LTI Korea 
DLKL 
SIWF 
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Book For You
[Book for You] Over two years, I still can't get over him.
Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): Hello everyone! We’re the book prescribers, providing comfort in your time of need through the medium of books.I’m SohnJeong-seung ! Kim Sanghyuk(Kim): And I’m Kim Sanghyuk, the man who speaks through poems! Sohn: There are some couples, whether they’re married or just dating, that are so different from each other that they always end up fighting. Kim: That’s right! Our letter-writer today is someone who’s struggling with the same problem.Let’s take a look. Sohn: Today’s letter comes to us from Phee in Nigeria. Phee’s letter to Book for You We loved each other, but we were always fighting, breaking up, making up, breaking up again… It was exhausting. We’ve been apart for over two years now, but I still can’t seem to get over him. What should I do? Kim: The reason it’s hard to advise Phee to just forget the past and move on isthat love is like a living organism, and some loves do come back to life.That said, I do want to say that the time and effort you’ve poured into a relationship doesn’t oblige youto stay bound to the past, keeping up a love that only hurts you.The most important thing to remember is that love is not pain.If anything, I think that love is the act of sharing pain to lighten its load.On that note, I’d like to introduce one of my favorite poems: “The Invention of Love,”from the poet Lee Yeong-gwang’s collection The Tree Is Going. You said that if ever you grew tired of living and living You’d dig a hole in the mountains where nobody goesAnd climb in and lie down and refuse to eat[ . . . ]So shocked was I that like lightning,Like lightning, I had to invent love.From “The Invention of Love ” Kim: I can’t say for sure what Phee’s decision should be, but I think it is worth thinking over at least once whether this is a love that saves one another, or one that only brings pain. The moment true love is invented, our pain disappears. Kim: You could say this is the essence of love the poet is writing about.I think that when Lee Yeong-gwang speaks of “the moment love is invented,” he’s referring to a love that saves a life. Sohn: I once took about five years to let go of a past love myself, so this letter really resonated with me.I thought a lot about which book to recommend to Phee, and I finally settled on the title story “Us” from Tomorrow’s Lovers, a collection of short stories by the writer Jung Young Su. Sohn: The narrator, a former editor, is approached by a couple looking to write a book about their romance. The story follows the narrator and the couple, Jung-eun and Hyeon-su , over the course of their brief acquaintance.Seeing these two as mature adults, the narrator comes to compare their relationship with his own love and is inspired to begin writing a letter to his ex, Yeon-gyeong. Unfortunately, that letter doesn’t come easy. My words were tiptoeing around the point. I had to speak to her directly—not in hollow symbols, but in my own raw voice. But in fact what I realized after I began writing was that, let alone what I wanted to say to Yeon-gyeong, I didn’t even know exactly how I felt about her. From “Us” Sohn: If you keep dwelling on the past, that can become a habit in itself, even if your ex no longer has an important place in your life. So what I want to say to Phee is that, even if you come to rekindle your love, I hope you’ll take the time to really consider whether this is right for you. The act of recalling the past is neither remembrance nor record,but reinterpretation and reinvention. Sohn: There’s an incredible twist at the end of “Us,” so I hope you can find your answer as you read the story through. Kim: Love is important too, but isn’t it true that we learn a lot through breakups? I think that one thing is for sure: farewells help us to grow up, and to grow stronger. Sohn: We’ve been receiving an amazingly diverse range of personal stories on the theme of “Love.”I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of story will be awaiting us next time. Kim: Then till next time… Book for You: Sohn: A book for you! Sohn&Kim: Bye! Today’s Prescriptions:The Tree Is Going & Tomorrow’s Lovers
By Korean Literature Now
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The Place
Yoon Dong-Ju Literature Museum: A Museum Dedicated to Korea's Most Beloved Poet
Foreword Wising not to haveso much as a speck of shametoward heaven until the day I die,I suffered, even when the wind stirred the leaves.With my heart singing to the stars,I shall love all things that are dying.And I must walk the roadthat has been given to me. Tonight, again, the stars arebrushed by the wind. Who is the most beloved poet in Korea?Korea’s own Yoon Dong-Ju.Today, in The Place, we will explorethe Yoon Dong-Ju Literature Museum.Let’s go! Florian KrapfCompeted in the Netflix reality series Physical: 100Guest starred in the MBC every1 series Welcome, First Time in Korea? Let’s see.We’ve come a pretty long way.Here it is, Yoon Dong-Ju Literature Museum.We’re here. The Place Seochon Literary Tour: Yoon Dong-Ju Literature MuseumFormerly a pressurization facility and multiple water tanks,the Literature House was designed to commemorate the works of Yoon,which were as inspirational as the pressurized pumpsthat allowed water to flow mightily.The first thing that caught my eye was this well.This was the actual well that sat in the poet’s house.