November 28, 2023

Everyone experiences loneliness from time to time. But that's when literature can offer us great comfort.  Jang Eun-Jin’s No One Writes Back features a man traveling aimlessly with his blind dog for three years. He writes letters to people he meets along the way, but no one replies. On the surface, it might seem like a simple story about a traveler’s loneliness, but we soon discover ourselves being drawn to the messages of hope within in his letters. In Kim Choyeop’s If We Can't Go at the Speed of Light, a scientist longingly remembers her family while grappling with unique struggles. Her story reminds us to persist in hope despite hardship. When despair looms, Bae Suah’s Untold Night and Day gives comforting escape. As we accompany the characters through the nights, we cross the boundary between dream and reality, and bask in a literary time that will heal our wounds. In Lee Seo Su’s Your 4’33, we are confronted with the pressures of a competitive society and the struggles it can bring. Yet, amidst the chaos, the story reminds us to cherish the present moment, where the seeds of hope reside. The very people who inflict deep wounds upon us can, in a twist of irony, become the source of our healing. Choi Eunyoung's Someone Harmless guides us through this essential journey of mending those wounds. Literature gives us the strength and comfort to rise from our pain. Literature is hope. ㅣNovel If We Can’t Go at the Speed of Light [Spanish]  Author Kim ChoyeopTranslator Joo HasunPublisher Temas de HoyYear Published 2022Originally published in Korea by Hubble in 2019 This is a collection of seven sci-fi stories. The titular story follows an elderly scientist who is away from her family to develop future technologies and the struggles she overcomes while waiting for the day she can meet her family again in a distant universe. If technological development is the “wrapping paper,” then the stories of these very human characters are the lyrical gift contained within. ㅣNovel Untold Night and Day [English]   Author Bae SuahTranslators Deborah SmithPublisher  Jonathan CapeYear Published 2020Originally published in Korea by Jaum&Moeum in 2013   Twenty-eight-year-old Kim Ayami works at Seoul’s only audio theater for the blind. On her last shift before the theater is shut down, Ayami wanders the streets at night and meets different kinds of people: a German language female teacher who has cancer, a theater director who has become unemployed with the theater’s closure, a German who has come to Korea to write a novel. With each encounter, the characters delve deep into their memories, dreams, and secrets. In a world where the boundary between reality and dreams is faint, we become the main characters. ㅣNovel No One Writes Back [English] Author Jang Eun-jinTranslators Yewon JungPublisher Dalkey ArchiveYear Published 2013Originally published in Korea by MunhakDongne in 2009 This book is the story of a man who travels around without a specific destination together with his blind dog. During his journey, the protagonist encounters a man who reads poetry to a friend in a coma, a person who rides trains endlessly to escape from a broken heart, amongst many others. In order to console them and tell them about his own experience, the main character writes them letters but never receives a reply. At first glance, this story might make us feel lonely and somber, but through the letters he sends we are able to discover messages of hope. ㅣNovel Your 4’33 [Chinese]  Author Lee Seo SuTranslators 謝麗玲Publisher 一人出版社 Year Published 2021Originally published in Korea by EunHaengNaMu in 2020 This book is inspired by 4’33, the composition created by American experimental composer John Cage during which performers do not play their instruments. Switching between the life of celebrated avant-garde artist John Cage, and that of Lee Gidong, who is frustrated and discouraged by a fiercely competitive society, the reader is asked what our moral guidelines are. During these four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence, we ponder about the meaning of life and discover the value of our existence.  ㅣNovel A Someone Harmless to Me [Chinese] Author Choi EunyoungTranslator  陳曉菁Publisher 商務印書館Year Published 2019Originally published in Korea by MunhakDongne in 2018 As the title suggests, this collection of seven short stories is “harmless to life,” as it encourages readers to understand and embrace the lives of people who have been deeply hurt. “That Summer” depicts the emotions of people who have fallen in love, “A House Made of Sand” narrates the love and friendship between three people in their twenties: through these characters who heal their wounds thanks to those around them, we discover new aspects of our own lives. PI OK-HEE Pi Ok-hee is an insightful writer who offers a unique perspective on the world. With a diverse range of interests, she contributes to newspapers and magazines, delving into topics such as people, spaces, books, and travel. Beyond her journalistic endeavors, Pi Ok-hee excels as a ghostwriter, crafting captivating stories and providing content for corporate newsletters, speeches, and casebooks for both companies and public institutions.

