Actor Park Jung-min. [Herald Muse]
Actor Park Jung-min. [Herald Muse]

Actor Park Jung-min has once again done good for the visually impaired.

According to the Korea Disability Foundation on Wednesday, Muje, the publishing house Park heads, donated the audiobook "Ilil Banchulrok" — the second title in its listening novel series, written by author Seong Hae-na — to the foundation.

The donated audiobook has been distributed to 13 libraries for the visually impaired across the country.

Earlier, Park donated the first listening novel, "Cheos Yeoreum. Wanju" by author Kim Geum-hee, last year.

Park has been planning and running a project to improve book access for the visually impaired. Through Muje's "Listening Novel Project," audiobooks are produced and distributed before the print edition — the reverse of the usual publishing process, in which a print release comes first. The approach allows visually impaired readers to experience new works ahead of the general public.

"Ilil Banchulrok" is also set to be released later as a standard audiobook and in print. In the novel, protagonist Suin confronts the pain of loss while returning the belongings of the deceased, and gradually finds her way back to her own life.

Park received a commendation from the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the Day for People with Disabilities last April, in recognition of his contributions, including donating proceeds from the Listening Novel Project.


choigo@heraldcorp.com