Latest news with #Wanju
Korea Herald
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Seoul International Book Fair opens to record crowds, famous faces
Actor Park Jeong-min, chef Choi Kang-rok and former President Moon Jae-in bring star power to largest book event 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 exceptions made only for preschoolers, individuals with disabilities, national merit recipients and seniors aged 65 and over, who are granted free admission. Although the Korean Publishers Association, the event organizer, declined to disclose the exact number of tickets issued, 2024's fair drew 150,000 attendees over five days. The majority of attendees were in their 20s and 30s. One visitor in her 30s, surnamed Jeon, said she had taken a day off work to attend, adding, 'Last year, it was so crowded I couldn't properly browse. I came prepared to really 'shop' this time.' An avid collector of bookmarks, Jeon noted that she was also on the lookout for books with exclusive covers and goods sold only during the fair. 'This is my third year at the book fair,' she said. 'But today feels like the most crowded yet. It seems to grow every year.' Major publishers such as Moonji Publishing, Changbi Publishers, EunHaengNaMu Publishing and Munhakdongne Publishing set up large booths that drew long lines, some even wrapping entirely around the spaces. At the same time, several small independent houses quietly captured attention, drawing steady crowds from the early morning hours, many drawn by popular figures such as actor Park Jeong-min and former President Moon Jae-in, who brought star power to these intimate booths. Park, now head of his independent publishing house Muze, personally handed out copies of his latest release, "Fierce Independence" — a limited edition numbered 1 to 500 — to customers at the event. Fans had lined up as early as 8 a.m., including a fan in her 30s, surnamed Kim, who was hoping to snag one of the single-digit copies. She also planned to attend a book talk on Saturday featuring Park and author Kim Geum-hee, who published "My First Summer, Wanju." Elsewhere, chef Choi Kang-rok from Netflix's hit cooking competition show "Culinary Class Wars" drew long lines for his debut essay's signing event in the morning. Another anticipated appearance came mid-afternoon, when former President Moon appeared at the Pyeongsan Books' booth, where he serves as 'book manager.' Crowds gathered well in advance, and cheers erupted as Moon arrived around 2:30 p.m. He later participated as an award presenter and speaker at the Best Book of Korea ceremony held at 5 p.m. Finding refuge, celebrating partnerships This year's fair is themed 'The Last Resort' — a nod to the role books play as a refuge in uncertain times. The 2025 SIBF features more than 530 participating publishers and literary organizations, 100 of which are from 16 countries overseas. 'Books are the soul of our humanity, our future and the nourishment that elevates our lives. The fair should be a space to share each other's tastes and cultures," said KPA President Yoon Chul-ho during his welcome speech. Taiwan, this year's Guest of Honor, is showcasing a special pavilion under the concept of 'Taiwan Sensibility.' Rex How, chair of Taiwan's Taipei Book Fair Foundation, introduced himself in Korean during the opening ceremony, noting that he was born in Busan. 'Taiwan as Guest of Honor at the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair carries special significance,' said How. 'This year marks the 20th anniversary of Korea's first participation in the Taipei International Book Fair in 2005, and next year will be the 20th anniversary of the Sister & Friendship Cities partnership between Seoul and Taipei. It's a meaningful opportunity to not only celebrate the past two decades but also strengthen our friendship for the next 20 years.' Taiwan has invited 23 authors and scheduled 62 events throughout the week. In particular, International Booker Award-nominated author Wu Ming-yi held a talk session in the afternoon. Controversy over 'privatization' of SIBF Despite the opening day excitement, the fair also faced protests from a coalition of nine organizations, including the Korea Publishers Society and the Writers Association of Korea. At a press conference held outside Coex, the group raised concerns over what they described as the 'privatization' of the Seoul International Book Fair. The alliance accused KPA President Yoon of transforming the fair into a for-profit corporation that prioritizes shareholder interests over public benefit. They claimed that Yoon and a select group of insiders now hold 70 percent of the shares, dominating the event's decision-making. They emphasized that the Seoul International Book Fair has long been a public cultural asset, grown through the participation of numerous publishers and readers, with government support. The coalition demanded the dissolution of the current corporate structure and the establishment of a public committee to restore the fair's civic mission. This year's fair is co-hosted by the KPA and the newly established Seoul International Book Fair Corporation. Following a breakdown in government funding last year, the KPA converted the fair into a corporation to sustain operations. The KPA announced in May that the corporation is a nonprofit subsidiary dedicated to managing the fair, pledging no dividend payouts and full reinvestment of profits. It is currently under review by a Ministry of Employment and Labor-affiliated agency for recognition as a social enterprise. hwangdh@