November 22, 2023

It’s no exaggeration to say that students in Korea study intensively for years just to take the college entrance exam (called CSAT).  Study guidebooks are crucial resources for test-takers who need to stay focused on their goals without feeling torn between reality and hope. While there are countless guidebooks offering life wisdom, what becomes a vital guide for Korean students is their literary sensibility, which is a result of South Korea's emphasis on education that integrates literature into exam preparation–building not only academic skills, but also literary appreciation. The so-called “must-read” list of books for CSAT prep allow students to glimpse into the lives and emotions of people from different historical periods.  For example, Kim Yu-Jeong’s Downpour delves into the contradictions and moral struggles in rural communities through the lives of an itinerant farming couple. Pak Taewon’s A Day in the Life of Kubo the Novelist showcases the role of modern Korean literature by depicting the idling life of lumpen intellectuals. Yi Kwang-su’s Mujŏng marks the beginning of Korean contemporary literature by exploring free love and enlightenment through its four central young characters.  Cho Se-Hŭi’s The Dwarf exposes problems in Korean society while portraying a dwarf family’s dreams and their desire for freedom.  Hyun Jin-geon’s One Lucky Day describes the hardships in the life of an old rickshaw driver. All these stories encourage test-takers to seriously contemplate how they want to live their own lives ㅣNovel Downpour [English]  Author Kim Yu-JeongTranslator Yoonna ChoPublisher Literature Translation Institute of KoreaYear Published 2014Originally published in Korea by The Chosun Ilbo in 1935 Kim Yu-Jeong’s short story was selected for the 1935 The Chosun Ilbo’s New Spring Literary Contest. It portrays the poverty and harsh reality of itinerant farmers at that time through the trials faced by a couple who were forced to leave their home during a year of famine. The authoritarian Chunho, who pesters his wife for money to squander on gambling, his wife’s dramatic decision to sacrifice her dignity and resort to prostitution to avoid his abuse, as well as the absurd relationships between landlords and tenant farmers, are depicted paradoxically and humorously in Downpour. This work invites readers to sink into contemplation. ㅣNovel A Day in the Life of Kubo the Novelist [English]   *Part of ‘The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories’ series.Author Pak TaewonTranslators Sunyoung Park, Jefferson J. A. Gatrall, Kevin O’RourkePublisher  Penguin BooksYear Published 2023Originally published in Korea by -   This mid-twentieth-century novella was first published in 1934 in the Chosun Jungang Ilbo. At the age of twenty-six, novelist Kubo still lives with his widowed mother, without a job or a wife. This story is regarded as one of the most representative works of Korean modernist literature, masterfully employing a chronological detailing of the main character’s wandering around the city. As he roams the streets of Seoul, he captivates readers’ attention by skillfully moving between past and present, reality and fantasy, and through his encounters with the city’s landscape and its peoples, he delves into the ever-shifting realms of loneliness, desires, money, and love within the human psyche. ㅣNovel Mujŏng [English] Author Yi Kwang-suTranslators  Ann Sung-hi LeePublisher East Asia ProgramYear Published 2005Originally serialized in Korea by the Maeil Sinbo in 1917, and published by Shinmunkwan and DongYang Seowon in 1918. Mujŏng, serialized in 1917 in the Maeil Sinbo, is Korea’s first modern novel, marking the beginning of modern Korean literature. Infused with the contemporary consciousness of that era, this work explores themes of free love and enlightenment. The story revolves around Yi Hyŏng-sik, an intellectual who works as an English teacher at Kyŏngsŏng School after studying in Japan; Pak Yŏng-ch’ae, a traditionally educated young woman who, after losing her virginity to the Kyŏngsŏng School inspector, contemplates suicide; Kim Sŏnhyŏng, a modern woman preparing for her studies in the United States; and Kim Pyŏng-uk, an anti-feudal and progressive international student. This novel vividly portrays the societal upheaval and moral ambiguity of Joseon’s period of transformation through characters that readers can readily empathize with. ㅣNovel The Dwarf  [English]  Author Cho Se-HŭiTranslators Bruce and Ju-Chan FultonPublisher University of Hawaii Press Year Published 2006Originally published in Korea by Literature and Intelligence in 1978 This short story was originally published in the 1976 Winter issue of the literary journal Literature and Intelligence. It continues to be cherished by readers to this day, as it offers a realistic depiction of the rapid industrialization of the 1970s through the struggles and sorrows of a dwarf’s family, shedding light on the disenfranchised and their loss of the foundations of life as their unauthorized village is razed to the ground. The story is divided into three parts, each focusing on one of the protagonist’s children: the first one focuses on the first-born son, Kim Yong-su, the second revolves around the second-born son, Kim Yong-ho, and the third one follows the youngest daughter, Kim Yong-hui.  ㅣNovel A Lucky Day [Russian] Author Hyun Jin-geonTranslator  Ким Сонмён,Илья БеляковPublisher АСТ ЛингваYear Published 2019Originally published in Korea by Gaebyeok, Issue 48, in 1924 First published in the June 1924 issue of the magazine Gaebyeok, this short story showcases the essence of realism by portraying the squalid lives of Joseon’s lower-class people through old rickshaw-porter Kim. After a ten-day streak of bad luck, Mr. Kim heads out to work, ignoring his sick wife’s pleadings to remain home with her. His wife’s pained expression bothers him throughout the day, but he continues to push through, as he cannot shake off opportunities to earn good money. This story, which focuses solely on the protagonist and vividly narrates the way he endures any hardship, deserves to remain in the CSAT curriculum as a witness of Korea’s past. Chayeon Since 1994, she has crafted pieces across diverse genres and various media, as though she was shaping different kinds of pottery. Beginning in 2009, she has been introducing readers of webzines to cultural information, from books to movies and travel destinations, almost as if she was sharing secrets deep into the night.