“Self-Portrait” Coming round the mountain, I go up alone tothe solitary well at the edge of the rice field and peer in, quietly.[...] by Yoon Dong-Jutr. Kyung-Nyun Kim Richards, Steffen F. RichardsSky, Wind, and Stars, Asian Humanities Press, 2003 One of his poems is the work titled “Self-Portrait.”It also mentions a well.I believe he may have been inspired by this well. Behind me, you’ll see many photographs on display.They speak to the thoughts and contemplations that ran through Yoon Dong-Ju’s mind.Poet’s House (Gallery 1)The poet’s life is featured in chronological order across 9 displaysthrough photographs and prints of handwritten manuscripts.They tell of the poet’s thoughts on his art.I see the covers of many books on the other side.Excuse me. May I know what those books are? Jung Rin Kang / Docent (Kang) : Yoon Dong-Ju was a poet and writer but he was also a voracious reader.He was fond of Baek Seok and Chong Chi-Yong’s collectionsas well as Kim Yeongrang’s Yeong-rang Collection and The Eulhae Collection of Great Poems. Florian Krapf (Florian): It’s amazing that we get to experience the same thoughts and dilemmas he had. Kang : Yoon Dong-Ju would walk the lengths of Inwangsan Mountain and be inspired to write poetry.That was the reason this museum was built here. Florian: Let’s head to the next exhibition hall.Come with me. We are inside the second gallery.As you can see, it’s titled Open Well. Open Well (Gallery 2)Inspired by the well from Yoon’s “Self-Portrait,“the gallery features the open roof of a repurposed water tank.Wells held much significance for Yoon.The space was designed with that motif in mind. Let’s head to the third gallery.I hear something. Closed Well (Gallery 3)Closed Well has preserved a disused water tank in its original form.Videos of the poet’s life and art are screened in a roommeant for silence and self-reflection.The roof is closed, hence the title Closed Well.This is a great place for quiet contemplation. In 1941, Yoon collected 18 of his writings and “Foreword“to create the collection Sky, Wind, and Stars.Imprisoned for aiding in his country’s independence effort,Yoon died in prison after a year and a half.He passed away at the age of 27 without witnessing the publication of his collection. His works continue to shine and provide comfort to so many people.That is the power of literature.We hope you too can feel a measure of comfortfrom Yoon Dong-Ju’s poetry today. I’ll see you at our next place.Bye bye!
By Korean Literature Now
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Book For You
[Book for You] Is it a problem that I’m asexual?
Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): We are book prescribers, providing comfort in your time of need through the medium of books. I’m Sohn Jeong-seung. Kim Sanghyuk(Kim): And I’m Kim Sanghyuk. Sohn: Today’s letter is from someone who was faced with rejection from others due to her asexuality, a sexual orientation that hasn’t received a lot of societal attention to date.Kim: This letter comes to us from Egypt, written by UGLY DUCK. UGLY DUCK’s Letter: "Is it a problem that I’m asexual?" I’ve never once fallen in love, and I’ve been single my whole life.But when I told others that I’m comfortable living this way, I wastold that I seem “not human.” Later I came to realize my identityas an asexual. It’s hard to find a partner without a sexualconnection when sex permeates everything. Do you know of anycases of asexual couples? Sohn: Discussing a kind of love that you’ve never personally experienced is something that needs to be approached with a lot of sensitivity, so this was a tough nut to crack, but who are we? Kim: Kim Sanghyuk.Sohn: And Sohn Jeong-seung, sending comfort through books!Sohn: You don’t know what a relief it was that we managed to find a novel that made us think “Eureka!” This is Bodies and Women, by the writer Lee Seo Su. Sohn: This book isn’t about an asexual couple,but it is one in which a woman who doesn’t feel sexual desire makes a sole confession in her own words about her body and her sexuality. Yeongseok, people say that a healthy life is one where you enjoy sex to your heart’s content, but people like me who don’t like sex exist too. To someone like me, words like those feel like a kind of violence[…] I want to use my body as much as I like for meeting up and talking with the people I like, and eating delicious food, and taking in beautiful landscapes, and drinking cool beer, and sleeping soundly, but not for sex[…] If I do have sex, I only want to have it with myself. Because I’m the only person who won’t wound my body, who can guess at the depths of my heart.From Bodies and Women Sohn: The writer speaks through this character to express the idea that creating standards for normality and pressuring someone into liberation is a different kind of oppression. The protagonist says that her existence is not wrong, but different. There’s a line I once read that said, “We read to know we are not alone” (William Nicholson, Shadowlands). I think it would be good for UGLY DUCK to read this book. There are no wrong existences. We are all just different. Kim: Every country is different in its culture, so I don’t think I can speak lightly about