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The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Diversifying literature for Delhiites
When Vesmir moved to Delhi from Madhya Pradesh in 2019, he realised that the metropolis provided him with a golden opportunity to connect with other readers. But he also noticed a difference in how Delhi reads — there were people who only wanted to read 'elite' literary works, those who preferred contemporary authors and didn't want to challenge themselves with other genres and access to reading communities was reserved for specific groups of people. When it comes to reading, your community should not be a privilege, he says, and that was what made him start Tangerine in January last year, with a group of vibrant readers. The group meets once a month for themed discussions, movie screenings, and author meet-and-greets. 'When I started Tangerine, the goal was to make people read the books I loved… but I wanted to diversify and make people read books of all genres,' says Vesmir. But when he announced Tangerine would expand beyond readingWestern and Indian authors, the attendance at the monthly meetings dropped. To bring in more people, Vesmir began organising movie screenings and activities like themed drawing and blackout poetry. 'Today, Tangerine has a mix of people — college students, working professionals, authors ...but still, sometimes, it is a struggle to get people to read what they don't want to,' says Vesmir. He is committed to bringing books that are not considered 'mainstream' to Delhi's reading community. For instance, this month, the community plans on reading The Vegetarian by Han Kang, a South Korean author, and had previously picked up The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka. By bringing these books into spotlight, Vesmir aims to introduce readers to varied writing styles, fresh topics, and diverse cultures. Cultural unfamiliarity and language barriers also pose challenges to readers in the city, he says. Authors such asOcean Vuong, who writes in English and in lyrical style, tend to be more popular among the readers. Despite translated works often being the most palatable for the community of readers, introducing people to new concepts and authors has its benefits, feels Vesmir. 'Social media continues to be the bedrock of my initiative as I am able to reach out to more people and arrange collaborations,' he adds.
Korea Herald
19-07-2025
- Korea Herald
Surak Hyu, Seoul's 1st urban forest retreat offers treehouse stays, digital detox
Surak Hyu invites urbanites to unplug, unwind and rediscover wonder among the trees – all without leaving the city Nestled at the foot of Suraksan in northern Seoul, a new forest retreat is offering city dwellers a chance to reconnect with nature without leaving the city. Surak Hyu, officially opened Thursday, is Korea's first urban-style forest recreation facility, combining serene woodland experiences with modern, minimalist accommodation. Operated by the Nowon District Office, Surak Hyu is just 2 kilometers from Bureamsan Station on Seoul Subway Line No. 4. Despite its proximity to the city, the moment visitors cross the wooden bridge over a gentle stream into the facility, the scent of phytoncide from the trees welcomes them into another world. The retreat consists of 25 rooms, including three elevated treehouse-style accommodations perched 14 meters above ground, each accommodating up to four guests. All rooms are named with poetic themes, such as After the Rain Comes Sunshine, A Day Like a Picnic and A Slice of Sunlight, and are decorated in natural wood and white tones. Large glass windows on the walls, ceilings and balconies offer panoramic views of lush greenery, enhancing the feeling of being immersed in nature. Guests check in at the visitor center, which faces a well-tended garden filled with hydrangeas, herbs and fairy-themed decor. ' It feels like a little village of forest fairies,' one visitor who was invited to a preview one-night stay event on July 9-10 noted, talking about the whimsical fairy houses hidden throughout the garden. Visitors are encouraged to write down their worries and float them on the spring at the fairy houses — a small detail that adds to the magic of the place. Rooms range from triple to seven-person occupancies, with weekday rates starting at 120,000 won ($85) and weekend rates starting at 150,000 won. The largest seven-person rooms go for 145,000 won on weekdays and 180,000 won on weekends. Treehouses cost 200,000 won on weekdays and 250,000 won on weekends. Check-in is at 3 p.m., and check-out is at 11 a.m. One key element of Surak Hyu is its dedication to digital detox. There are no TVs in the