November 13, 2023

True stories hold a mysterious power. A power that writes narratives more vivid than fiction and gives rise to significant literary works, making it impossible to escape their clutches even for a second. At times, literary works based on true stories unfold in such unimaginable, dramatic ways it begs the question, “Is this truly life?” At the core of these stories, buried beneath conflicts and confrontations, lies the question of what it means to be human. Moreover, the tale of one individual can be intertwined with the lives of many others, ultimately weaving into a powerful message that writes an entire history. Han Kang’s We Do Not Part (Impossibles Adieux) depicts the story of Jeongshim, a woman who lost her family in the tumult of the Jeju April 3rd Uprising and Massacre and spends decades waiting for her beloved brother’s return. Jeonshim’s life and suffering transcends her own lifetime as she has a daughter who cannot simply ignore her mother’s pain, and her friend who supports her.  Now, let’s look at The Accusation. Currently residing in North Korea, the author depicts the lives of ordinary men and women living under the regime from the late 1980s to the early 1990s through seven short stories.  Published in May 1968, The Tunnel of Destiny tells the amazing story of a Hamgyeong province family living under Japanese occupation who has a passion for learning, and recounts how they overcame their hardships.  Beginning from the early 1900s and leading up to the present, Kim Young-ha’s Black Flower follows the migration of Koreans across continents and oceans to Mexico, detailing the immigrants’ struggle for survival and maintaining their dignity with both pointedness and wit. Based on real events that occurred at a school for deaf students, Ji-Young Gong’s 2009 novel, Togani, sheds light on the issue of violence against socially vulnerable individuals and minorities. Novels based on true stories prompt us to reflect on the essence of humanity and life while underscoring the intrinsic value of human existence amid despair and suffering as we continue to love, yearn, and hope. ㅣNovel We Do Not Part (Impossibles Adieux) [French] Author  Han KangTranslator Pierre BisiouPublisher Éditions Grasset Year Published 2023Originally published in Korea by Munhakdongne in 2021 At its heart, this book explores the oppression Jeju suffered from 1947 to 1954 when authorities attempted to stamp out partisan activities, hence leading to the Jeju Uprising and resulting in the loss of countless lives. With this tragic historical backdrop, this book narrates a profound and humanistic story of familial love. One winter day, Gyeongha is made known to the silent struggle of her friend Inseon’s family tracing back to a series of civilian massacres that took place seventy years prior. For several decades, Inseon’s mother, Jeongshim, has relentlessly searched for her surviving older brother. Jeongshim’s heart-wrenching story of missing an absent family member is passed on to Inseon, and subsequently, from Inseon to Gyeongha, and from Gyeongha to the readers. ㅣNovel The Accusation [German]  Author BandiTranslators Lee Ki-hyangPublisher  PiperYear Published 2017Originally published in Korea by Dasan Books in 2017   Bandi, a pseudonym from the word “firefly” in Korean, is a North Korean writer who bases his stories on life under the totalitarian regime during the 1980s and 1990s. This collection, smuggled into South Korea through a network of defectors and brokers, comprises seven short stories. Written with concision in the North Korean dialect, they shed light on the daily oppression faced by ordinary citizens under dictatorship. One story recounts a son’s desperate attempts to obtain a travel card so that he can visit his critically ill mother. After his request gets rejected, he is caught smuggling to his hometown and hence subjected to forced labor. Another story depicts the difficulties of a mother whose three-year-old child convulses whenever he sees a portrait of Karl Marx. ㅣNovel The Tunnel of Destiny [English] Author Kim Hyung-chaTranslators  Allen D. ClarkPublisher Seoul Selection U.S.AYear Published 2018Originally published in Korea by Family Research Center Maum in 2018 Published in May 1968, this evocative novel recounts the author’s and his family’s experiences throughout the Japanese occupation, the liberation, and the Korean War. Through sharp prose, the novel viscerally depicts the author’s study abroad in Japan, his forced conscription as a student soldier, the harsh military training he endured, and his life as a soldier of the Japanese army both before and after liberation. The narrative captures the author’s stint as part of the first generation of Korean soldiers seconded to the US Army during the Korean War, their advance to the Yalu River and the evacuation of Hamhung, as well as the tragic story of young soldiers who were sent in Hiroshima to serve right before the deployment of the atomic bomb. ㅣNovel Black Flower [English]  Author Kim Young-haTranslators La Shure CharlesPublisher Mariner Books Year Published 2013Originally published in Korea by Munhakdongne in 2003 In 1905, when the Korean Empire was on the brink of collapse, many Koreans left for Mexico with dreams of attaining better jobs and brighter futures. Black Flower chronicles the poignant story of this migration. Just like the indomitable spirit of these migrants carried them across continents and oceans, the author’s bold prose transports readers to a new world. Through stark juxtapositions like the conflict between feudalism and modernity, indigenous and imported religions, the disintegration of status and class, and the collapse of the relationship between the state and the individual, readers are prompted to think about the fundamental condition of human destiny. ㅣNovel Togani [English] Author  Ji-Young GongTranslator  Bruce and Ju-Chan FultonPublisher University of Hawaii Press Year Published 2023 Originally published in Korea by Creation and Criticism in 2009 Ji-Young Gong’s Togani is a novel based on the unimaginable and harrowing events that happened at a school for the disabled located near Gwangju. Such was its societal impact that this book was even adapted into a movie of the same name in 2011. After his business fails, the protagonist is appointed as a temporary teacher at a school for the hearing impaired in the city of Mujin. There, he uncovers a series of terrible crimes, from sexual assaults to physical abuse, that are concealed by people in various positions of power, from the Office of Education to City Hall, police officers to members of the church. Through the conflicting positions of these stakeholders, the narrative explores not only the nature of evil but also the psyche of those who turn a blind eye to injustice. Chayeon Since 1994, she has crafted pieces across diverse genres and various media, as though she was shaping different kinds of pottery. Beginning in 2009, she has been introducing readers of webzines to cultural information, from books to movies and travel destinations, almost as if she was sharing secrets deep into the night.