this matter, but what I can say for sure is that “living alone” is a personal choice. What we need is a good person we can connect with, not someone we share a bed with. So the book I’ve brought today is a collection of poetry by the poet Park Sang Su, I Won’t Leave You as a Soliloquy. Walking by the riverside, as my last impulse I make a call, “There are a lot of people here, people who wave their hands or rub their calves against the railing, people who look good for having somewhere to return to, I’m sure there’s someone who’d see me as the same, I don’t often take my pills and I can eat even less” From “Some Things Just Happen”Kim: Looking at the narrator’s situation, she can’t take the medicine she needs to, and she can’t even eat.Under these circumstances, she’s walking by the riverside, and it seems that she’s considering suicide. So she’s in need of someone to comfort her, and she makes this call. Because some things just happen, because they didn’t happen outof a hate for you, don’t try to punish the world by hurting yourselfanymore, this winter we should share frozen persimmons by thecoal stove. From “Some Things Just Happen”Kim: This is the reply she receives from the friend who picks up, who consoles her with these words: “No matter how hard things are, don’t try to take revenge on the world by hurting yourself. Let’s share delicious fruit by the warm stove.” If you have someone around you who can offer you comfort like this, I think it would make life worth living, even if you don’t live together. If you have someone by your side you can share comfort with, you’ve already formed a relationship that’s enough. Sohn: This series is about replying to your letters with messages of comfort through books, but this letter especially was a great comfort to us.Kim: Since this is such a great series, we’ll see you again next time with a new letter.Sohn: Book for You-Kim: Book for you!Sohn&Kim: Bye~Today’s Prescriptions:Bodies and Women & I Won’t Leave You as a Soliloquy
By Korean Literature Now
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The Place
The Chungwoon Literature Library: the First Ever hanok Library in Korea
Hello!I’m Florian Krapf—German on the outside,but a true Korean on the inside!Florian KrapfCompeted in the Netflix reality series Physical: 100Guest starred in the MBC every1 series Welcome, First Time in Korea? The Place Seochon Literary Tour: The Chungwoon Literature LibraryWhat could today’s “The Place” be?Check out the amazing giwa roof tiles behind me!Today’s “The Place” is the Chungwoon Literature Library! The first hanok public library of the Jongno District of Seoul, the Chungwoon Literature Library provides a space for reading, relaxation, and contemplation, as well as a variety of literary and cultural arts programs for local residents. Wow, isn’t it beautiful?It’s really a sight for sore eyes.And it’s totally different from what we expect a library to look like.Because it’s a library built as a hanok (traditional Korean house), there’s a distinctly Korean feel to it.Hello?This roof looks pretty special, wouldn’t you say?And you’d be right! It is!This roof was manufactured in the same way as the giwa tiles used in the reconstruction of Sungnyemun Gate, Korea’s National Treasure No. 1.Now I’m going to show you guys somewhere cool— I’ve rented the creative room.Remember to take your shoes off when you enter a hanok!Ta-da!It’s all ours! Opening the sliding doors filled with traditional beauty Welcomed by a roomful of elegant floor chairs and desksLocals gather here for book clubs and creative activities.And that’s not all!Sometimes they also hold literary exhibitions or invite guest writers for lectures on the humanities.This room is used for poetry-writing classes as well.There’s so much you can do here, so if you’re interested, come swing by!Now we’re on our way to the reading room, so I think we’ll need to be quiet.There are people using the room right now, so I’ll just give you a peek at what it looks like inside.Follow me! What might the reading room of the Korean writings-focused Chungwoon Literature Library look like? The collection includes a wide variety of literature, mainly poetry, novels, and essays.Fall into the world of books at the Chungwoon Literature Library!Time to take a break.Please take off your shoes here too!What did he see? Is this a library or a hotel?What a view…! The Chungwoon Literature Library is on high ground, right up against Inwangsan Mountain, and this altitude allows its visitors to vividly experience the distinct four seasons of the Korean year. In the Joseon dynasty, there was an institution called the Doksodang,This was a system in which a library would be built in a place with a beautiful viewand the king would allow brilliant, hardworking subjects to stay there and read.What happens when you read with such a beautiful view laid out before you?It recharges your batteries!Don’t we all need to take some time to recover after the daily grind?Then come on down to the Chungwoon Literature Library!The gorgeous Inwangsan Mountain is right next door too, so it’s perfect!I give it two thumbs up.See you next time, everyone!Goodbye! Translated by Jean Kim
By Korean Literature Now
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Book For You
[Book for You] I'd like to learn how to love myself before I try loving anyone else.
Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): Hello, viewers of KLN’s Book for You! This is Sohn Jeong-seung, sending warm messages of comfort through the medium of books!Sohn: This year I’m joined by a new book prescriber to double the warmth of that comfort, and here he is! Kim Sanghyuk(Kim): Hello. I’m the new book prescriber, Kim Sanghyeok. I debuted as a poet in 2009, and I’ve been writing ever since. Sohn: Pleased to meet you. Sohn: This is our first Book for You in a while, so we were worried that some of our viewers might’ve forgotten us, but we actually received a lot of different letters. Today we’re focusing on the subject of love in particular. This letter asks a question about relationships and attachment. Shall we listen to its story?Rema’s letter addressed to Book for YouI’ve always had attachment issues, and my fear of abandonment or rejectionmakes it difficult for me to trust or bond with others. I had a crush on someone, but he only ever saw meas a good friend, and I came to realize that my attachment to him was unhealthy.For the sake of my future relationships, I’d like to learn how to love myself before I try loving anyone else. Kim: It seems the problem is that it’s not easy to love yourself, because the words “Love yourself” can feel hollow.I think we need to get more specific than just repeating empty words like “Love someone” or “Love yourself.” There’s a solution that’s especially good for a booklover like Rema, and that’s to read. though you might think that’s a bit obvious.People often say that poems are useless, but personally I think poetry is the work of adding eyes, nose, and mouth to an unseen sensibility.So I can’t help but think that reading is something that makes yourself a bit more attractive a person.Feeling attraction to someone who is a deep thinker, or being able to offer that to someone else as one of your inalienable charms—I think that’s what reading can do.There’s a poet who’s excellent at adding eyes, nose, mouth, and subtle expressions to sensibility, and that’s the poet Kim Bok Hui. I’ve brought with me a poetry collection by her called Good for Sinking In. One dayOne long day without wind or rainIf I should meet a wavering leafI will waver I will halt my steps lost in thought(...)Some thoughts are prone to windsAnd some thoughts are full of rain I will think aboutthis giftFrom “The Gift of a Leaf” Kim: The poem we read just now is an excerpt from Kim Bok Hui’s “The Gift of a Leaf.”When you look at this poem, she calls her introspective self a gift.I really liked that attitude.I think reading poetry like this can be a way to distance yourself when the world is too loud and take some time to yourself to quietly temper your aesthetic sensibility.Reading amazing poems also leads you to meet people with similar tastes, so I believe it can lead naturally to improved relationships in that aspect as well. How about putting a lovely smile on your face by reading poetry that gives expression to your sensibility? Sohn: Being prone to introspection tends to lead to self-blame, but I can really feel the heart that described it as a gift.When I read Rema’s letter, there was a book that immediately came to mind, and it’s I Tinder You by the writer Jung Daegun. Sohn: I Tinder You contains three short stories and an essay, and it’s the titular story that I’d like to introduce.“I Tinder You” stars the characters Ho and Sol, who meet on (the dating app) Tinder and very quickly grow close, and you see them spending a brief season in their lives together.These two say this to each other: “It doesn’t feel good to think of myself as your side piece, but it’s actually reassuring to think of us as each other’s spares.” Sohn: This doesn’t mean their relationship is shallow and solely physical, or that they don’t know what each other means to them.Without realizing it, these two spend a time together called the “magic hour.”Ho, who’s worked in film for a long time, has this to say about the magic (or golden) hour, and I’ll read it to you now:When we’re filming, we call this brief moment the magic hour. You don’t want to miss this window, so all the staff and the actors are tense and focused,and it feels incredible. It’s precious because it’s so short.From I Tinder You Sohn: The story doesn’t end with Ho and Sol suddenly starting to date,or that they came to love themselves intensely or anything like that.But the reason I wanted to recommend it to Remais that I liked that Ho and Sol were already fully enjoying the things they thought they could only find in a committed relationship. I think the reason for getting too attached to someone is that they’re really precious to you, but you’re uncertain about your future together,and that uncertainty transfers itself to your present self. What’s important is that you can take comfort in