West Australian
04-06-2025
- West Australian
Local artist celebrates culture and community with mural displayed on Shire of Dardanup building
An emerging South West artist is looking to bring the community together with their latest artwork proudly displayed on the Shire of Dardanup building. Local artist Grace Janowicz was selected from a pool of artists to decorate the building, after they won the RCR NAIDOC Week Art Competition, an annual event held by RCR Mining Technologies. Janowicz brought their artwork to life in a week-long live painting session in Eaton. Titled Wanju — which means 'welcome' in Noongar language — the mural is a celebration of place, people and culture. Shire of Dardanup president Tyrrell Gardiner said the artwork strongly resonated with the Shire's own commitment to welcome and include everyone in the community. 'Grace's mural stood out for its bold street-art style and thoughtful reflection of life in the Shire of Dardanup,' Cr Gardiner said. 'It beautifully captures an inclusive and accessible community, Aboriginal culture and connection to country, local sport and events, the Collie River, the Ferguson Valley, and the importance of the new library as a community hub. 'We're incredibly proud to display this artwork that not only highlights the skills of a brilliant young local artist, but also acknowledges the importance of connection to culture, to community, and to one another.' Ms Janowicz said the project pushed them out of their comfort zone, but in the best possible way. 'This is my first large-scale wall painting. I usually work on realistic portraits, collages and oil paintings that explore much darker or more macabre themes, so this was a big shift for me creatively,' they said. Janowicz used bold, vibrant blocks of colour to bring the concept to life, which the artist hoped would be uplifting and meaningful. 'When I look at the mural now, I see strong connections to community and country,' they said. 'There are so many different elements in the design. The figures are represented using traditional symbols for the people, and the river element flows like a path, leading to a central community gathering place. The Aboriginal flag is also an important focal point.' 'I wanted to create something bright and fun to look at, but also something that connects people to the cultural roots of the land.'
Korea Herald
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Why actor Park Jeong-min became a publisher and put audiobook first
Actor Park Jeong-min has introduced a new initiative as the head of his publishing company Muze, aiming to make literature more accessible to readers with visual impairments. The project, titled the 'Listening Novel Project,' launched with the release of Kim Keum-hee's new full-length novel "First Summer, Wanju" as an audiobook. Departing from the conventional practice of releasing print editions first, the audiobook version was completed and distributed ahead of the print release. On April 4, copies of the audiobook were donated to the National Library for the Disabled and other institutions serving visually impaired communities. It will be officially released on the audiobook platform Welaaa April 28, followed by the print edition, April 30. 'When my company's first book 'Saving Work' was published, my father had lost his eyesight,' he said explaining the motivation behind the project at a book talk held Thursday at the National Library of Korea in Seoul. 'It was disheartening that I couldn't show him the book. It led me to think about what kind of books he could still enjoy. That's how the idea of a 'listening novel' came about.' "First Summer, Wanju" follows Son Yeol-mae, a voice actor, who travels to the hometown of a once-close friend who had betrayed her. The audiobook was produced with actors participating gratis. They include Go Min-si, Yum Jung-ah, Choi Yang-rak, Kim Eui-sung, Park Joon-myeon and Ryu Hyun-kyung. Unlike standard audiobooks, the production was structured more like a radio drama, incorporating detailed sound effects and original music by singer-songwriters MRCH and Gureumy. Park added that the project is ongoing, with contracts already signed with additional authors. 'It felt like the characters I had written became clearer through their voices,' author Kim said. 'Usually, the characters spoke in 'my voice,' but this was the first time I realized how many distinct voices were in the story.' The Thursdy book talk was open to readers with visual impairments and their support aides. "In the case of movies, it's difficult to enjoy them without audio descriptions, so I've turned to books more often," said one attendee. 'This audiobook felt so special, (with the different actors and sound effects) it was like a movie to me, making visual impairments feel less like a barrier.' Park, known for his roles in "Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet," Netflix's "The 8 Show" and Coupang Play's "Newtopia," is no stranger to books. He has written a series of columns in a magazine, and published an essay collection titled "Useful Human" (2016). He also previously ran an independent bookstore before founding Muze and publishing its first book, "Saving Work," by journalist Park So-young in 2020. "If there are people who want to tell stories from overlooked places, I wanted to give them the chance to speak," Park said, explaining the reason for starting the publishing company.