November 13, 2023

Everyone is familiar with Bong Joon-ho’s film Parasite, which swept the awards globally. During that time, however, someone else was also enjoying the spotlight just as much as the movie and the director himself. It was Bong Joon-ho’s interpreter at the Academy Award ceremony, who was hailed as the perfect interpreter. The interpreter was lauded both domestically and internationally because she not only understood and embraced the source language, but also its cultural implications, hence successfully delivering a complete interpretation to its audience. Translation is no different. By faithfully playing its role as a cultural messenger between countries through understanding and inclusion, K-literature has now earned worldwide adoration. In 2021, Yun Ko-eun’s The Disaster Tourist won the Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger Award with Lizzie Buehler’s translation, marking the first win for an Asian novel. Kim Hyesoon’s poetry collection A Drink in Red Mirror, translated by Yee Choon-woo, was nominated for the Best Translated Book Award by Three Percent, a website specializing in translation and managed by the University of Rochester in the U.S. Whale, Cheon Myeong-kwan’s first full-length novel, was shortlisted for this year’s prestigious International Booker Prize, one of the top three awards in the Anglophone world. Through the troubled lives of its female characters, conveyed through the skillful translation by Chi-Young Kim, this novel showcases the depth and potential of Korean literature to a global readership. Previously, another Korean novel was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2022: Bora Chung’s Cursed Bunny, translated by Anton Hur who captured the familiar yet unfamiliar everyday life of the characters in a sharp and vivid way. Another standout in the realm of suspenseful and dark fantasy novels is Hye-young Pyun’s The Hole, translated by Sora Kim-Russell, which earned the Shirley Jackson Award in 2017. Besides the translators mentioned here, there are many more who are diligently working as cultural messengers, going beyond simply introducing Korean literature, and delving into deeper facets of these works. It is thanks to their efforts that Korean literature today is marching toward a global stage.  ㅣNovel The Disaster Tourist [English] Author  Yun Ko-eunTranslator Lizzie BuehlerPublisher ProfileYear Published 2020Originally published in Korea by Minumsa in 2013 This book narrates the adventures of Ko Yona, a programming coordinator at the travel agency, Jungle, which sells vacation packages to disaster-hit destinations. After a visit to Mui, an island wrecked by a sinkhole in the desert, Yona is heading to the airport to return home when she is forced to return to the Belle Époque, the resort where she was put up with her group. At the request of the resort manager, Yona finds herself involved in a project to revive Mui’s tourism. After being dragged into this ploy to concoct an artificial disaster scenario, will Yona be able to help Mui? ㅣPoetry A Drink of Red Mirror (Un verre de miroir rouge) [French]  Author  Kim HyesoonTranslator Yee Choon-wooPublisher Decrescenzo éditeursYear Published 2016Originally published in Korea by Moonji in 2004   Since her debut in 1979 in the quarterly magazine “Literature and Society,” Kim Hyesoon presents her eighth collection. The fifty-seven poems, including the titular “A Drink of Red Mirror,” harness the powerful poetic allure of the color red to exalt the author’s profound sensibility. With the poet’s distinct prose that tantalizes the senses, these poems usher readers into a mesmerizing and stark poetic realm. ㅣNovel Whale [English]  Author Cheon Myeong-kwanTranslators  Chi-Young KimPublisher Archipelago BooksYear Published 2023 Originally published in Korea by Munhakdongne in 2004 Cheon Myeong-kwan’s first full-length novel has received incredible praises for its groundbreaking plot. This novel defies readers’ expectations at every turn, portraying the turbulent lives of its unforgettable female protagonists: an old woman, Geumbok, and Chunhui. Cheon’s narrative engulfs readers and throws them toward strong currents by skillfully weaving in elements from various genres such as mythology, folktales, ghost and chivalrous stories, allowing each reader to find resonance within its pages. ㅣNovel Cursed Bunny [English] Author Bora ChungTranslators Anton HurPublisher Algonquin Books Year Published 2022Originally published in Korea by Arzak in 2017 Cursed Bunny is a collection of ten short stories that defy genre boundaries. Unified by the central theme of revenge, these stories range from horror to science fiction and fantasy. In “Cursed Bunny,” the owner of a brewing company spreads malicious rumors to outdo his competitors. “Home Sweet Home” tells the story of a woman who finds a ghost-child in the building that she and her irresponsible husband have bought, while “Snare” delves into the tragic consequences of one man’s greed which destroys his whole family. This collection showcases characters in familiar, yet strange settings—often driven by desire, betrayal, or misguided choices—and offers readers a peculiar sense of pleasure and comfort.  ㅣNovel The Hole [English] Author Hye-young PyunTranslator  Sora Kim-RussellPublisher Arcade PublishingYear Published 2017Originally published in Korea by Moonji in 2016 The Hole is Hye-young Pyun’s fourth novel. Ogi, a college professor in his forty, faces a tragic event: he loses his wife in a car accident that leaves him paralyzed, incapable of doing anything except blinking. The narration moves back and forth between Ogi’s present and past to shed light on the time leading up to the tragedy, depicting the conflicts in his relationship with his wife as he insists on his innocence in a gripping story. Chayeon Since 1994, she has crafted pieces across diverse genres and various media, as though she was shaping different kinds of pottery. Beginning in 2009, she has been introducing readers of webzines to cultural information, from books to movies and travel destinations, almost as if she was sharing secrets deep into the night.

October 19, 2023

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Korea endured a tumultuous era. The period that began with the forced annexation of Korea to the Japanese Empire on August 22, 1910 and ended with the Liberation on August 25, 1945, is officially called the “Imperial Japanese Occupation,” during which Korea became a colony of Japan. Lasting thirty-five years, the occupation shook Korean politics, culture, and arts to their core. Literature, long considered a mirror of society, was no exception. The literary works produced during this period reflect the bleak and chaotic nature of the times. Through these colonial voices, we gain insight into a difficult chapter of Korea’s history. In his autobiographical novella, Transgressor of the Nation, Ch’ae Man-Sik confesses his pro-Japanese activities. Kang Kyung-ae depicts the impoverished social situation in Broken Strings. Kim Sa-ryang focuses on the troubled lives of his characters in The Man I Met in the Lock Up, while Cho Myung-hee captures a portrait of occupied Korea in his Low Pressure Front. On the contrary, there are other examples of literature describing the Japanese Empire in other colonies, such as Lee Hyoseok’s Harbin. Through literature we get a glimpse into the thoughts, concerns, and anguished feelings of the intellectuals of the time, and gain a different perspective of our present. ㅣNovella Transgressor of the Nation [English] Author  Ch’ae Man-sikTranslator Jane KimPublisher Literature Translation Institute of KoreaYear Published 2014Originally published in Korea by Baik Min in 1948 Transgressor of the Nation is a novella that was published only after Liberation. In this autobiographical work, Ch’ae Man-Sik himself denounces the pro-Japanese activities he had committed during the Japanese colonization. The work describes the confrontation between reporters condemning pro-Japanese activities and writers who were overtly cooperating with Japan. Through the conflict of the two main characters, the author ponders on what exactly can be considered pro-Japanese activities. Even now, there are debates on whether Ch’ae Man-Sik’s actions were pro-Japanese or not, and if the self-reflection contained in his novels are nothing more than excuses. Through his work, however, we feel the anguish felt by intellectuals at that time and see how contradictory the human mind can be. ㅣ Short Story Broken Strings [English]  Author Kang Kyung-aeTranslators Sora Kim-RussellPublisher  Literature Translation Institute of KoreaYear Published 2013Originally published in Korea by Chosun Ilbo in 1931 Broken Strings is a short story by realist writer Kang Kyung-ae. Her work is a calm and realistic depiction of the impoverished society during the Japanese occupation. The two main characters are college students, and the story vividly captures not only their anguish and suffering but also their awakening and willingness to fight. Kang’s delicate observations shine through her interest in societal problems involving lower classes and workers. The shocking ending draws awareness to the problems dealt with in the story. ㅣ Short Story The Man I Met in the Lock Up [English] Author Kim Sa-ryang Translators Jamie ChangPublisher Literature Translation Institute of KoreaYear Published 2014Originally published in Korea by Munjang in 1941 The Man I Met in the Lock Up is a short story by Kim Sa-ryang published toward the latter part of the colonization period in 1941. The story begins with a reporter recalling his encounter with Count Wang, a self-professed anarchist who wreaked havoc on a train and is a frequent visitor of the police station. Through the observant reporter and problematic count, Kim Sa-ryang draws attention to the contradictions of intellectuals living in the Japanese colonization period. ㅣ Novel Harbin [English]  Author Lee HyoseokTranslators Ally HwangPublisher Literature Translation Institute of KoreaYear Published 2013Originally published in Korea in 1940 Lee Hyoseok first achieved fame with the short story When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom. He then wrote Harbin, based on his travels to China. One particular short story is about an encounter that takes place in Harbin between a skeptic and a woman who thinks about death. In this story, Lee expresses his personal anguish and his observations of societal changes. For intellectuals of the Japanese colonial era, the city of Harbin represented an exotic destination to which many wished to travel at least once, a region where Russian culture meets the atmosphere of Europe, a city of culture and art. But the Harbin depicted in the novel is a place of chaos, from which it is possible to get a glimpse of the global state of affairs after WWII. ㅣ Short Story Low Pressure Front [English] Author  Cho MyungheeTranslator Sora Kim-RussellPublisher Literature Translation Institute of KoreaYear Published 2014Originally published in Korea by Joseon Jigwang in 1926 Cho Myunghee’s Low Pressure Front deals with ethnic and class contradictions in the Japanese colonial era. The main character struggles with difficulties in his daily life and at work, and boredom, despite his privileged position as an intellectual who is also a newspaper reporter. The realism in Cho’s work depicts the lethargy, disgust, and poverty that characterizes the lives of intellectuals at that time. Jiyeon Kim Jiyeon Kim is a content creator who reads, writes, and breathes contents. She dreams of devouring as much content as possible. After a career in online news media, she is now working as a writer for an online movie magazine.

