By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines last year, Hansae Yes24 Foundation published three volumes of the Philippine Anthology of Southeast Asian Literature.

The books are “Love on the Second Read” by Filipino national author Mica De Leon and “The Woman with Two Bellybuttons,” and “Tropical Gothic Tales,” by Nick Joaquin.

The Southeast Asian Literature Anthology is a series in which the Foundation presents a selection of acclaimed contemporary literary works from Southeast Asia. In 2022, for the first time in Korea, it translated and published three modern and contemporary novels from Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.

“The series is designed and published by Korea and Southeast Asia to expand cultural exchanges and introduce the literary essence of each country to Korea,” said Baek Soo-mi, chairperson of Hansae Yes24 Foundation at the Korea Foundation (KF) Global Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Feb. 14. ”It is important that the works represent the traditions, nationality, and culture of each country.”

Explaining why the two writers were selected, she said, “It is important that the works represent the traditions, nationality, and culture of each country.”

In addition to Chairperson Baek, the meeting was attended by Filipino national author Mica De Leon and Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said of Nick Joaquin, “She is a Filipino national writer who has won awards ranging from the Harriston Hill Prize, the country's leading fiction award, to the Carlos Palanca Memorial Literary Award, the Philippines' version of the Pulitzer Prize.” “She is a writer who has tried to heal the historical pain and mission of colonization through cultural art,” she said.

The Philippine Ambassador said, “The world in books is a valuable window into the Filipino people and their character,” and added, “There are many outstanding works in the Philippines, including this one, and I hope you will be interested in Philippine literature.”

In the future, the Hansae Yes24 Foundation will translate and publish Indonesian books next year. In 2027, the foundation will introduce Malaysian books to the country.