anothereven if you aren’t necessarily in a committed relationship with them,and to be grateful that you spent a season in your life together,even if it doesn’t last forever! I hope you can move forward with that in your heart.That’s why I want to recommend this book to Rema.The truth is that the depth of a relationship isn’t proportionate to the time you spent together, but to your feelings for one another. Sohn: Above all, the most important thing is that there are no absolute right answers in any relationship. Kim: That’s right. I think it’d be best for those who aren’t confident in their relationships, like Rema, to enter into relationships a bit more confidently and lightheartedly instead of clinging to relationships that don’t exist.That’s my recommendation. Sohn: I was really happy to be able to share our stories through books for the first time in a long while.How about you? Kim: I’m new to this, and I was so nervous it all passed by in a blur, but I’ve learned a lot listening today.We’ll see you next time, next letter, next prescription. Sohn: Book for You— Kim: Book for You!Sohn&Kim: Bye everyone!
By Korean Literature Now
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The Place
Boan Books: A bookstore and Cultural Venue of 80 years
Hello! I’m Florian. I might look like your average German guy, but inside me beats the heart of a true Korean. Florian Krapf Competed in the Netflix reality series Physical: 100 Guest starred in the MBC every1 series Welcome, First Time in Korea? The Place Seochon Literary Tour: Boan Books It’s great to meet all the viewers of KLN. I’m really into Korean literature too. Right now I’m walking through Seochon. Located between the east side of Inwangsan Mountain and the west side of Gyeongbokgung Palace, and designated a Hanok Preservation Area alongside the Insa-dong and Bukchon districts. In addition to being one of Korea’s most popular tourist attractions, also a major Seoul transport hub as well as a focal point of history and culture. When you say Seochon, you think of snacks and sights, but historically this was a district that a lot of writers called their home. Maybe that’s why there are a LOT of bookstores and cultural spaces in Seochon even today. I thought for a long time about what location to introduce to you. Today’s “The Place” is this one right here: Boan Books! The Tongui-dong Boan Inn, which served as a local haunt for writers since its opening in 1942. After being remodeled into an exhibition space in 2007, it was reborn as Boan1942, a multipurpose cultural space that functions as a bookstore, cafe, gallery, and lodgings, all at once. What does it look like on the inside? It’s definitely a really different atmosphere from the standard bookstore chains we’re used to. In addition to a wide range of books from all different genres, there are also some unique ones you’d be hard-pressed to find in your average bookstore. This is The Vegetarian by Han Kang. It’s a favorite of mine, so I’m going to take a moment to read it. The greatest appeal of this place is... Isn’t this a beautiful view? You could sit here and read or draw inspiration from the scenery outside, and it’d be a great place to study as well. I feel refreshed just looking outside. Taking a brief break to read and relax in Boan Books Now that we’ve seen enough of the books on display, there’s something that caught my eye just over here. This is the passageway to the Boan Inn. It’s actually off-limits right now due to exhibition preparations, but I got special permission to show you all around. I’m entering the top secret passageway. Shall we set off on a journey to the past? Joining old to new, Boan1942 straddles the line between the past and the present by connecting these two buildings. The old wing, which is currently being used as a gallery, preserves the look of the Boan Inn exactly as it was eighty years ago. A hangout for the writers of the time, and the birthplace of a diverse array of Korean literary works. I’d like to tell you something special about this place. This Boan Inn appears in a book by the famous Korean poet, So Chong-ju. “In the fall of 1936, Ham Hyung-soo and I came to cook up a literary magazine called The Poet’s Village (Shi’in Burak) with the likes of Kim Dongri, Kim Daljin, and O Jang-hwan while staying at a place called the Boan Inn in Tongui-dong.” - Excerpted from So Chong-ju’s autobiography, The Affection of the World (Cheonjiyoo.jeong) Apparently, a bunch of poets came together here to publish a literary magazine as well. The Poet’s Village, a literary magazine co-founded by So Chong-ju and his poetic contemporaries. So this Boan Inn is a place with a lot of historical significance. OK? Transformed from the Boan Inn, safe haven for outsiders and writing room of the literati, to Boan Books, a historical space offering a glimpse into the past as well as the consolation and emotional resonance literature provides. I’m not a writer, but I do think coming here has made me a more empathetic person. I’ve learned what sorts of things the writers of the time thought and worried about, and leveled up my interest in Korean literature at the same time. Literature is something that lets you vividly encounter the culture and zeitgeist of a nation even without going there to experience it firsthand. I hope you can all come to know the beauty and unique charm of Korea through its literature as well, even without visiting it for yourself. Then, everyone, see you next Place! Translated by Jean Kim
By Korean Literature Now
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Book For You
[Book for You] What should I do to increase my courage and confidence?
You Hee-kyoung(You): Hello. This is Book for You from KLN. I’m your host, Yoo Hee-kyoung, a poet. Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): I’m Sohn Jeong-seung, director of Thanks Books. You: Do people tell you you seem confident? Sohn: Yes, sometimes. You: Wow. Sohn: I’m the type to come forward, not on my own but when someone urges me to. You: A confident answer. Why suddenly this talk about confidence? Sohn: That’s the topic of today’s letter. Will you tell us about it? You: Yes, I’ll read the letter for you. Mayang’s letter addressed to ‘Book for You’ I am an introvert with the inhibitions and fear of socializing or public speaking. While dreaming of being a teacher sharing knowledge with students, I don’t have the confidence to be in front of them. What should I do to increase my courage and confidence? You: Confidence is something I also lack. I should leave all the talking to you, the one full of confidence. Sohn: Oh, no. You: First, let me prescribe a book to Mayang. It’s a poetry collection titled Inglorious Black Blood. It was first published in 1995, out of print for a while but back in publication in 2014. One of the major poetry collections from Minumsa, the publisher well known to you for Kim Ji-young, Born 1982. Heo Yeon, the poet, used to want to be a priest, but gave up that dream and became a poet. He had a long career as a newspaper reporter. This is the first of his total of five poetry collections. What I can do to you is not living in this world Not living in this country Not living this era If I had been rainwater to you Would you be alive Alive in the river’s swell Salutations to all that flows without forgetting Even so, the thought that I am butterfly in sunset From "Thought That I Am Butterfly" (translated by Hoyoung Moon) You: The poet was deeply in love with ‘you’ but broke up. The only thing the poet can do for ‘you’ is to be gone, but that’s impossible. What remains is ‘me,’ or ‘hope.’ What Mayang must have, and does have, is hope. Mayang exists as a human being in this world and must be self-protective no matter what happens. There’s a chance this poetry collection will find Mayang. In fact, it is being translated and will be published in English. Hopefully, Mayang will read it someday and have hope. The one thing we can never let go, the thing that makes anything possible, even the butterfly in the sunset, is ‘hope.’ Sohn: As for my impression from the letter, Mayang may not be a teacher yet,but struck me as one. Mayang already has the right mindset and makes me envy her future students. Here is a book that will give Mayang courage: Listen, I’m Speaking, a novel by Jeong Yong-joon. Sohn: The title says it all. “Listen, I’m Speaking!” Might as well have an exclamation mark. You: As in “Attention!” Sohn: Exactly. This book is about Muyeon, a 14-year-old patient of ‘Spring Speech Clinic.’ But Muyeon is not his real name. This clinic’s patients are assigned names after the words they cannot pronounce. You: So, Muyeon can’t pronounce ‘Muyeon’? Sohn: Right. ‘Muyeon’ is the name of his middle school. This clinic has other patients, including a doctor who is called ‘prescription’ because that’s the word he cannot pronounce. Their speech disorders are due to psychological reasons. They try, fail, run away from the curriculum, try again, only to fail again... This is repeated throughout the story. A spoiler alert. Muyeon suddenly becomes... a fluent speaker...is not how the story ends. You: Too bad. Sohn: But hope remains. The story won’t leave you sad at all. You: Even though Muyeon can’t pronounce that word, what remains is hope so it won’t make you sad in the end. Sohn: That’s right. To be fair, public speaking is scary and difficult to anyone. You: It is. Sohn: Let me read some related passages. Normal people stutter, too. They aren’t good speakers, either. Nor do they say everything they want to. Everyone is a stutterer to a certain extent. We’re simply a little worse than others. You will see once you stop stuttering. From Listen, I’m Speaking Sohn: Here is my message for Mayang: She is already fully qualified to be a teacher and all she needs is a little more courage. Teenagers seem to have a special radar. They recognize adults who empathize with them. You: They do! Like a magic eye! Sohn: Exactly. Mayang already has that empathy. I believe that’s enough to be a good teacher. You: We’re all humans, good at something and bad at something else. What matters is whether we do what we can do right now, see where we stand and what more to prepare. Sohn: This was another happy episode of sharing our stories through books. You: We promise to come backwith other books to comfort us. Sohn: Book for You You: Book for You You&Sohn: Bye~
By Korean Literature Now
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The Place
Ina Books: A bookstore boasting a collection of over 5,000 books
A eye-catching brick building in the concrete jungle of Gangnam, Seoul A bookstore boasting a collection of over 5,000 books Nice to meet you. I am Jeongmin Baek, the manager of the Seolleung Branch of Ina Books. Choi Ina, the CEO, opened the store with office workers in mind. She wanted to create a space for office workers to easily find books to read. Q. Ina Books arranges books in a unique way. Why? Unlike the typical classification used by libraries, we curate books by special topics. Some examples are, “Twenty-something and feeling lost,” “Thirty-something and flooded with worries,” and “Running out of ideas and needing inspiration.” When the bookstore first opened, our CEO felt that people these days prefer YouTube over paper books. She came up with the unique classification when she realized that people turn to books for solutions. Q. Another name that Ina Books goes by is “A bookstore that sells culture.” What does this mean? For five years, we have been running a program called Classic Bookstore Concert. We hold classical concerts with the pianist Song Youngmin, and offer art history classes taught by the art history scholar Ahn Hyunbae, integrating literature and arts into the space. We are planning many programs that instill the ability to think and gain insights on life. Q. You have a special subscription service that delivers books unknown to readers until they open their packages. How are the books selected? The service is called Ina Books’ Book Club. At the start of each month, we send a book to subscribers along with a letter written by Choi Ina, our CEO. The book remains secret to create a sense of anticipation. The key question we ask ourselves is, “Does the book contain meaningful insights?” We find joy in discovering good books and introducing them to readers. Q. Top 3 books recommended by the manager of Ina Books The first book I’d like to introduce is Kim Choyeop’s If We Can’t Go at the Speed of Light. First of all, I must say I really enjoyed reading it. Described as a writer who is continuing the legacy of Korean SF, Kim Choyeop offers a fresh perspective in the genre. If you read it, you will find delightful surprises and insights at the same time. You will feel your view of the world naturally expanding while reading. The second book is Seven Years of Darkness by Jeong You Jeong. The writer is one of the best in genre fiction. She was invited to our book talk session once, and you could tell she was deeply immersed in her work. You cannot help but immerse yourself in the story, and time will fly by before you know it. I recommend it to those looking to experience the pleasures of reading. The last book is Whale by Cheon Myeong-kwan. The book is still a steadyseller even though it was published in 2004. The solid plot keeps you engrossed throughout, and it’s hard to put the book down. The book explores diverse narratives through the lives of various characters. You will come upon people from all walks of life, which will evoke all kinds of emotions. You will be able to feel the joy of literature. Q. Is there a good place for reading near the store? Across the street is Seonjeongneung, a huge tomb with a forest-like path. Seoul, including Gangnam, is full of concrete jungles. The experience in Seonjeongneung is like being in a forest. It’s the perfect place to read or take a walk, and I highly recommend it. There’s a book called Seolleung Walk by Jeong Yong-jun. Seonjeongneung will be a great place to read it. Q. What are your plans for Ina Books? We believe in the power of offline. There’s a certain energy that is generated when you meet in person. We will think of ways to get people to actually visit the bookstore, and continue working on presenting a diverse selection of books. Thank you. Translated by Park Kyoung-lee
By Korean Literature Now
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Book For You
[Book for You] I hope to find courage to achieve my dream.
