100 YEARS OF FRANZ KAFKA

100 YEARS OF FRANZ KAFKA © Goethe-Institut Korea

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.

#Publisher#Kafkaesque

“My entire being is focused on literature”

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. 

Minumsa Editor-in-Chief Jungwha Lee © Goethe-Institut Korea © Goethe-Institut Korea

#Translation#Literature

Kafka's Metaphors

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?”

Goethe Halmoni Interview © Goethe-Institut Korea/Leslie Klatte © Goethe-Institut Korea/Leslie Klatte

#Exhibition#Event

Kafka in Art & Talks

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.

Goethe-Institut Korea Kafka exhibition © Goethe-Institut Korea/Leslie Klatte © Goethe-Institut Korea/Leslie Klatte

#Comics#NicolasMahler

Kafka & Graphic Novels

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”.

Professor Sunghwa Kim © Goethe-Institut Korea © Goethe-Institut Korea

#Literature#Bookclub

A bookstore for Kafka

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”.

Kafka Bookstore © Seong-hun Kang © Seong-hun Kang

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