Hwang Seok-young (황석영)

2008/01/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Renowned Korean novelist Hwang Seok-young, 65, won the annual "Mark of Respect Award"
held by Jinro Ballantines, Korea's No.1 whiskey maker.

The award is given to a person who made great cultural and artistic achievements during the past year. Hwang was chosen through surveys conducted by the liquor company among journalists and consumers, who recognized his literary achievements, such as his 2007's hit novel "Baridegi". Hwang is one of the Korea's favorite writers with his ability to create stories that not only touch the hearts of those of his age, but also the younger generation. His work "Baridegi" sold over 400,000 copies last year, despite the sluggish state of the nation's publishing industry.

The 20 million won prize money will be donated to a group or organization designated by the winner. Hwang chose to donate the money to the city office of Taean in South Chungcheong Province, where more than a thousand volunteers are toiling to cle...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2007/08/26 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Lee Hwan-hee
Staff Reporter

Who would you say is the greatest living Korean writer? Some would say Ko Un or Kim Chi-ha. Or maybe Park Kyong-ni, Choi In-hoon or Yi Cheong-jun. Another writer who would figure prominently in that discussion would have to be novelist Hwang Seok-young; a critical favorite since the 1970s and now in his 60s, he is perhaps alone among the select group mentioned above in that he is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity too. His new novel "Baridegi", is doing well on the best sellers lists.

The renewed awareness of his works is probably attributable to his interesting life as well. And it was one of the topics that he delved into when he gave an informal talk Friday at the Lotte Cinema near Konkuk University in Seoul. The event was sponsored by the Internet bookseller Yes24.com and it was a fascinating sight as the audience of nearly 250 consisted mainly of college-age people.

Hwang is known as a raconteur, and he moved effortlessly between...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2007/07/15 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

On a sunny May afternoon, taxi drivers, students and women carrying their children gathered by the thousands in front of a provincial downtown office building.

Paratroopers, who had rained upon the city for days, lined the streets as reports spread that they were about to withdraw, filling the people with a spirit of celebration. As the crowd waited in anticipation, the national anthem began to play over loudspeakers.

Then, the crack of gunfire ripped through the afternoon.

Survivors of the civilian massacre now recount that the beloved anthem did not signal their freedom, but the military command to fire, and the troops lining the street were there not to withdraw, but to kill.

"May 18", a wrenching new film by sophomore director Kim Ji-hoon, recounts the 10 days of the bloody Gwangju uprising, a pro-democracy movement ruthlessly crushed by the South Korean government in 1980 by tank-led paratroopers under the code name "Splendid Vacation". The military junta of Chun Doo-h...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2007/04/18 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Rave reviews in Germany

Hwang's novel "The Guest" (Der Gast), which was translated and published in Germany, is receiving a favorable response from the local media. The novel, jointly translated by three writers, was published late last year by famed German publishing house Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag (dtv). DTV also inked Hwang's previous works "The Old Garden" and "Han's Chronicle". On why the story used the motif of the Korean shamanistic ritual "gut", Hwang said his intent was to ease the banality of the frequently used material of a divided Korea.

Many German media outlets including Detschland Radio, NDR (North German Broadcasting) and newspapers have introduced the book. The media interest is also helping its sales. Hugendubel, Frankfurt's biggest bookstore, displayed "The Guest" at the front of its store.

Hwang Seok-young can be considered the avant-garde of Korean literature. He has always pushed the limit and crossed boundaries. As his 1993 controversial visit to Nor...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2007/04/04 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

"The Old Garden" is a painful film. The audience has to watch a man suffer due to his political convictions until he hits rock bottom, knowing that history will roll right over him. The film is all the more uncomfortable because the lead character chooses impossible convictions as his destiny, while those around him get on with their lives.
The film is an adaptation of the famous novel by Hwang Seok-young, a historical epic about the Gwangju Massacre, told through the life of a student activist. Although its subject matter is political, the story uses an emotional theme as its narrative vehicle.
The film opens as Hyun-woo (played by Ji Jin-hee) is released from prison and learns that his lover has died while he was behind bars. He had been serving a 17-year sentence for admitting to a judge that he was a socialist. The movie them jumps back in time to the moment when the couple first met. The film moves between protest scenes and the peaceful countryside home where Hyun-woo hides u...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?