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Actor Ryu Soo-young shares home-cooked comfort in his debut cookbook
Stir-fried spicy pork in just 9 minutes and a hearty braised chicken stew for under 10,000 won. Actor Ryu Soo-young has compiled 79 such no-fuss recipes in his debut cookbook, “Ryu Soo-young’s Recipes for Life,” aimed at helping anyone — from newlyweds to retired fathers — master the comforting flavors of Korean home cooking. At a press conference Tuesday, the actor spoke not as a celebrity, but as a passionate home cook and self-taught recipe developer. “This book isn’t for gourmet chefs. It’s
July 11, 2025 -
Korean bestseller on single life lands six-figure English rights deal
Seen Aromi, YouTuber and author of the Korean bestseller "So What If I Love My Single Life?," has a publishing rights deal with Penguin Publishing Group. "We are so proud to announce that Sharika Teelwah, editor at Transworld, part of the Penguin Publishing Group, in UK pre-empted World English rights for six figures to Seen Aromi’s bestselling Korean book," Seen's New York-based literary agent Barbara J. Zitwer said in a statement. Originally published in 2024 by the Korean publisher Bookrum, t
July 10, 2025 -
Summer reads: What we are reading at The Korea Herald
By Culture Desk Here are some summer reading recommendations from The Korea Herald. Kim Hoo-ran Culture desk editor "Tell Me Everything" by Elizabeth Strout Many of the main characters in Elizabeth Strout's previous novels converge in "Tell Me Everything,” the Pulitzer-winning writer’s latest book. While the book starts with a declaration that this is the story of Bob Burgess, a lawyer inhabiting many of Strout’s works, “Tell Me Everything” takes its time, meandering through seemingly disparate
July 5, 2025 -
Summer reads: Books for the hottest days
By Culture Desk Reading is one of the simplest ways to beat the summer heat. From gripping page-turners that whisk us away to reflective essays and self-help titles that gently guide us back into daily life after a break, this season’s recommendations span genres and moods. The Korea Herald asked people from a wide range of fields what books they’ve recently enjoyed and which ones they’d recommend for summer. Their picks might just lead you to a perfect companion for a lazy afternoon or a long-a
July 5, 2025 -
Poet Kim Hye-soon on creative power of translating literature
Translated literature is a gift to the language it arrives in, acclaimed poet Kim Hye-soon said, describing it as the Korean language offering a present — “like tossing a new pebble into the well of another language.” “I think translating Korean literature isn’t about elevating Korea’s literary status. Rather, it’s about expanding the boundaries of the target language. Translation is a reciprocal relationship, not a one-way transaction,” Kim said. “We already know how much the boundaries of Kore
July 4, 2025 -
Why these novels? Park Chan-wook’s literary anchors
Celebrated filmmaker Park Chan-wook is widely known to be an avid reader. Many of his acclaimed films were adapted from novels, making his appearance at last week’s Seoul International Book Fair all the more fitting. Park shared his “literary anchors,” offering personal anecdotes and insights into the books that have inspired him. The following are some of the highlights from his talk. 'Joint Security Area' (2000) In a 2023 reissue of Park Sang-yeon's novel "DMZ," Park Chan-wook wrote, “I don’t
June 28, 2025 -
Think your Korean handwriting is good? Give Kyobo's contest a shot
Kyobo Book Center is inviting Korea’s international community to put their Korean handwriting to the test. The 11th Handwriting Contest for Foreign Nationals is now open, offering participants a chance to showcase their Korean handwriting skills and celebrate the charm of the language — one beautifully written sentence at a time. The contest encourages participants to write out either a favorite line from a Korean book or lyrics from their favorite K-pop song. Submissions must be received by Aug
June 27, 2025 -
Salwa Bakr, Amitav Ghosh, John Banville named finalists for 14th Pak Kyongni Prize
Egyptian writer Salwa Bakr, Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh and Irish author John Banville have been nominated for the 14th Park Kyongni Award, according to the Toji Cultural Foundation on Thursday. The judging committee conducted a review of writers from around the world starting in September last year and narrowed down this year's candidates to three. The winner will be announced in September. Bakr, known for her novels "The Man from Bashmour" and "The Golden Chariot," has consistently highlighte
