With writer Han Kang making history by winning the Nobel Prize in literature, another list she was on several years ago has resurfaced in the spotlight: the blacklist of the previous conservative Park Geun-hye government. During a national audit session Thursday, Rep. Kang Yoo-jung of the Democratic Party of Korea, a former literary critic, said that while everyone, regardless of party affiliation, was clapping and celebrating the news, she felt there was something important to say: "Today&

Celebrities have been offering their congratulations following the news of author Han Kang winning the Nobel Prize in literature. Kim Min-ha, known for her role in Apple TV+ series "Pachinko," along with well-known book-loving actors Moon Ga-young and Kim Hye-soo shared the news of Han's win on their social media accounts. Actor Ko Hyun-jung also posted on her personal account, sharing a screenshot of the news reporting Han Kang’s Nobel Prize win, with the caption, "Fin

More than 110,000 users attempted to book a table at the restaurant of the winner of Netflix’s hit reality cooking show, "Culinary Class Wars," temporarily crashing a reservation app on Thursday. Reservations for the Italian restaurant Via Toledo Pasta Bar, run by Chef Kwon Seong-jun, also known by his nickname "Napoli Mafia," opened on the restaurant booking app Catch Table at 10 a.m. on Thursday. As fans rushed to secure a table, the app became unresponsive and was do

Renewed interest has emerged in potential film adaptations of Han Kang's works, after she became the first Korean author to receive the prestigious Nobel Prize in literature. However, experts suggest that one of the most anticipated adaptations, "Human Acts," may face significant challenges in its transition to film. To date, there have been two film adaptations of Han's works. The film adaptation of Han's International Booker Award-winning novel "The Vegetarian,&qu

'Ability for Koreans to read Nobel Prize-winning author's works in original language without translation likely to further heighten interest'

Experience Africa's rich and diverse culture at the 7th Seoul Africa Festival, which takes place at Seoul's Banpo Hangang Park on Saturday Hosted by Africa Insight and sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the festival features a variety of performances and programs in collaboration with African communities. The festivities begin at 12:30 p.m. with a vibrant parade led by DjembeCola Roots, a group inspired by the performing arts of West Africa, particularly Mande music and da

Local food festivals, which usually take visitors on a gastronomic journey with an array of savory dishes, this year offer an additional feast for participants’ eyes -- live performances from the chefs of “Culinary Class Wars." “Culinary Class Wars” is Netflix’s latest hit cooking reality show, where the country’s top chefs and local restaurant owners are divided into two teams to compete in multiple elimination rounds. Chefs Jung Ji-sun, one of the show&

The 27th Pocheon Silver Grass Festival will take place at Myeongseongsan’s silver grass colony and in areas surrounding Sanjeong Lake in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, from Saturday to Oct. 27. The annual festival, the city’s representative autumn event, features diverse cultural programs, including concerts, stamp tours, a quiz show, flower exhibitions and photo zones in the silver grass fields. Holidaymakers can explore the seemingly unending 150,000-square-meter grass field and take

Reduce, reuse, rehydrate At A Cup of Dungji in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, you can enjoy a delicious drink while reflecting on the environment. Though it may seem like any other cafe with its warm wooden interior and sunlight pouring through large windows, A Cup of Dungji is a special space run by the zero-waste brand Sojunghan Everything. Here, you can explore a vegan menu and learn about resource-recycling methods. All dishes are vegan, with no eggs, butter or milk used. Drinks that usually require

WE Hotel presents nature-friendly promotion WE Hotel, a premium health resort located in Seogwipo, on the southern side of Jeju Island, is offering a new eco-friendly package. The “Go, Green Package” includes a one-night stay in WE Hotel’s superior room with a view of the island's iconic volcanic mountain Hallasan, breakfast for two, and all-green-rated vegan amenities. Guests who arrive at the hotel using public transportation or electric vehicles receive a 30,000-won vou

Fall blooms in Jangseong Check out fall flowers -- everything from cosmos to sunflowers, verbenas to zinnias -- all in their full glory in Jangseong-gun, South Jeolla Province. For the past nine years, the Jangseong Hwangryong River Fall Flower Festival has been one of the major local attractions. The festival, which saw over 60,000 visitors on its first day, runs for nine days through Sunday. For more details, visit jangseong.go.kr. Gimpo Laveniche Festival This year’s Gimpo Lav

South Korean novelist Han Kang, who won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday, said she will "celebrate quietly tonight" having tea with her son. "I'm so surprised and I'm absolutely honored," Han said in a phone interview with the Swedish Academy in a video released shortly after the winning announcement. Speaking in English, Han said she had just finished dinner with her son at home in Seoul, and they were both very surprised by the news. "I didn

Winning the Nobel Prize in literature means that Han Kang and her works are now acknowledged, legitimized and confirmed forever in the canon of the greatest writers and books ever published in the world, said Barbara J. Zitwer in an interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday. Zitwer, the founder of her eponymous New York-based literary agency, is one of the pioneers in introducing Korean literature abroad. As the agent who championed "The Vegetarian," she previously mentioned in the previous in

Han Kang's poetic prose wrestles with pain, tragedies

South Korea's two major online bookstores said Thursday their sites briefly crashed due to high traffic soon after homegrown author Han Kang was announced as the winner of the Nobel Prize in literature. "We fielded complaints that people weren't able to get on our website, and when they did, pages were slow to load," an official at Kyobo Book Centre said. "Since we did not anticipate Han Kang winning the award, we don't have any stock of her books. We have contacted