The Korean Literature Translation Institute announced last week that it has released a new webpage that provides English language audio files of translated Korean novels with the cooperation of EBS English education channel. The Institute and EBS clinched an agreement on facilitating Korean literary content earlier this year.

The 10 short stories selected for release through the EBS website are from the annual magazine “New Writing from Korea” that was released in 2008.

The book contains 10 selected short stories and 41 poems. The stories currently offered are Eun Hee-gyung’s “Discovery of Solitude,” Jeon Seong-tae’s “The Korean Soldier,” Kim Jae-young’s “Elephant” Kang Young-sook’s “Brown Tears,” Kim Joong-hyeok’s “The Glass Shield,” Yoon Seong-hee’s Unfinished Words,” Jeong Mi-gyeong’s “Under the Fig Tree,” Kim In-sook’s “Sea and Butterfly,” Jeong Ji-ah’s “Light of Spring,” and “Raising the Swallow.”

This latest development in the dissemination of Korean literature is not unrelated to the rapid digitalization of books these days. “The audio service will allow expats in Korea to get a taste of Korean literature and provide additional English learning experience for locals,” the Literature Translation Institute said, adding that it would continue to facilitate Korean literature content such as opening English book review contests and other activities down the road.

In order to listen to the audio files, click on the English title. This will open a new page, where you will see a list of chapter numbers. To the right of each chapter there are two icons. Click on the one on the left to listen to the streamed audio file. The icon to the right is used to download individual files to your computer or storage device. In order to download the files, you need to register as a member of the website. The items are labeled in Korean and English, so it should not be too difficult – just do not enter a space when you type your name in the first box, or registration won’t work.

Meanwhile, the institute also publishes the magazine “List – Books from Korea” in both English and Chinese, which details the latest publications and general trends in the Korean publishing world. Those interested in getting a copy of List can inquire at the website of the Korean Literature Translation Institute.

Origins and ethnicity of Korean people

Koreans call themselves in Korean Hangukin or Hanguk saram. Korean people are an East Asian ethnic group and are believed to be part of the Altaic populations, just like Mongolians, Tungusics and Turkics. Archaeological evidence suggests that Koreans are descendant of Altaic groups coming from South Central Siberia.

Koreans are the world’s most homogenous population ethnically and linguistically. There are few minorities in Korea: some Chinese, Japanese and westerners but in low numbers. So homogenous is the population in Korea that if you are a westerner in Korea you still feel conspicuous and, in smaller towns and villages Koreans will stare at westerners because they are not used to seeing people of different ethnicity.

Korean language is a distinct language, which derives from Altaic languages, thus it is completely different from Japanese and Chinese (although throughout its history Korean was influenced by those two languages) and it has some similarities with Mongolian.

Korean people’s character and values

Korean people are very proud of their nationality and of their identity. Koreans are quite friendly and would do anything to help their friends, as interpersonal relationships are very important in Korean culture. Family as well is of outmost importance for Koreans and so is obedience and respect to elderly people. Age is so important in Korea that even one year difference between two people means that the younger one will have to address the older person with respect. This is why, one of the first things Koreans ask when they meet somebody is their age and asking people’s age in Korea is not disrespectful at all as it is in the west. So, if a Korean person asks you your age, do not feel offended.

This respect for the elderly and value placed on interpersonal relationships comes from Confucianism, a philosophy that arrived in Korea from China. Confucianism permeates Korean culture and mentality in every aspect and if you know Confucianism you will be able to understand a big part of Korean culture.

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