On February 22nd and 26th, the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil held the second edition of its 2025 Book Club. The book of the month for February was 'Counterweight', by South Korean author Djuna. The novel was translated from Korean to Portuguese by Luiz Girão and published in September 2024 by Companhia das Letras.

The book had its beginnings in 2010 when the author first shared it as a short piece on social media. After a decade of development, the book was published in Korean in 2021 and translated into English in 2023. According to its official Portuguese edition description, 'Counterweight' is described as "a cyberpunk novel, a crime fiction, and a powerful parable about South Korea's neocolonial ambition and its overwhelming effects."

The Book Club meetings gathered two groups of South Korean literature enthusiasts and were led by Luara França. With over 10 years of experience working with books, Luara has a strong connection with Korean literature. She highlighted:

"As a moderator, I had the privilege of guiding in-depth discussions about the dystopian world-building of the novel, the multiple layers of identity within the characters, and the subtle social critiques woven into the narrative. [...] It was rewarding to witness the participants' engagement and the exchange of perspectives that made the meetings even more meaningful."

Participant Mariana Pacheco also emphasized the importance of the Book Club in promoting access to Korean culture through literature:

"The Cultural Center's Book Club is very important because it provides accessibility to this literature, which may seem so different to us, yet is gaining more visibility and offering us a new lens through which to view contemporary Korean literary works. [...] It's a wonderful moment where we not only connect with the book but also with others who share this experience with us."

Participant Denise, who had previously read 'Pachinko' by Min Jin Lee, mentioned how the Book Club serves as a gateway to learning more about Korean culture and maintaining a space where people can nurture their love for reading:

"'Pachinko' left a huge impression on me, and I wanted to discuss these books with others. After attending the Book Club for the first time, I couldn't stop reading Korean literature, and it's always a pleasure to be here. [...] Through reading and our conversations, we get a little closer to the wonders we discover from the other side of the world."

After another month of successful meetings in February, March's Book Club is ongoing with the book Almond by Won-pyung Sohn. Registrations are open for the April Book Club, starting from the 17th until the 23rd of March, where the book Jun by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim will be discussed.