September 26, 2023

Stories and myths handed down from ancient times are steeped in imagination. Their worlds don’t exist in our present, yet we can dream of them. What kind of worlds would you like to encounter? Here, Korean books that contain myths and folktales reveal imaginary worlds that we have never seen before.  Daebyeol-wang and Sobyeol-wang are the two sons of the King of Heaven and Earth, according to a creation myth from Jeju Island. Their names might be unfamiliar, but if you’re curious, you can read all about these ancient Korean gods in Rediscovering Korean Myths and Myths and Legends from Korea. What if the protagonist of an ancient myth lived in the twenty-first century? In Hwang Sok-yong’s Princess Bari, the beauty of the myth shines through in this modern retelling of a girl who saves the world fraught with hardship and adversities.  What would happen if we were to project reality into the world of myths and legends? The five stories in Kim Si-seup’s Tales of the Strange by a Korean Confucian Monk use elements of myths and folktales to enliven the stories while criticizing the absurdities of the Joseon court of those times.  Lastly, in the steampunk novel, Doro the Steam Robot, set during the Joseon period, imagination exceeds even myths and legends. This ingenious feat of imagination brings history into play to create a new Joseon Dynasty in which the steam engine is developed and a steam robot is built.  Korean novels that use mythological elements straddle the line between past and present and imagination and reality. Let’s explore these wonderful books! ㅣ Novel Tales of the Strange by a Korean Confucian Monk [English]  Author  Kim Si-seupTranslator Würthner DennisPublisher The University Press of Hawaii Year Published 2020Originally published in Korea by  Hyundaesa in 1953 Kim Si-seup’s work is the first Korean novel written in Classical Chinese. It contains five stories, “Account of a Chŏp’o Game at Manbok Temple,” “Biography of Scholar Yi Who Peered over the Wall,” “Travel Record of a Drunken Excursion to Pubyŏk Pavillion,” “Gazetteer of the Southern Continent Yŏmbu,” and “Report of Attending a Banquet in the Dragon Palace,” which feature fantastical characters and settings, like ghosts, the king of the otherworld, dragon kings, and palaces of sea kings. Through these awesome stories, the author sheds light on the hypocrisy of the Joseon court while conveying his affection for the people. ㅣ Novel Princess Bari [English] Author Hwang Sok-yongTranslators Sora Kim-RussellPublisher  PeriscopeYear Published 2015Originally published in Korea  by Changbi in 2007 This book is inspired by the story of Princess Bari who decides to search for a life-saving potion to save her parents’ lives even though they had abandoned her for being born a girl. Hwang’s contemporary retelling follows the difficulties and trials of Bari, the seventh daughter born of a North Korean couple who work as government officials. Yearning for a son, her parents abandon her, and upon her rescue, Bari defects first to China before making her way to London. Will Bari’s soul save a world devastated by war and violence? ㅣ Novel Rediscovering Korean Myths [Russian] Author Кёндок Ли Translators  Лидия АзаринаPublisher Манн, Иванов и ФерберYear Published 2022Originally published in Korea by Wonderbox in 2020 The curator of this collection is a cultural anthropologist who explains Korean mythological symbols through immersive commentary accompanying the myths in this book. Samseung Halmang blesses couples with children and takes care of them while Jeoseung Halmang guides their souls to the afterworld. Seongjushin is the protector of the family, Jowangshin is the goddess of the hearth, and Jacheongbi is the goddess of love and agriculture. This book takes us on a discovery of the unfamiliar yet fascinating world of Korean mythology. ㅣ Novel Myths and Legends from Korea [English]  Author -Translators James Huntley GraysonPublisher CurzonYear Published 2011 This book contains an incredible number of 175 myths and tales from Korea, accompanied by sixteen more stories to facilitate comparison between the existing versions. The book is structured according to three themes: mythological tales related to ancient nations and clans, ancient folktales and legends, and modern stories. Before we know it, we will be captivated by these stories as we search for the origins of each myth. ㅣ Novel Doro the Steam Robot [Japanese] Author  Kim Yihwan et al.Translator Kira KanaePublisher Hayakawa Publishing CorporationYear Published 2023Originally published in Korea by Arzak in 2021 The starting point of this collection of steampunk stories is the question, “What if the steam engine had been created in the Joseon period?” The five stories, Jung Myeong Seop’s “Steam Outcast,” Park Aejin’s “The Gentleman’s Road,” Kim Yihwan’s “The Tale of Madame Park,” Park Haru’s “Yeommae Godok,” Yi Seoyoung’s “The Royal Secretary’s Power,” are connected to the adventures of Doro, a robot powered by steam, a technology imagined to be introduced during the Joseon period. When the sheer force of imagination meets history, readers might find themselves turned into ‘Doro’. PI OK-HEE Pi Ok-hee is an insightful writer who offers a unique perspective on the world. With a diverse range of interests, she contributes to newspapers and magazines, delving into topics such as people, spaces, books, and travel. Beyond her journalistic endeavors, Pi Ok-hee excels as a ghostwriter, crafting captivating stories and providing content for corporate newsletters, speeches, and casebooks for both companies and public institutions.

