Why does Franz Kafka's magic endure even 100 years after his death? What makes Kafka's work feel so modern and contemporary? And why is his story “The Metamorphosis” especially popular in Korea? We delved into these questions with experts to unravel the Kafka phenomenon.
Minumsa editor-in-chief Junghwa Lee shares her favorite Kafka novels and talks about the enduring popularity of Kafka's works in Korea. Discover why, for her, the term “Kafkaesque” is primarily associated with the image of a door.
Professor Youngae Chon discusses the challenges and peculiarities of translating Kafka's works. She also shares her answer to the Kafka-inspired question that has gone viral in Korea: “What would you do if I turned into a vermin?”
Eunhae Joo, project manager at the Goethe-Institut Korea library, is excited to share valuable tips on how to engage with Kafka's works enjoyably. She also provides her Kafka recommendations from the library collection.
Professor Sunghwa Kim sheds light on the negative social perception of comics and the prejudices between high culture and subculture. Discover with her the close connection between literature and comics based on Nicolas Mahler's work “Kafka's nonstop Laughing Machine”.
Author Seong-hun Kang, owner of the unique Kafka bookstore in Jeonju, shares his passion for classic literature with us. Find out more about the activities of his book club and his reinterpretation of the ending of “The Metamorphosis”.