June 20, 2025 -
From Master Chef to writer, Choi Kang-rok shares his quiet struggles, new dreams
Known for his creative ideas and star turns on reality shows like Netflix’s "Culinary Class Wars," chef Choi Kang-rok appeared at the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair on Wednesday not with a knife, but with a pen in hand — and a surprising amount of self-doubt. “I’m very embarrassed to put my life into a book,” said Choi, 47, a well-known introvert, speaking slowly but candidly to a crowd at Coex. He attended the book fair as the author of “Cooking for Life,” his first essay collection and sec
June 19, 2025 -
Seoul International Book Fair opens to record crowds, famous faces
On the opening morning of the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair, the exhibition hall at Coex in Gangnam-gu was already packed with eager visitors. By the time the doors officially opened at 10 a.m. Wednesday, a seemingly endless queue had formed, snaking around the venue — a scene that spoke volumes about the fair’s popularity. Tickets for the event, which runs through Sunday, were already sold out before opening day via online reservations. No on-site ticket sales are available, with exception
June 18, 2025 -
The visionary behind Seoul’s London Bagel Museum on building more than a bakery
One of Seoul’s most buzzed-about bakeries, London Bagel Museum, became an instant hit when it opened its doors in Anguk-dong, Jongno, in 2021 -- and it still draws long lines four years later. Behind the wildly successful brand is Ryo, whose real name is Lee Hyo-jung, the visionary and brand director who has had a hand in nearly every detail, from recipe development to interior aesthetics, not only of London Bagel Museum, but also of Artist Bakery -- known for its salt butter bread -- as well as
June 17, 2025 -
Yes24 CEOs apologize, offer compensation after 5-day ransomware shutdown
Yes24, Korea’s largest online bookstore and a major player in the ticketing industry, has issued a formal apology from its CEOs and announced the first round of compensation measures following a crippling ransomware attack that shut down its entire system for five days. Co-CEOs Kim Seok-hwan and Choi Se-ra expressed deep regret on Monday over the disruption that began in the early hours of June 9, paralyzing all of Yes24’s services, including its website, mobile app, book sales and event ticketi
June 17, 2025 -
After Han Kang's Nobel win, forum to discuss expanding global reach of Korean literature
Following Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize in literature win last year, leading academics in translation and Korean studies, as well as translators from around the world, will gather in Seoul to explore new strategies for expanding Korean literature's reach. The Literature Translation Institute of Korea will host the 2025 LTI Korea Global Literature Forum on July 3-4 at Yonsei University, Han’s alma mater. The forum, held under the theme “Strategies for Fostering the Global Expansion of Korean Li
June 16, 2025 -
What comes next for Hallyu? New book investigates its future
From BTS and "Squid Game" to the Oscar-winning "Parasite" and the recent Tony-winning musical "Maybe Happy Ending," Korean cultural content continues to capture global attention. Now, experts are asking: What comes next? A new book by Ko Sam-seog, a leading expert in Korean content and IT policy, explores this very question: Can the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, sustain its momentum in an era defined by transformative technologies such as generative AI? And beyond sustainability, what role can Korean
June 13, 2025 -
'No tickets left': Seoul Int'l Book Fair sells out before opening
All available tickets for the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair, set to kick off next week, completely sold out during the early-bird ticketing period, leaving no option for on-site purchase, according to its organizer, the Korean Publishers Association, on Thursday. The early-bird tickets, offered at a discount, were part of an initiative to encourage participation and advance reservations. But overwhelming demand during the presale period means that most walk-in visitors to the fair will not
June 13, 2025