By Honorary Reporter Sthefany Vieira from Brazil
Photos = Sarangbang Podcast

The recent popularity of Korean culture in Brazil, driven by dramas, K-pop and movies, has extended to literature. Many Korean books have been translated into Portuguese, making such works more accessible to Brazilians. 

This year, the first podcast in Brazil on Korean literature was launched: Sarangbang.

The podcast’s hosts are Bruna Giglio and Denise Nobre.

A Portuguese and Korean literature major at the University of Sao Paulo, Giglio said her love of Asian literature began at age 13, when she grew fascinated about the invention of Hangeul. Nobre, a physiotherapist who studies Portuguese and Korean literature, said she first became interested in Hallyu in 2010 through K-pop and Korean dramas and movies.

The following are excerpts from the Oct. 6 online interview with the duo. 

What motivated you to create a podcast about Korean literature?
We met last year during an exchange program in Korea at Hallym University in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do Province, and gained extensive knowledge about Korean culture and society. The idea of creating content on Korean literature emerged while we read the webtoon “My Little Bookstore,” whose concept of opening a bookstore inspired us. This eventually led to the creation of a podcast influenced by Gyopocast, a podcast on the Korean community in Brazil, to share our knowledge and passion for Korean literature with a broader audience.

What are your goals of your podcast?
We want to introduce Brazilian readers to the beauty and intrigue of Korean literature and connect readers to the rich nuances contained in Korean books, which are increasingly being translated into Portuguese. Given our experiences in Korea and academic backgrounds, we believe we can help Brazilian readers better comprehend the works by providing insights into Korea’s historical and contemporary culture. 

How did you come up with the name?
Traditionally, sarangbang in Korean refers to a room of the traditional house Hanok open only to men of high society during the Joseon Dynasty. They discussed literature, practiced calligraphy and debated daily matters there. Though the word refers to a men’s-only room, we aim to create a modern virtual space for all genders and classes, presenting the past on our podcast. We want to celebrate the power of literature to transcend the boundaries of time and space to connect Korea and Brazil.

How did you decide your podcast schedule and select the books to discuss?
We release episodes twice a month. We designed our podcast format around a 10-episode season in which we select five books to feature, dedicating one month to each book. Our selections are made based on factors including genre, target audience and literary trends but we always ensure that they have personally impacted us and hold value for Brazilian readers. In addition to books by Koreans, we will also cover those written by ethnic Koreans in Brazil or elsewhere. 

How do you select guests and whom have you had on your podcast?
We select our guests primarily based on the themes explored in the books we discuss. For instance, if a work is related to mental health or neurodiversity, we want experts in those fields, influencers with an affinity for the topic, or readers who can identify with a work’s narrative and wish to share their experiences. 

Our exciting forthcoming lineup of guests includes literary agents, publishers, translators, cover artists and booksellers like illustrator and cover artist Ing Lee. Our past guests include Luis Girao, a literary agent, translator and university professor, and Luara França, a publisher and translator. 

Describe your talk on Korean literature and dramas hosted by Hyundai Motor Brasil.
We were deeply honored to receive an invitation to the dialogue circle as we’re relatively new to the world of content creators. We were genuinely delighted that people trust us since we contribute to the consolidation of Korean literature on the Brazilian publishing market. We also appeared on Rede TV, where we promoted the K-drama “Descendants of the Sun” being broadcast on the network.

Can the genre match Hallyu’s growth and can your podcast help it expand in Brazil?

We closely monitor Korean books on the Brazilian market and have seen an increase in domestic demand for them. Publishers are making significant efforts to cater to reader needs and demands. The influential Brazilian magazine Revista Crescer, which covers education and child development, included three Korean works on its list of the “30 Best Children’s Books”: “Magic Candies” and “I Am a Dog” by Baek Heena and “Yellow Umbrella” by Ryu Jae-soo. 

Despite the significant percentage of interested people, Brazilian readers still face cultural barriers when trying to understand Korean books in depth. The narratives include elements intrinsic to Korean culture like hierarchical issues and collectivist thought in society heavily influenced by Confucianism. Our podcast tries to contextualize the plots and clarify these cultural, historical and contemporary elements that shape Korean society to raise understanding. 

Any final thoughts?
We urge everyone to give Korean literature a chance given its continuous growth on the Brazilian market. Don’t be afraid to read a Korean book as the journey will be memorable and fortunately, there’s no turning back after you start. We’re with you during the entire process to show how Korean literature can talk to us all. After all, literature can break down social, cultural and political barriers and surprise through a shared space of connection, recognition and freedom.

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*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary
Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.