rooms. Instead, guests can borrow books and vinyl records from a cozy cafe adjacent to the visitor center. The collection ranges from jazz and pop to K-pop, along with several books by Nobel literature laureate Han Kang. There are also board games available at the cafe. Guests simply provide their room number to borrow items and return them upon check-out. With music, literature and the forest just outside, Surak Hyu encourages a slower, more mindful pace of living. Meals are served at the retreat's sole dining facility, Seasons of Seoul by Hong Shinae, a nature-inspired restaurant specializing in traditional Korean vegetable wraps and wholesome meals. A standout dish is the Hong Shinae Signature Kimchi Stew, priced at 22,000 won. 'The food is clean and decent in flavor, but the price point is a bit high and there's only one restaurant, so it feels limiting,' a visitor in her 50s told the Korea Herald. Evening meals are exclusively Korean, but the late-night snack menu, available from 8 p.m., includes fish and chips. A campfire zone near the visitor center opens at sunset, offering an ambient spot for forest bathing under the stars. Even during summer, the retreat remains comfortably cool thanks to breezes flowing through the trees. Several outdoor programs are currently in development, including stargazing with telescopes, forest interpretation walks and traditional Korean archery. The facility also plans to launch a range of new experiences by the end of the year, including a barrier-free forest trail, a creekside picnic area and a children's forest playground. Three additional treehouses designed for children's play are under construction, and the construction of a forest healing center equipped with wooden wellness baths and foot spas is scheduled to begin next year with completion expected in 2027. Suamsa Temple, a 1,000-year-old Buddhist temple, lies just behind the retreat and offers a quiet space for contemplative walks. Reservations for Surak Hyu are managed via On the 7th of each month, 50 percent of the following month's rooms are released exclusively for Nowon-gu residents, while the general public can access the remaining inventory starting on the 10th. When bookings opened in June for the retreat's inaugural month, all rooms, including weekday slots, were snapped up in under three minutes, signaling intense public interest. 'We paid attention to every little detail so that people would be amazed not only by the forest, but also by the facilities and activities,' said Oh Seung-rok, chief of the Nowon District Office. 'Surak Hyu's evolution will continue until it is recognized not just as Seoul's first, but as Korea's best forest retreat.' He added, 'We hope guests will feel the truth of the phrase 'Everything comes from the forest' with their whole being and enjoy a day of complete harmony between nature and culture.'
News18
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Squid Game's Massive Success Boosts South Korea's ‘Hallyu': What Is It? Explained
Last Updated: South Korea's 'Hallyu' explained: Squid Game, BTS to K-Dramas, K-Beauty and K-Pop, the world's interest in all things Korean has led to Hallyu — a cultural wave South Korea is on a cultural roll – ' Squid Game ' is ruling Netflix. Earlier this month, 'Maybe Happy Ending' became a Tony Award-winning play on Broadway, a milestone which reminded of 'Parasite', which in 2020 became the first foreign-language film to win an Oscar in the best picture category. Han Kang won last year's Nobel Prize in literature. Youngsters can't get enough of K-pop and BTS, and Blackpink will start a global tour next month. Shows, music to cosmetics and food, the world's interest in all things Korean has led to Hallyu — a term in Korean for cultural wave. Hallyu: How South Korea's cultural rise began? After the Korean War of the 1950s, South Korea faced dire financial crisis. In the economic crash of 1997, Seoul had to ask the IMF for a bailout of 60 billion dollars, which it still marks as the 'Day of National Humility'. But soon the country began a 'national rebranding" to convert the cultural identity and turned it into an exportable commodity. That marked the birth of Hallyu of Korean pop culture. Today, culture is one of South Korea's largest exports. It has helped the nation become Asia's fourth-biggest economy, making it a cultural superpower. K-Pop culture: Gangnam Style, BTS To Blackpink, Squid Game Gangnam Style made history as the first YouTube video with one billion views. This paved the road for K-pop. BTS reportedly adds about four billion dollars to the South Korean economy each year. K-Pop is the biggest part of its content industry, which hit a record high in 2021 with a value of 12.4 