Jakarta \u2013 Indonesia\u2019s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Cecep\nHerawan stated that the launch of the novel Gadis Kretek, a work by an\nIndonesian author, strengthens cultural diplomacy through literature\nwhilst introducing the richness of Indonesian literature to the Korean\npublic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe publication of Gadis Kretek in Korean is not merely a\ntranslation of a novel, but also represents a joint commitment to\nbroaden cultural exchange between Indonesia and Korea,\u201d said Cecep\nduring the novel\u2019s launch in Seoul on Thursday, 12 March.<\/p>\n
According to a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, he\nassessed that whilst Indonesia and South Korea have long enjoyed strong\neconomic and diplomatic relations, stories such as Gadis Kretek enable\nthe two nations to better understand each other\u2019s values, history, and\nsocietal life.<\/p>\n
The launch of the Gadis Kretek novel was organised by HansaeYes24\nFoundation as part of the Southeast Asian Literature Series, an\ninitiative to introduce literary works from Southeast Asian nations to\nKorean readers. Through this series, selected literary works from\nSoutheast Asia are translated into Korean to make them accessible to the\nbroader public.<\/p>\n
The Ambassador commended HansaeYes24 Foundation for its commitment to\nintroducing Southeast Asian literature to Korean society. HansaeYes24\nChairperson Baek Soomi noted that Southeast Asian literature holds\nimportant value in enriching cultural dialogue in Korea.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a time when Korean culture receives significant global attention,\nKorea also needs to remain open to literary works from other cultures,\u201d\nshe said. According to her, cultural exchange through literature can\nbroaden readers\u2019 perspectives whilst strengthening cross-cultural\nunderstanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe publication of Gadis Kretek is expected to expand appreciation\nfor Southeast Asian literature in Korea and strengthen the cultural\nbridge between the two regions,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Gadis Kretek is the second Indonesian literary work translated and\npublished by the foundation, following Hamka\u2019s novel Tenggelamnya Kapal\nVan Der Wijck, which was published in 2022.<\/p>\n
The author, Ratih Kumala, stated that the novel\u2019s primary inspiration\ncame from her late grandfather, who was a clove cigarette entrepreneur\nin a small town in Central Java. The story gained wider popularity after\nbeing adapted into a Netflix series with the same title in 2023. Through\nthis mini-series, global audiences were introduced to Indonesian\ncultural context, social history, family drama, romance, and the\ndynamics of Indonesia\u2019s clove cigarette industry.<\/p>\n
Beyond promoting literary works, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul also\npresented specialty Indonesian coffee from Gayo in drip bag coffee form,\nallowing Korean society to experience Indonesian culture not only\nthrough literature but also through the flavour of Indonesian coffee as\npart of the broader Indonesian cultural experience.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ambassador-launch-of-gadis-kretek-novel-strengthens-indonesia-south-korea-cultural-diplomacy-1773575509", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }