People read books at Seoul Outdoor Library along Cheonggyecheon Stream in Seoul. (Seoul Outdoor Library)
By Gil Kyuyoung
The Seoul Outdoor Library offers translations of domestic literature famous abroad.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Sept. 19 said 693 translated books donated by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea will be displayed at branches of the library at Seoul Plaza and Gwanghwamun Square and along Cheonggyecheon Stream.
The exhibition showcases translations of globally recognized Korean literature by theme including those that received foreign literature awards, works adapted for TV dramas, movies or musicals, and classical literature. Among the works is Han Kang’s “The Vegetarian,” which won the U.K.’s Man Booker International Prize in 2016.
The 693 books are translations of 59 literary works in 33 languages including English, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic and Greek.
The Seoul Outdoor Library branch at Seoul Plaza from Sept. 19-22 features Ma Yeong-shin’s graphic novel “Moms” and the novels “I Do Not Bid Farewell,” by Han, “Our Happy Time” by Gong Ji-young and “Seven Years of Darkness” by Jeong You-Jeong.
The branch at Gwanghwamun Square from Sept. 20-22 will highlight winners of foreign literature prizes including “The Vegetarian” and “Diary of a Murderer” by Kim Young-ha.
Seoul Outdoor Library at Cheonggyecheon Stream from Sept. 20-22 features the bestselling novels “Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop” by Hwang Bo-reum and “Almond” by Sohn Won-pyung.
More information is available on Seoul Outdoor Library’s official website (https://www.seouloutdoorlibrary.kr/) and Instagram account.
Seoul Metropolitan Library Director Oh Ji Eun said, “We hope that this event is an opportunity to closely inform foreign visitors to Seoul of the global trends of our literature.”
gilkyuyoung@korea.kr