You Hee-kyoung(You) : Hello! This is Book for You from KLN. I am your host, You Hee-kyoung, a poet. Today, we have a special new book prescriber. Please introduce yourself. Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): Hello. I am Sohn Jeong-seung, your new book prescriber and the director of Thanks Books. You: How are you doing these days? Sohn: It’s New Year. I am setting new goals and plans, preparing for a new beginning. You: Today’s episode, based on a letter from the Philippines, is also about the future and resolutions. Sohn: That’s right. You: Will you read the letter for us? Lyka’s letter addressed to Book for You I am looking for a job as a certified librarian, a dream come true. But my real dream is to open a coffee shop with a small library in it, where customers could relax while browsing my collection. This is an exciting dream, but I wonder, not even having a job yet, when I will have enough money saved to make it come true. I hope to find courage through your book prescription. You: Running such a shop ourselves, we know its reality. Lyka is pursuing a risky business... Your book prescription for her? Sohn: First, congratulations to Lyka for becoming a librarian. You: Congratulations! She passed the difficult exam! Sohn: Indeed. She has worked hard and is excited and worried about her future. The first book that came to mind is this: Street Painter, written and illustrated by Soo Shin Ji. The bestselling author of Gone and Daughter-in-Law based this book on her art college years. The main character Arang, a senior paint student, becomes a part-time street painter, along with four middle-aged male artists, painting caricatures at a park. Arang does not falter but finds her own way by asking advice from an artist friend or trying to get along with the male artists. You: She’s learning the skills of a street painter! Sohn: Exactly. She and the four male artists start as competitors but end up as good friends and partners. Let me share some passages from this graphic novel. They’re lines, meant to be acted rather than read. You: I happen to be a theater expert! Let me see them. Sohn: You play Cheolsoo, one of the male artists. Arang: Saw the weather forecast? It’s going to rain allweek next week. Cheolsoo: It’s OK. Winter is a slow season, anyway... Whenspring comes… boom! Arang: Really? Wow, I can’t wait! Cheolsoo: When it’s cold and rainy, let’s just practicepainting! From Street Painter Sohn: For me, this refreshing dialogue was an exercise in changing perspectives. The bad weather is something we can complain about forever. They could have done that, too. Instead, they accepted it and moved on. I think that was great. You: I agree. Even when we feel helpless, there are still things we can do to prepare for the future. Although Lyka needs a job right now, it is not a waste of time but a great investment for her future. Sohn: Exactly! When it’s cold and rainy, let’s just practice painting so we can paint a nice rainbow after the rain…! You: Lyka’s letter reminded me of my own bookstore. A library combined with a coffeeshop is called a ‘book café’ in Korea. My own ‘Wit N Cynical,’ which sells books and coffee, is of a similar type. As a firm believer in reading books, determined to save my bookstore, I have many side jobs. That’s exhausting, frustrating, and makes me want to cry, and I do cry sometimes. There’s a poem that gave me courage. Let me read it for you and Lyka. How am I supposed to piece together these brokendreams? How far should I go with a broken backbone? Is there any possibility left? Nevertheless, I am trying to be a believer in the possible, placing my faith in the possibility of the impossible From A Believerin the Possible You: This poem, “A Believer in the Possible,” is from the poetry collection of the same title. It’s by poet Ra Heeduk. With her poems translated into various languages, her name is probably familiar to KLN readers. What drew me to this poem is the word “Nevertheless.” “Something is wrong. Nevertheless, it will get right.” This is the essence of possibility. Lyka! You’re so young and poor now that your dream may seem distant to you. “Nevertheless,” keep on dreaming and trying and someday you’ll have your own library café full of customers. Let’s believe in the value of books and reading and dream the dream together. Someday, I will visit Lyka’s library café in the Philippines for a look around and a cup of coffee. This was another happy episode of sharing our stories through books. Let’s look forward to the next episode. Sohn: Book for You You: Book for You You&Sohn: Bye~
By Korean Literature Now
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