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Search word : "Literature", Search result : 595

[TREND / SPECIAL PROJECT]

Literary Awards and Contests in the field of Genre Literature

Literary Awards and Contests in the field of Genre Literature Becoming the center of the publishing market as a mainstream field 2020.06.01 The preference of readers is having more influence on the Korean publishing market than other elements. Genre literature including webtoons (online comics), web novels, and science fiction that gained little attention in the past have become popular among readers ? even comparable to pure literature ? and its market is expanding as well. The idea that genre literature is non-mainstream and is only enjoyed by certain fans has become nonsense today. In particular, in terms of web novels, anyone can become a writer, and as anybody can enjoy the works with a mobile device anywhere one likes, its market has outgrown that of paper books. Genre literature possesses a different value than pure literature in that its works can be extended to derivative works such as movies or TV series with their creative ideas and fast flow of stories...

VOL.23 / 2020.06

[TREND / BOOK TRIP]

Chuncheon

Chuncheon A Sentimental Journey along the Railroad 2020.06.01 The most sentimental city in Korea would be Chuncheon, Gangwondo Province. There are many reasons to visit Chuncheon: college students go to Chuncheon for workshops every spring, young couples come to enjoy the beautiful scenery, and gourmets visit Chuncheon every year to taste the famous spicy stir-fried chicken and makguksu (buckwheat noodles). Alongside the lake and river, all sorts of water sports facilities, bike roads, and rail-bike trails are connected, which makes Chuncheon a perfect place for those that love outdoor activities. Just take ITX-Cheongchun in Seoul and ride for an hour to arrive in Chuncheon, the lake city. Soyang 2nd bridge and Miss Soyang River, both of which are symbols of Chuncheon ⓒChuncheon-si A picture book world unfolded on a little island Namiseom Island located on the way up to Chuncheon is a little leaf-shaped island with a perimeter of 5km....

VOL.23 / 2020.06

[TREND / TOPIC]

E-book Platforms and the Meaning of “Original Content”

E-book Platforms and the Meaning of “Original Content” The value of new methods and strategies 2020.05.04 According to the 2019 National Reading Survey, 52.1% of Korean adults were reading paper books. Adding e-books and audiobooks only pulled up the rate to 55.7%. The rate is falling with every survey. The reason for the fall in adults’ reading rate is a change of pattern in consuming content. People that enjoy other content than books reached 29.1%. Smartphones killed books.Yet, there are still readers. More and more readers are reading books with their mobile devices. Major online bookstores such as Yes 24, Kyobo Bookstore, and Aladdin have more than 10 million members each. Even e-book companies RIDI Books and Millie have millions of subscribers. There are many readers who enjoy reading genre literature through web-novel platforms such as Naver Webnovel, KakaoStory, Munpia, and Joara. In short, the missing number of paper book readers, or even mor...

VOL.22 / 2020.05

[INTERVIEW / KOREAN AUTHORS]

Writer Jung Yeo-Wool

Writer Jung Yeo-Wool Developing a healthy mind by facing your true self 2021.07.05 Most people bury their painful memories deep inside their hearts. They don’t have the courage to face them, for they fear what will happen next. However, writer Jung Yeo-Wool recommends people overcome their traumas by facing their inner wounds no matter how painful they might be. She turns into a healer that also has pains and candidly but composedly talks about them. Following is an interview of writer Jung, who sometimes gives warmth and sometimes the courage to face the pain with her “psychological therapeutic essays.” Please introduce yourself to the subscribers. Hello, I’m writer Jung Yeo-Wool. I had been working as a literary critic, but now I’ve leaned more to being a non-fiction writer. I was attracted to non-fiction as I could talk about more various stories in various fields without limitations. The genres of my books are largely divided into ...

VOL.36 / 2021.07

[INTERVIEW / KOREAN PUBLISHERS]

Hanbit Media

Hanbit Media Publishing professional and practical books that are worth it 2021.06.07 What defines a good book? Everyone has their own yardstick for selecting good books, but one thing in common would be that “good books” have all been a good teacher that provided insights and lessons. In this aspect, Hanbit Media is a publisher that makes good books. It not only offers answers to questions but also enables the readers to make use of them. Hanbit Media, mainly specialized in the IT field, was established in 1993 when computers began to spread out across the country, and computers and PC communication were anticipated as one of the bright future industries. Almost 30-years-old today, Hanbit Media has become a mid-sized publisher in Korea. We asked CEO Kim Tae-Heon about the path Hanbit Media ? which actively tries to identify and reflect readers' needs ? will walk in the future. Please introduce Hanbit Media to overseas publishers. Establishe...