September 21, 2023

In the past, Korea has been criticized for its lack of well-written mystery novels given the high interest shown by its audience. However, the emergence of recent works which boast unique characteristics and atmospheres have rendered this comment obsolete. Korean mystery novels are now at the center of popular interest, to the extent that they have secured a place as one of the core elements of K-culture. Lies exposes yet another tragedy that was swept under the rug amid the Sewol ferry disaster. Seven Years of Darkness unravels its mysterious plot through a frame narrative structure. The Only Child shows the genesis of evil and its chronicles, while Lemon explores the excruciating time spent by those left behind after the death of someone dear. Lastly, The Disaster Tourist is a fun read in which a travel agency sells disasters as a consumeristic product. These books are full of pleasure that only thrillers can provide. I highly recommend these to readers looking for some thrill and suspense. ㅣNovel Lies [French] Author Kim Tak-hwanTranslator François Blocquaux, Lee Ki JungPublisher L’AsiathèqueYear Published 2020Originally published in Korea by Booksfear in 2016 There the sunken ferry sat. The story begins when diver Na Kyungsoo receives a call from a fellow diver and heads to Maenggol Channel. Kim Tak-hwan, famous for his works Apnok River, Dokdo Peace Exhibition and I, Hwang Jini, sheds light on the pain left behind by the Sewol ferry disaster. After scouring the deep sea to recover the bodies of children, these divers are only met with an irresponsible nation and accusations of financial greed. Written like a reportage, this daunting but unforgettable novel tells the story of diver Kim Kwanhong. ㅣNovel Seven Years of Darkness [English] Author You-jeong JeongTranslators Chi-Young KimPublisher Penguin BooksYear Published 2020Originally published in Korea by EunHaeng NaMu Publishing in 2011 The man I had executed was my father.” Thus begins You-jeong Jeong’s gripping novel, Seven Years of Darkness. The book was also made into a movie thanks to its extraordinary subject and narrative. The story follows murderer Choi Hyonsu, who has killed an entire village by opening the floodgate of Seryong Village Dam, and Oh Yongje, the father Oh Seryong, one of Choi’s victims. With the spotlight on Choi Sowon, Choi Hyonsu’s son, and his suffering as the son of a murderer, readers discover the hidden stories behind each character. The novel draws inspiration from real events that took place in 2009. ㅣNovel The Only Child [English] Author SEO Mi-ae Translators Yewon JungPublisher Oneworld PublicationsYear Published 2020Originally published in Korea by Elixir in 2018  Two strangers make their suddenly appearance in the life of criminal psychologist Seonkyeong. Yi Byeongdo is a serial killer who has maintained his silence and refused all interviews, while Hayeong is Seonkyeong’s step-daughter from her husband's previous marriage. The novel switches between the perspective of ten-year-old Hayeong and serial killer Yi Byeongdo as it chronicles the birth of evil. Hayeong’s simple good night to her mom contains an eerie menace that ishardly concealed beneath the words. With this work, writer Mi-ae So marks the beginning of Hayeong’s trilogy. ㅣNovel Lemon [English] Author Kwon Yeo-sunTranslators Janet HongPublisher Other PressYear Published 2021 Originally published in Korea by Changbi in 2019  Author Kwon Yeo-sun presents us with a thriller that, like its unusual title, will take us by surprise. The main character is Da-on, younger sister of Hae-on, who died young at nineteen years old. Even after seventeen years, Da-on is still unable to let go of the past and wants to meet one of the suspects in her sister’s murder case, Han Manu, for herself. This mysterious yet composed narrative casts a sharp gaze on the characters whose lives have been intertwined with one another for seventeen long years. This captivating story has also been adapted into a play with the same title.  ㅣNovel The Disaster Tourist [English] Author Yun Ko-eunTranslator Lizzie BuehlerPublisher ProfileYear Published 2020Originally published in Korea by Minumsa in 2013 Yun Ko-eun’s The Disaster Tourist takes off from a fun and ingenious premise. While the plot may at first seem unreal, it reflects the bitter taste of our present reality. The main character Ko Yona is a travel planner for an agency that sells tour packages in areas affected by natural disasters. On the verge of being fired, she visits Mui, a travel destination that is about to be pulled out from the list of tour destinations. There, Yona discovers how some people are trying to manufacture an artificial disaster in order to maintain Mui as a tourist destination, but plans start spiraling out of control.  Hong Kwang-soo After studying the sublime aesthetics of Kant and Lyotard, he  has worked as a film columnist across periodicals and magazines. He currently writes about movies, painting, dance, and theater, and also works as a freelance writer and lecturer.