billion dollars. It dwarfed earnings from home appliances and vehicles, for which South Korea was once popular. Korean dramas and films are big business as well. Some of the most popular K-Dramas includ e 'Queen of Tears', 'Business Proposal', 'Crash Landing on You', 'My Demon', 'The Glory', and 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha'. Seeing the success, Netflix is investing 2.5 billion dollars in South Korean projects. Disney and Apple TV are commissioning more Korean shows. K-Beauty & Korean food Korean cuisine is penetrating global markets and is worth 77 billion dollars. K-Beauty, too, has become a rage. Tourists are flocking to South Korea to buy cosmetics like snail mucin and face masks. The K-beauty market is expected to be worth 18 billion dollars in 2030. Korean literature Many say that the next big thing is Korean literature. Han rose to international prominence for her novel The Vegetarian, which became the first Korean language novel to win the International Booker Prize for fiction in 2016. In 2024, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, a first for an Asian woman and for a Korean. There is a growing demand to learn the Korean language, with saranghae (love you) becoming a common term among the youth. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Weird, Wacky & Unforgettable: 7 Weirdest Books I've Read—And Why You'll Love Them Too
photoDetails english 2928587 Weird, Wacky & Unforgettable: 7 Weirdest Books I've Read—And Why You'll Love Them Too, this takes you on a journey through some of the strangest and most unexpected reads out there. These 7 unique books defy genres, challenge norms, and leave a lasting impression with their odd plots, eccentric characters, and mind-bending storytelling. These are perfect for curious readers seeking something different. This list of 7 books celebrates the beauty of the bizarre and shows why these unconventional reads are worth adding to your bookshelf. Updated:Jul 08, 2025, 02:27 PM IST House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski 1 / 7 House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski This book isn't just a story; it's an experience. The plot follows a family discovering that their house is mysteriously larger inside than outside. But the story is told through bizarre footnotes, overlapping narratives, and text that twists, flips, or spirals across the pages. It's unsettling, haunting, and unique. You don't just read it, you decode it. The Vegetarian by Han Kang 2 / 7 The Vegetarian by Han Kang It begins with a woman's decision to stop eating meat after a disturbing dream, but it quickly spirals into obsession, alienation, and surreal imagery about plants and human bodies. It's eerie, dark, and very metaphorical. It explores themes of control, freedom, and madness in a short yet powerful read. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami 3 / 7 Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami It features talking cats, mysterious disappearances, raining fish, and bizarre prophecies. Reality and dreams blur completely in this coming-of-age fantasy. Murakami's poetic writing and surreal world make this weird ride oddly comforting. Night Film by Marisha Pessl 4 / 7 Night Film by Marisha Pessl This creepy thriller revolves around the mysterious death of the daughter of a reclusive horror filmmaker. The book mixes regular narrative with photos, news clippings, and web pages, creating an unsettling, interactive vibe. It's like falling into a dark rabbit hole, perfect for fans of eerie mysteries and metafiction. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer 5 / 7 Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer Part of the Southern Reach Trilogy, it explores a mysterious, ever-shifting area called 'Area X.' The story is filled with bizarre creatures, hallucinations, and cosmic horror. It's a short but deeply unsettling exploration of nature, identity, and the unknown. The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien 6 / 7 The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien This surreal Irish novel blends murder mystery, philosophy, and absurd humor. It features a world where bicycles merge with humans, time loops, and lots of existential confusion. It's mind-bending, hilarious, and unlike anything else you'll read. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders 7 / 7 Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders The novel takes place in a graveyard, where the spirit of Abraham Lincoln's deceased son interacts with a bizarre cast of ghosts, all trapped between life and death. It's emotional, experimental, and strangely beautiful—a weird mix of history and ghost story.
Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
How South Korea became a cultural powerhouse, and what's next
A Tony Award-winning play on Broadway. The finale of a record-breaking Netflix show. And a reunion of arguably the world's biggest pop band. South Korean culture is having a moment. Again. 'Maybe Happy Ending' clinching the best musical Tony this month added a new art form to South Korea's growing list of international cultural successes. It followed 'Parasite,' which in 2020 was the first foreign-language film to win an Oscar for best picture, and Han Kang, who won last year's Nobel Prize in literature. On the K-pop front, the last member of BTS has completed his mandatory national service, stirring the hopes of fans worldwide about a reunion. And Blackpink will start a global tour next month with a gig near Seoul. At the end of this month, the third season of 'Squid Game' has arrived on Netflix, the final installment of a show whose first season set viewership records. But the so-called Korean Wave shows no signs of subsiding. Global interest in seeking out all things Korean, from cosmetics to food, is surging. Experts say the nation's cultural wave, known as 'Hallyu' in Korean, began in the late 1990s, when South Korean soaps started gaining popularity in China and Japan. The rise of the internet spread these exports further. In 2012, Psy's horseback dance moves and rap melody made 'Gangnam Style' the first video on YouTube to surpass 1 billion views. The breakout hit brought global attention to K-pop. But it was BTS — a group of seven handsome young men who rap, dance and sing (all at the same time) — that took K-pop into the global mainstream. During the pandemic, BTS broke several Guinness World Records for streams and views of their tracks 'Dynamite' and 'Butter.' Well before K-dramas lit up screens in homes across the world, South Korean restrictions on Hollywood film screenings in the country strengthened domestic filmmaking. The Busan Film Festival, which started in 1996, grew to become one of the most prominent in Asia. In 2004, director Park Chan-wook won a Cannes Grand Prix for 'Oldboy,' a violent revenge thriller. Another surge in global interest came with 'Squid Game,' which debuted in 2021 and kicked off so much discussion worldwide that it created a 'cultural zeitgeist,' said Minyoung Kim, Netflix's vice president of content in Asia. It remains the platform's biggest show. Many experts believe that K-culture is ensconced in the global mainstream. But some say there is still far to go before the country's cultural might reaches the international influence of countries like the United States, France, Italy and Japan that are globally known for things like food, fashion and cinema. There are geopolitical hurdles, too. After a dispute over the deployment of a missile system in South Korea, China placed an unofficial ban on K-pop performances in 2016. And in North Korea, music and shows from the South, and even slang they have popularized, are banned because its leader, Kim Jong Un, sees them as a threat to his regime. The Korean exports have only a sliver of the global market for their respective categories, and experts say it is still too early to tell if K-culture has already peaked or will have lasting power. While K-pop is extremely popular, it has yet to influence other music genres, said professor Andrew Eungi Kim, who studies culture at the International Studies Department at Korea University. But the popularity of K-pop and K-drama can spark interest in other aspects of South Korean culture, said Cha Woo-jin, a music critic in Seoul. People want to taste the food the stars eat, wear the makeup they use and even learn the language they speak. 'People used to think of Hallyu as entertainment,' Cha said. 'But now, it's a lifestyle.' South Korean celebrities are envied for their flawless skin. Overseas consumers, especially younger ones, are eager to copy their skin care routines, which can be rigorous. Korean cosmetic exports soared nearly 21% to a record $10.2 billion in 2024, according to government data. They topped French cosmetic exports to the United States last year. South Korea is now ranked as the third-largest exporter of makeup after those two countries. Lyla Kim, who works for TirTir, a Seoul-based makeup brand, said its sales nearly doubled to about $300 million last year after its cushion foundation went viral on TikTok. Viral videos of kimbap — seaweed-wrapped rice rolls stuffed with meat, fish or vegetables — have caused American grocery store shelves to be cleared out. Samyang Foods, the maker of the superspicy Buldak instant noodles, has said its exports have quadrupled in recent years. Overall exports of Korean agricultural food products reached a record $2.48 billion in the first quarter, up nearly 10% from last year, according to government data. Korean food also got a plug from the Netflix show 'Culinary Class Wars,' which was released in September. It pitted 80 underdog, or 'black spoon,' chefs against 20 renowned chefs. And it may be only a matter of time before the world comes to view a Korean dish like bibimbap, a medley of rice, vegetables, meat and fermented chili paste, as being as universal as pizza, pasta or sushi, said Choi Jung-Yoon, who has been a chef in South Korea, Spain and Australia and heads Nanro, a food research nonprofit. 'K-pop and K-dramas may have led to the interest of South Korean food, but it's K-food that will carry Korea's cultural legacy into the future,' Choi said. As interest in South Korea grows, the number of tourists, foreign residents and exchange students in the country has steadily increased over the past four years, according to government figures. Some arrivals say they were inspired by the life that its dramas and popular culture icons depicted on social media. Onjira Mahitthafongkul, who grew up in Bangkok, first visited South Korea after finishing high school, when Big Bang was her favorite pop group. She has lived in Seoul, the nation's capital, for five years, getting her master's degree at Yonsei University and working in marketing. The nation's 'rich food scene' and 'convenient lifestyle' drew her to stay in the country, she said. Its lively drinking culture helped her make friends. Still, she said, 'there is always some level of discrimination as a foreigner, and I've come to accept that.' Government surveys show that many immigrants have experienced some form of discrimination. 'South Korean society has been pretty strict in that you need to look or act a certain way to be accepted,' said Cha, the music critic. But as it draws more visitors, he said it is only a matter of time before the nation becomes more accepting. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
