logo
Book review: Cheon Seon-ran's The Midnight Shift is a fresh take on vampire lore

Book review: Cheon Seon-ran's The Midnight Shift is a fresh take on vampire lore

Straits Times3 days ago
The Midnight Shift by South Korean writer Cheon Seon-ran goes on extended explorations of cultural dislocation, female relationships and urban alienation.
By Cheon Seon-ran, translated by Gene Png
Fiction/Bloomsbury/Paperback/304 pages/$30.87
Fans have long known that seemingly pulpy genres like science fiction, fantasy and horror can offer some of the most resonant metaphors for real life. These readers will be well pleased with South Korean writer Cheon Seon-ran's fluid remake of the vampire myth.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

K-drama regular Song Young-kyu found dead following drink-driving incident, Entertainment News
K-drama regular Song Young-kyu found dead following drink-driving incident, Entertainment News

AsiaOne

time10 hours ago

  • AsiaOne

K-drama regular Song Young-kyu found dead following drink-driving incident, Entertainment News

South Korean actor Song Young-kyu has died at 55 years old. He was found inside a parked vehicle in Cheoin District, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province in South Korea around 8am (7am Singapore time) today (Aug 4). According to media reports, a woman discovered his body and notified the police, who are currently investigating the death. There are reportedly no signs of foul play. Young-kyu was arrested in June for drink-driving. Police had said his blood alcohol concentration was at a level that would result in licence revocation (above 0.08 per cent). The case was sent to the prosecutors and awaiting indictment. When the news went public in July, he was dropped from the play Shakespeare in Love as well as upcoming dramas The Defects and The Winning Try. An alleged close friend of Young-kyu told Osen he had been stressed over personal matters outside of the drink-driving incident, adding he had probably turned to alcohol to 'forget the pain'. According to the friend, who met him last year, he had been living apart from his wife and two daughters. Young-kyu is a familiar face in K-dramas — he has appeared as supporting and guest roles for over 50 shows, with notable ones being 2022's Big Bet and Narcos Saints. [[nid:720948]] syarifahsn@

How Did Song Young Kyu Die? The Winning Try Actor Unexpectedly Passes Away at 52
How Did Song Young Kyu Die? The Winning Try Actor Unexpectedly Passes Away at 52

International Business Times

time10 hours ago

  • International Business Times

How Did Song Young Kyu Die? The Winning Try Actor Unexpectedly Passes Away at 52

Song Young Kyu, a South Korean actor who appeared in several K-dramas, including the ongoing SBS drama "The Winning Try," unexpectedly passed away on Monday, August 4, at the age of 52. The Defects actor was found dead inside a car at around 8:00 am KST, according to the officials. The vehicle was parked in a residential complex in Yongin of Gyeonggi province, where an acquaintance discovered the deceased, the Yongin Dongbu Police Station in Gyeonggi province confirmed. The person immediately reported it to authorities, who confirmed that there is no sign of foul play. The police stated that no note was found at the scene, and an investigation is going on to find out the exact cause of his death. The officials will question his family members to investigate the recent events and will consider the need to conduct an autopsy. Young Kyu's funeral service will take place in Room 1 of the Davos Hospital funeral home in Cheoin District, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday, August 6, at 8:00 am KST. His mortal remains will reportedly rest at the Hambeoksan Memorial Park. The actor was survived by his wife and two daughters. Tributes Pour In After news of Young Kyu's unexpected passing broke, his fans began pouring in tributes to their favorite South Korean actor online. The messages ranged from "Rest in peace Song Young Kyu" to "This is really sad". Here are a few of them: Omg! Rip to this king. He will forever be missed. Actor Song Young Kyu who was part of the cast of "Hwarang" is no more. This is a sad news. He had a small character in tale of the nine tailed too. This is so sad. You will be missed. R.I.P. One more actor killed by the fingers of netizens hiding behind their phones and computers, acting as if their lives are purer and cleaner. I feel like the industry and journalist should really think about the type of pressure to add on to a person by "idolising" him / her. Also people who maliciously comment and condemn others should reflect on how even your one comment can affect the person. Gosh.. I really like him whenever he's in his villain roles. You'll be missed greatly. when you talk about OG Kdrama villains..... and that deep voice!!! Man RIP and prayers for his family friends and fellow fans. I cannot count all the drama I've watched with him in it. A total character actor to the core. You will be missed. Rest in peace. May he find peace in the embrace of our Creator. I couldn't believe it when I first saw the news. My condolences to the family. Another artist under so much pressure from the never ending cyber bullying & media scrutiny that has resulted in suicide . I despair of these cruel people that think it's their right to judge so righteously over everything an artist does. Rest in peace. but this is pressure from South Korea news media outlets and netizens who live malicious comments. Young Kyu was part of several movies, like Extreme Job, The Desperate Chase, and Land of Happiness. He also appeared in multiple K-dramas, including Love Scout, The Escape of the Seven: Resurrection, and Hwarang. In June, the South Korean actor was caught driving under the influence for nearly five kilometres in Giheung District of Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The news about this incident came to light a month later, resulting in public outrage. As a result, he stepped down from his role in the play "Shakespeare In Love". Meanwhile, the production team of The Winning Try and The Defects announced their decisions to edit out his scenes as much as possible from the ongoing dramas.

South Korean actor Song Young-kyu found dead at 55
South Korean actor Song Young-kyu found dead at 55

Straits Times

time11 hours ago

  • Straits Times

South Korean actor Song Young-kyu found dead at 55

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Song Young-kyu built a steady acting career over three decades, appearing in more than 40 television dramas and numerous films. SEOUL – South Korean actor Song Young-kyu was found dead on Aug 4 in a parked vehicle in Yongin city, Gyeonggi Province, the police said. He was 55. The authorities said there were no signs of foul play. An investigation is ongoing, with plans to question family members to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. The veteran actor, best known for his supporting role as the gruff squad chief in the box-office hit Extreme Job (2019), had been under scrutiny since late July, when it was revealed he had been arrested for drink driving on June 19. Police said Song drove about 5km in Yongin with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 per cent – above the legal threshold for licence revocation. The case had been forwarded to prosecutors and was awaiting indictment. In the wake of the incident, Song was dropped from two high-profile dramas currently in production – The Defects and The Winning Try – as well as the stage play Shakespeare In Love. Such swift removals are common in South Korea's entertainment industry, where public figures are held to strict moral standards. Following his 1994 debut, Song built a steady acting career over three decades, appearing in more than 40 television dramas and numerous films. He was known to international audiences for his roles in Netflix series Narco-Saints (2022) and Disney+ series Big Bet (2022 to 2023). He is survived by his wife and two daughters, according to Yonhap News Agency. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Helplines Mental well-being National helpline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women's Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm) Counselling Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 Shan You Counselling Centre: 6741-9293 Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990 Online resources

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store