September 21, 2023

There was a time when what we now take for granted wasn’t at all certain. I’m talking about human rights. Few question their relevance nowadays, but just a few decades ago, human rights were not a topic deserving importance. On The contrary, it was rather common for powerless individuals to be suppressed by stronger powers. We have brought together the works of five authors who have related stories of the past, stories that are so hard for us to imagine now as they feel more fictitious than science fiction.  Yun Gi-jeong’s The Smokestack elucidates the fight for female workers labor rights, Young-sook Moon’s Trampled Blossoms and Keum Suk Gendry-Kim’s Grass depict the endless struggles to protect the rights of comfort women. In this callous society, we constantly witness how women’s rights are more threatened than anything else.  Both the fight for freedom and the struggles of surviving under a dictatorship are realistically depicted in Han Kang’s Human Acts and in Bandi’s The Accusation. These are five different, yet similar stories. Though they are complex, I hope readers can enjoy them with composure. ㅣNovel The Smokestack [English] Author Yun Gi-jeongTranslator Mi-Ryong ShimPublisher Literature Translation Institute of KoreaYear Published 2014Originally published in Korea by Joseonjigwang in 1930 The lives of the female workers at DongA  factory change completely when the smoke in Yanghoe cave stops. Fighting against unreasonable oppression and greed with all their might, more than five hundred workers decide to put their faith in the power of solidarity even in times of turmoil. The voices of these women who have sacrificed their youth for the sake of others realistically portray the brutality of that time. As these women’s hearts come together as one, let us can ponder on the value of this forgotten strike. ㅣNovel Trampled Blossoms [English] Author Young-Sook MoonTranslators David CarruthPublisher Seoul SelectionYear Published 2019Originally published in Korea by Seoul Selection in 2016 Young-Sook Moon doesn’t shy away from depicting the breeding ground of poverty and abuse, and the lives that have been trampled by Japanese imperialism. This book forces us to see the issue of comfort women not simply as a thing of the past, but also as something that could happen in the present and future, thus steering us away from making the same mistake. The author, an established figure in the field of young adult literature, sheds light on the historical events that comfort women experienced through this poignant work. ㅣGraphic Novel Grass [Spanish] Author Keum Suk Gendry-KimTranslators Joo Hasun Publisher Penguin RandomhouseYear Published 2022Originally published in Korea by Bori in 2017 The historical wounds of sexual slavery by the Japanese Empire have never healed in Korea. Based on grandmother Lee Ok-sun’s testimony, the author narrates the terrible life endured by comfort women within the confines of black and white painting. Japanese colonial rule may have come to an end afterthe Liberation, but for victims of sexual slavery, the war is very much ongoing. The author raises difficult questions on the meanings of peace and human rights in relation to the global issue of comfort women. ㅣNovel Human Acts [English] Author Han KangTranslators Deborah Smith Publisher HogarthYear Published 2017 Originally published in Korea by Changbi in 2014   In this book, the tragedy and pain in the aftermath of the Gwangju Uprising are narrated in six unique chapters and episodes. Each chapteris narrated by a different character who vividly conveys the circumstances and feelings of countless people who have experienced this tragic incident. As we follow along the elaborate and delicate sentences weaved by the author, we realize that this is not simply a story that happened to some citizens in a certain region, but one that could have happened to all of us. ㅣNovel The Accusation [German] Author BandiTranslator Lee Ki-hyangPublisher PiperYear Published 2017Originally published in Korea by Dasan Books in 2017 This collection of stories was written by a writer who livesin the estranged nation of North Korea, and therefore chose to conceal theirname and identity to evade danger. These seven stories are based on theisolated daily lives of North Koreans. The writer clearly conveys what it meansto live under surveillance and oppression, and asks the reader to question thetrue value of freedom. PARK SI-HYEONG Park Si-hyeong studied aesthetics and now writes novels and columns. After having worked as a magazine editor, he is now a freelance content editor.

September 12, 2023

The Joseon Dynasty was surrounded by impenetrable walls of discrimination based on social status. The social class bestowed on one at birth was a shackle from which it was impossible to escape until death. In addition, writing and literature were exclusively for men and not easily allowed to women, who could at best hope to be recognized as assistants to their male counterparts. However, the desire to create literature could not be so easily suppressed. As class and gender discrimination intensified in the feudal society of that era, more and more people raised their voices in protest. Hwang Jini, the most well-known Kisaeng, found freedom in her work, now collected in Songs of the Kisaeng. In The Nine Cloud Dream, author Kim Man-Jung depicts the torment brought on by the inability to achieve an ideal life in the typical aristocratic society during the mid-Joseon period. Writer Heo Kyun, in his The Story of Hong Gildong, discusses the universal value of human dignity and equality against the issues of society at that time, such as discrimination based on social classes. The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng, written by the wife of Crown Prince Sado, Lady Hyegyŏng, offers a valuable glimpse into the lives of women during the Joseon Dynasty and the political climate of that time. Meanwhile, Hŏ Nansŏrhŏn’s poetry collection, Vision of a Phoenix, was a resistance against the customs and an attempt to protect her life through her writings, while at the same time lending a voice to women who longed for freedom and equality. Centuries may have passed since then, but the reason why such works continue to receive the highest praises is that they provide comfort and wisdom to the outcasts of our time. Times may change, but the power of writing is everlasting. ㅣCollection of sijo Songs of the Kisaeng [English] Author Hwang JiniTranslator Contogenis Constantie, Choe Wol-HeePublisher BOAsYear Published 1997Originally written during the mid-Joseon period In Joseon society, a society bound by countless rules, what kind of lives did women, considered lower subjects, lead? Moreover, what about the  Kisaeng, who belonged to the lowest of classes? Songs of the Kisaeng is a collection of works from Hwang Jini, the most famous of Kisaeng at the time. Despite their short form, sijo are poems that are rich in literary and artistic ideas. In her writing, Hwang Jini pursues love, art, and freedom, uncuffing herself from the shackles of her low status. ㅣNovel The Nine Cloud Dream [English] Author Kim Man-JungTranslators Heinz Insu FenklPublisher Penguin ClassicsYear Published 2019Originally written in 1687 The Nine Cloud Dream was written by Kim Man-Jung, a literate and novelist of the mid-to-late Joseon dynasty, for his widowed mother. His writing teaches important lessons and impresses the reader with its themes, clear sentences, and use of metaphors. Through the dream of the main character, the author illustrates the fleetingness and transience of life, and the futility of wealth and honor. The story also depicts the struggles in seeking the timeless philosophical values of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism reflected in the aristocratic society of that time. ㅣNovel The Story of Hong Gildong [English] Author Heo KyunTranslators Minsoo KangPublisher Penguin Publishing GroupYear Published 2016Originally written during the mid-Joseon period Hailed as the first Korean novel, this story depicts the problems that were plaguing society at that time in a concrete and realistic way. Author Heo Kyun, a free-spirited thinker, was a reformer four hundred years ahead of his time. Through the figure of the hero, Hong Gildong, born an illegitimate son, Heo called for the abolition of the discriminatory system that demarcates legitimate and illegitimate children, while proposing civil ideologies, a meritocratic appointment system, and the strengthening of the army. ㅣMemoirs The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng[English] Author Lady HyegyŏngTranslators JaHyun Kim HaboushPublisher University of California PressYear Published 1996 Originally written in1795  Mother of King Jeongjo and wife of Crown Prince Sado, Lady Hyegyŏng of the Pungsan Hong clan wrote this memoir from the perspective of someone who had closely witnessed the death of her husband caused by his own father, King Yeongjo. The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng contains many episodes of her life, some written calmly, some with desperate sadness, and others with a critical and passionate retrospection. This book allows us a glimpse at the hidden lives of Joseon women in the royal court. ㅣCollection of sijo Vision of a Phoenix [English] Author Hŏ NansŏrhŏnTranslator Yang Hi Choe-WallPublisher Cornell Univ. East Asia ProgramYear Published 2003Originally written in 1608 Even if they were born into noble families during the Joseon dynasty, women were not free to showcase their abilities because of the limited social status they were bound to.Hŏ Nansŏrhŏn also led a similar life. However, through her remarkable writings, she attempted to escape the prison that was her feudal society. Vision of a Phoenix contains the literary and artistic reflections she wrote until she died at the young age of twenty-seven. Lee Misuk Culture columnist and free contributor in a variety of fields such as culture, trends, celebrity interviews, travel, finance. She writes for more than fifty local companies and organizations. 

