hee-jae Hankyoreh Publishing A debut novel by Kim Hee-jae, “Tank,” won the 28th Hankyoreh Literary Award with a gripping, speedy narrative, according to the Hankyoreh Publishing. At the core of the novel lies a unique concept called the “autonomous prayer system,” which is a space that exists without a religious leader or doctrines. The tank is an empty container -- a prayer room of about 5 pyeong or 16.5 square meters -- standing on a hill in

Books Aug. 5, 2023

"The Lessons of SayNo" (direct translation), penned by an anonymous writer who goes by the pseudonym SayNo, achieved an impressive 20 consecutive week reign at the top spot in the weekly bestseller rankings of Kyobo Book Center, as of Thursday. Since its release on March 2, the book has been a top-selling title, dominating the bestseller list for the first half of the year. Although it briefly relinquished the top spot to “A Study of Science by Liberal Arts Man” by former h

Books Aug. 5, 2023