Indonesian novel ‘Cigarette Girl,’ adapted for Netflix, introduced to Korean readers

An Indonesian historical novel exploring love, family and social change across generations has been introduced to Korean readers, marking another step in literary exchange between Southeast Asia and Korea. “Cigarette Girl,” written by Indonesian author Ratih Kumala, was recently published in Korean through the Hansae Yes24 Foundation’s Southeast Asian Literature Series, a program dedicated to introducing major works from the region to Korean audiences. Kumala said the Korean publication of her b

March 13, 2026

Beyond skills, attitude defines success in the AI era, says veteran civil servant

Global interest in Korea has surged in recent years, ranging from its culture to its industries. But beyond what the world sees in K-culture lies something less visible, according to veteran South Korean civil servant Lee In-jae, president of the Korea Social Capital Research Center. He says it's about a way of working, a way of making decisions, a way of enduring. Drawing on 35 years in public service, Lee is set to release "The K-Attitude Advantage: Beyond the Algorithm," a guide to leadership

March 10, 2026

Bringing 16th-century voice to 21st century

The Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley has published an expanded edition of the English translation of "Chingbirok," the 1604 chronicle of the Japanese invasions of Korea written by Ryu Songnyong. Published in English as "The Book of Corrections" in 2002, the newly revised edition appears under the title "Reprimands and Admonitions: Reflections on the Japanese Invasions of Korea, 1592-1598." The Korea Herald spoke with translator Choi Byong-hyon about the s

March 7, 2026

Korean folktale picture book wins top honor at Bologna Ragazzi Award

Author and illustrator Lee Uk-bae has won the grand prize in a special category at the 2026 Bologna Ragazzi Award, one of the prestigious prizes in children’s publishing. According to Sakyejul Publishing, Lee’s children’s book “The Story of a Brother and a Sister,” published in 2020 here, received the top prize in the Fairy Tales and Fables special category. The Bologna Ragazzi Award, presented during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, honors outstanding publications in children’s literature. The

March 6, 2026

Reading declines again in Korea, but 20-somethings show rebound

The number of South Koreans who read at least one book over the course of a year has continued to decline, but those in their 20s were the only age group to show a rebound, reflecting the growing popularity of the “text hip” trend, in which reading is seen as in vogue. According to a report released Friday by the Culture Ministry, the annual reading rate among adults overall stood at 38.5 percent, down from two years earlier despite heightened interest in literature following the Nobel Prize in

March 6, 2026

Polar scientist calls for Korea to boost Arctic activities

This is one of a series of interviews in which Kim Hoo-ran, editor-at-large at The Korea Herald, speaks with leaders, trailblazers, unsung heroes, and both well- and lesser-known figures who share the stories of their lives and their visions for a better world — Ed. If you felt the weather this winter was erratic — unseasonably warm days followed by deep freeze — you would not be wrong. While the average temperature in January was minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, the coldest average January temperatur

March 4, 2026

[Book Review] Beyond real estate: 'Seoul Urban Architecture' decodes city's DNA

“Seoul Urban Architecture: Rising from the Crushing Bowl” By Kim Sung-hong Park Books Seoul and its architecture may feel familiar to those who have lived in the Korean capital, but conversations about the city often revolve around real estate — a dominant topic that has come to define Seoul in recent decades. Nonetheless the time has come to look back on how the city has taken shape, and how its architectural trajectory might be understood beyond the logic of property values. In “Seoul Urban Ar

Feb. 28, 2026

What Yerin Ha read to become Bridgerton's new Cinderella

The much-anticipated second batch of episodes from Season 4 of Netflix’s Regency-era hit show “Bridgerton” was released on Thursday. Holding its place as one of Netflix’s most popular series, the period romance continues its tale of the lavish and lovestruck Bridgerton brood. The fourth installment centers on Yerin Ha, who plays Sophie Baek, a maid whose encounter with Benedict Bridgerton at a masquerade ball sets in motion a Cinderella-esque love story with the rakish second son. Ha has since b

Feb. 27, 2026

'Two Women Living Together' suggests a new kind of family

Last year, South Korea surpassed 8 million single-person households for the first time. According to data released in December by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, 8.045 million households were made up of just one person, up from 7.166 million in 2021, bringing the share of solo households to 36.1 percent, the highest level on record. The proportion has climbed steadily, crossing 30 percent in 2019 and 35 percent in 2023, with Seoul posting the largest concentration of people living alone. As

Feb. 15, 2026

What Olympians understand about work that most offices don’t

At the Winter Olympics, where medals are decided by tenths of a second and the difference between the podium and just off it can hinge on a single edge or landing, the competition is not only physical. It is cognitive and emotional. Athletes are navigating not only slippery courses and triple rotations, but also the quiet churn of memory — the crash last season, the near miss, the doubt that resurfaces from time to time. This is what Liane Davey, a team effectiveness adviser and New York Times b

Feb. 14, 2026

What counts as literature? Web novels should, too, says Korea’s Literature Museum

Literature should not only belong to literary circles; it must be something the public can widely enjoy, according to Yim Hun-young, director of the National Museum of Korean Literature. Yim stressed that the traditional, elite-bound notion of literature must change during a press conference in central Seoul on Monday, marking his first month in office. “A concept of literature that is valid only within literary circles is no longer acceptable. The definition of literature needs to be rethought,

Feb. 10, 2026

It took me an hour to write book with AI. Is that a good thing?

It took me about an hour to produce a 50-page-long children’s book. All it required was a handful of prompts to ChatGPT. The task was simple: Write a children’s story about a journalist living in the age of artificial intelligence, set at The Korea Herald, with a main character named Jane. Here's what I got. Both the book cover image and the title were created by ChatGPT. And here are a few pages from the book: Readers can decide for themselves if the result is convincing enough to pass as somet

Feb. 10, 2026

Kim Su-hyun decided to live as herself and her ‘to-do list’ is now global

When Kim Su-hyun penned the bestsellers “I Decided to Live as Me” in 2016 she was writing from a position of uncertainty. Plans had not panned out and she was unsure what path to take. The book, and its 2020 follow-up and “Being Comfortable without Effort,” were like “a manifesto and a promise” to herself. Nearly a decade later, the 39-year-old writer feels she has largely lived up to that promise and internalized many of their principles. She says she is now psychologically healthier than ever.

Feb. 7, 2026

Lee Geum-yi named Andersen Award finalist for second time

South Korean author Lee Geum-yi, one of the country’s most prominent children’s and young adult writers, has been named a finalist in the writing category of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. The 64-year-old was included on the 2026 shortlist announced by the International Board on Books for Young People on Friday, according to KBBY, the Korean branch of the IBBY. This is the second time she has reached the final round, having also been a finalist in 2024. Lee joins a distinguished

Feb. 2, 2026

Han Kang's 'Human Acts' most-borrowed book at public libraries in 2025

Nobel literature laureate Han Kang's novel "Human Acts" was the most-borrowed book at public libraries across the country last year, government data showed Sunday. The book was borrowed 60,504 times at 1,583 public libraries across the country, with the renowned writer's other works "The Vegetarian" and "We Do Not Part" ranking second and third, respectively, according to the data compiled by the National Library of Korea. Han's 2014 work "Human Acts" tells the story of a young boy named Dong-ho

Feb. 1, 2026