August 18, 2023

Unbelievable stories sometimes happen more often in reality than in books.   We have prepared here a list of books that are realer than reality. Five novelists that have experienced the ups and downs of Korea’s modern and contemporary history have described their experiences with honesty and dignity. What is it that they had to endure?   Kyung-sook Shin has worked in the Guro Industrial Complex just like her narrator in The Girl Who Wrote Loneliness, while Hwang Sok-yong has been imprisoned for his activism as detailed in The Prisoner. In Who Ate Up All the Shinga? Park Wan-suh depicts a Seoul devastated by the war against Japan. Yi Chong-Jun’s The Snowy Road recreates the snowy landscape of the author’s hometown in the 1970s and is based on the life story of his mother. Lastly, with The Yalu Flows we follow author Yi Mi-Ruk as he crosses the Yalu River to reach Germany to escape from the Japanese Empire after his participation in the March 1st Movement.   With their sensitivity and compassion, five novelists unveil a myriad of stories that have been swept away by the passing of time, though they deserved to have been preserved.   Let’s lend an ear to these stories that writers felt compelled to write. ㅣ The Girl Who Wrote Loneliness  [English] Author Kyung-Sook Shin Translator Ha-yun JungPublisher Pegasus BooksYear Published 2015Originally published in Korea by Munhak Dongne in 1995 This autobiographical novel explores the love and pain of a young writer who worked as a factory worker. Despite exploitation and tyranny, the author had to endure in the workplace, her dreams of becoming a writer served as a beacon of hope. The wounds that covered her whole body during those difficult times are told through calm strokes of the pen. ㅣ The Prisoner  [English] Author Hwang Sok-yongTranslators Sora Kim Russell, Anton HurPublisher Verso BooksYear Published 2021Originally Published in Korea by Munhak Dongne in 2017 This autobiographical story narrates the author’s turbulent journey through pivotal episodes of modern history—The Korean War, the April Revolution, the dispatch of troops to Vietnam, the Gwangju Uprising. After visiting North Korea in 1989, the writer became a prisoner and stood against the taboos of his own society. Through lucid prose, the writer faces the absurdities of days long gone and shares his experiences.   ㅣ Who Ate Up All the Shinga? [English]  Author Park WansuhTranslators Yu Young Nan, Stephen J. EpsteinPublisher Columbia University PressYear Published 2009Originally published in Korea by Woongjin ThinkBig in 1992 This book is yet another autobiography inspired by the author’s memories, from her childhood spent in the Gyeonggi province in the 1930s, to the years of her miserable youth in the 1950s in Seoul. With elegant yet raw strokes, the writer recounts her life during the Japanese occupation, the liberation, and the Korean War, through a story that spans Korea’s modern history.  ㅣ The Snowy Road  [English] Author Yi Chong-JunTranslators Hyunjae Yee Sallee, Teresa Margadonna HyunPublisher White Pine PressYear Published 1993Originally published in Korea by Moonji in 1997 The Snowy Road is an autobiographical novel that expresses the protagonist’s love and hate toward his mother and hometown in a calm and unadorned manner. Telling himself that he owes her nothing, the narrator tries to pull away from his mother, but as he listens in on his wife and mother’s conversation, he reaches reconciliation. What circumstances could have caused the protagonist to set such a boundary, and address his own mother as ‘old person’?  ㅣ The Yalu Flows  [German] Author Yi Mi-RukTranslator -Publisher EOS VerlagYear Published 1996Originally published in Korea by Bumwoosa in 2000 This book first achieved success in Germany in 1946 before its translation became a hit in Korea. In his autobiographical novel which was praised for its literary value, the writer, who lived through the Japanese colonization, recalls in detail that period of time. After the March 1st Independence Movement, the author crossed the Yalu River and traveled across China, India, and the Suez Canal to settle in Germany in order to avoid Japanese spies. This work expresses the inner conflict of the writer as he lived in an era of change, in which the values of the West and the East were intertwined. PARK SI-HYEONG Park Si-hyeong studied aesthetics and now writes novels and columns. After having worked as a magazine editor, he is now a freelance content editor.