In case, like us, you didn’t get to the book talk with Cheon Myeong-kwan when he was in London ealier this year for the announcement of the Booker International Prize 2023. Note that while Martin Colthorpe will be physically present in Foyles, Cheon – technology permitting – will be dialling in.
Korean Culture Month: Cheon Myeong-kwan talks to Martin Colthorpe
In celebration of Korean Culture Month at Foyles Charing Cross Road, we are delighted to welcome Cheon Myeong-kwan via video-link from Korea for an interview with Martin Colthorpe about his International Booker Prize-shortlisted novel Whale.
Originally published in Korean in 2004, Whale secured Cheon the prestigious Korea New Writer Award and, with a place on this year’s International Booker Prize shortlist, the novel has experienced a resurgence in popularity across a global readership.
This is an in-person event at Foyles Charing Cross Road, hosted by Martin Colthorpe. Please note that Cheon Myeong-kwan will be joining us live via video-link.
Cheon Myeong-kwan is a South Korean novelist and screenwriter. Upon publication of his first story, ‘Frank and I’ (2003), he received the prestigious Munhakdongne New Writer Award. His debut novel, Whale, published the following year, won him the 10th Munhakdongne Novel Award, and in 2023, Chi-Young Kim’s translation was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. Cheon’s novels have been translated into Chinese, English, French, Thai, Russian, and Vietnamese.
Martin Colthorpe is the Director of Modern Culture, an agency specializing in international literary event and festival programming. He worked at Southbank Centre for 10 years, where, as Senior Literature Programmer, he launched the London Literature Festival. From 2015-2022, he was the Programme Director of International Literature Festival Dublin.
This event is presented in partnership with the Korean Culture Centre and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea.