The Literature Translation Institute of Korea and Arirang TV are co-organizing "Exploring Korean Literature" to introduce Korean literature to foreign readers. A video of a reading of "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982" will air on Aug. 20. (Lee Jihae)

By Lee Jihae

Foreign readers can soon hear the English-language audio book and a discussion on the bestselling Korean feminist novel ''Kim Ji-young, Born 1982.''

The Literature Translation Institute (LTI) of Korea and Arirang TV on Aug. 9 said they are co-organizing "Exploring Korean Literature," an English-language video series on Korean literature geared toward foreign listeners.

The first series "What They've Read," to air from Aug. 13, will have foreign celebrities read weekly three Korean novels, including Cho Nam-joo's ''Kim Ji-young.'' The reading of the latter work will air on Aug. 20.  

TV personalities Daniel Hicks (U.K.) and Carlos Gorito (Brazil), YouTuber Sarah Mack (U.S.) and singer Punita (U.S.) will read and exchange views on Cho's novel.

The novel is about a 34-year-old housewife and the sexism she faces as a woman from her family, school and workplace. Since its release in 2016, the work has sold more than 1.2 million copies and been published abroad in 25 languages. A film adaptation also came out in 2019.

"What They've Read" also discusses the Korean novels ''One Left'' by Kim Soom on Aug. 13 and ''Diary of a Murderer: And Other Stories'' by Kim Young-ha on Aug. 27. 

"Living to Tell a Story," a series of interviews with Korean writers, from Sept. 3 will be aired in three episodes.

"A Word Depicted in Stories," a documentary on Korean literature, will air from Nov. 5.

The program is available on Arirang TV, LTI's official YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/LTIKorea) and Naver TV.

jihlee08@korea.kr