VOL.35 / 2021.06

[EVENT / I READ]

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

I Read The Vegetarian by Han Kang 2025.05.07 This article is a review written by a Japanese reader ofK-Book Trends after reading a Korean book.If you want to share your wonderful experience of reading Korean bookswith other overseas readers, please send us an email!kbooktrends@gmail.com Japanese and Korean covers of The Vegetarian Han Kang’s The Vegetarian is a haunting, deeply psychological novel that explores personal autonomy, societal expectations, and the consequences of nonconformity. The story follows Yeong-hye, an ordinary woman who suddenly decides to stop eating meat after a series of disturbing dreams. What begins as a simple dietary choice soon spirals into a harrowing transformation, unsettling her family and leading to increasingly surreal and tragic events.The novel is divided into three parts, each narrated by different people in Yeong-hye’s life?her ...

VOL.82 / 2025.05

[EVENT / IMAGE OF K-BOOK]

A Festival Where Cherry Blossoms and History Blend: Jinhae Gunhangje Festival

Image of K-Book A Festival Where Cherry Blossoms and History Blend:Jinhae Gunhangje Festival 2025.04.07 “Jinhae Gunhangje Festival” held in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do is the biggest cherry blossom festival in Korea Spring in Korea is full of colorful flowers and a variety of festivals. While there are many springtime events, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival in Yeouido and the Canola Flower Festival in Jeju Island, the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival is a favorite among many. Voted number one in the “What are the best travel destinations in Korea for spring?” poll by K-Book Trends, Jinhae is a popular destination for cherry blossoms and springtime fun, attracting many people every year.Every year, from late March to early April, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, and Gyeongsangnam-do become a feast of cherry blossoms. Walking through the pink tunnels created by the 360,000 Yoshin...

VOL.81 / 2025.04

[TOPIC / EXPORT TRENDS]

Translated and Published in Taiwan, Meet Chin-Myong Kim's THAAD

Translated and Published in Taiwan, Meet Chin-Myong Kim's THAAD The Novel that INK Publishing Recognized First! 2017.6.30 Chin-Myong Kim, who is one of the most respected writers in Korea with his powerful novels, The Rose of Sharon Blooms Again and Goguryeo was interviewed by in commemoration of the translation of his work first published in 2014. The Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea(hereafter KPIPA) Congratulations on Taiwan translation to THAAD, which recently completed 28 prints, 200,000 copies. Please give us some comments. Chin-Myong Kim (hereafter Kim) It is a great pleasure to receive attention from many readers. However, I have a concern that the interest in THAAD represents Korea’s difficulties. Faced with a series of situations, I have realized the fact that "the writer should not ignore the issues of the times" and have also been convinced that only those who try to understand history can become the subjects of history. I ...

VOL.1 / 2017.06

[TOPIC / TRENDS]

South Korea’s Literary Awards

South Korea’s Literary Awards 2018.07.31 Authors of South Korea usually start their careers by writing short stories. Every January 1st, South Korea’s key newspapers print literary works that have snagged awards, like short novels, poems, reviews and fairy tales. These contests by the papers are called “sinchunmunye”, which would translate into “spring literary contest”. This tradition began in 1925 by DongA Ilbo newspaper and for the next near century, South Korea’s key writers would first meet readers through this method. South Korea’s literary editors read these works at the beginning of the year, assess the literary potential the writers have and start contacting the new authors. The writers usually win around 5 million won per prize and winning an award at these annual competitions is considered a great honor. For many, a long time is spent honing their craft.Prominent literary magazines like Literature and Society, Munhakdongne (Literary Neighborhood), Creat...

VOL.11 / 2018.07

[TREND / TOPIC]

The Creative World of Baek Heena

The Creative World of Baek Heena The Nobel Prize of Children’s Literature, 2020 Laureate of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2020.05.04 Picture book author Baek Heena (49) has been named the 2020 laureate of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), the world’s most renowned prize for children’s literature. In doing so, she is the first Korean writer to win the award. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was founded by the Swedish government to honor the late Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren (1907?2002), the author of the best-selling Pippi Longstocking series which has been translated into over 100 languages and beloved by readers of all ages. Past laureates of the award include Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are), Christine N?stlinger (The Cucumber King), and Philip Pullman (The Golden Compass). Baek is the second Asian author to win this prestigious honor after the Japanese illustrator Ryoji Arai. Announcement of the Astrid Lindgre...

VOL.22 / 2020.05

VOL.95/2026.06

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