The KCCUK is pleased to announce a talk about the Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories with the editor Bruce Fulton, moderated by Grace Koh. This eclectic, moving and enjoyable collection is the essential introduction to Korean literature. Journeying through Korea’s dramatic twentieth century, from the Japanese occupation and colonial era to the devastating Korean … [Read More]
Author: Bruce Fulton
Selected publications by Bruce Fulton
- What Is Korean Literature?, Univ of California Berkeley Institute of East Asian Studies 2020
Selected translations by Bruce Fulton
- Gong Ji-young: Togani, University of Hawai'i Press 2023
- Anthology: The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories ed Bruce Fulton, Penguin 2023
- Kim Soom: One Left, University of Washington Press 2020
- Cheon Un-yeong: The Catcher in the Loft, Codhill Press 2019
- Kim Sagwa: Mina, Two Lines Press 2018
- Chae Man-sik: Sunset: A Ch’ae Manshik Reader, Columbia University Press 2017
- Jo Jung-rae: The Human Jungle, Chin Music Press 2016
- Anthology: The Future of Silence – Fiction by Korean Women ed Bruce and Ju-chan Fulton, Zephyr Press 2016
- Hwang Sun-won: The Moving Fortress, Merwin Asia 2015
- Yi Hyo-seok: Leaves of Grass (Bi-lingual, Vol 103 – Before and After Liberation), Asia Publishers 2015
- Chae Man-sik: Juvesenility (Bi-lingual, Vol 101 – Before and After Liberation), Asia Publishers 2015
- Chu Yo-seop: Mama and the Boarder (Bi-lingual, Vol 99 – Traditional Korea’s Lost Faces), Asia Publishers 2015
- Yi Tae-jun: An Idiot’s Delight (Bi-lingual, Vol 98 – Traditional Korea’s Lost Faces), Asia Publishers 2015
- Ha Ilji: The Republic of Užupis, Dalkey Archive 2014
- Choi In-ho: Another Man’s City, Dalkey Archive 2014
- Lee Hye-kyung: And Then the Festival (Bi-lingual, Vol 54 – Family), Asia Publishers 2014
- Jeong Yi-hyun: In the Trunk (Bi-lingual, Vol 25 – Love and Love Affairs), Asia Publishers 2013
- Jo Jung-rae: How in Heaven’s Name, Merwin Asia 2012
- Gong Ji-young: Human Decency (Bi-lingual, Vol 14 – Women), Asia Publishers 2012
- Choe Yun: The Last of Hanak’o (Bi-lingual, Vol 13 – Women), Asia Publishers 2012
- Oh Jung-hee: Chinatown (Bi-lingual, Vol 11 – Women), Asia Publishers 2012
- Yun Heung-gil: The Man Who Was Left as Nine Pairs of Shoes (Bi-lingual, Vol 8 – Industrialization), Asia Publishers 2012
- Oh Jung-hee: River of Fire and Other Stories, Columbia University Press 2012
- Hwang Sun-won: Lost Souls: Stories, Columbia University Press 2009
- Anthology: The Red Room ed Bruce and Ju-chan Fulton, University of Hawai'i Press 2009
- Choe Yun: There a Petal Silently Falls: 3 stories, Columbia University Press 2008
- Anthology: Land of Exile: Contemporary Korean Fiction (expanded edition) ed Marshall R Pihl, Bruce + Ju-chan Fulton, M.E. Sharpe 2007
- Cho Se-hui: The Dwarf, University of Hawai'i Press 2006
- Oh Jung-hee: Chinatown, Jimoondang 2006
- Gong Ji-young: Human Decency, Jimoondang 2006
- Anthology: Modern Korean Fiction: An Anthology ed Bruce Fulton, Youngmin Kwon, Columbia University Press 2005
- Hwang Sun-won: Trees on a Slope, University of Hawai'i Press 2005
- Yi Ho-cheol: Panmunjom and Other Stories, Eastbridge 2004
- Choe Yun: The Last Of Hanako, Jimoondang 2003
- Chae Man-sik: My Innocent Uncle, Jimoondang 2003
- Hwang Sun-won: A Man, Jimoondang 2003
- Choi In-ho: Deep Blue Night, Jimoondang 2002
- Anthology: A Ready-Made Life: Early Masters of Modern Korean Fiction ed Kim Chong-un and Bruce Fulton, University of Hawai'i Press 1998
- Anthology: Wayfarer: New Fiction by Korean Women ed Bruce + Ju-chan Fulton, Women in Translation 1997
- Anthology: Reunion so far away: a collection of contemporary Korean fiction ed Korean National Commission for UNESCO, Korean National Commission for Unesco 1994
- Anthology: Words of Farewell: Stories by Three Korean Women Writers ed Bruce and Ju-chan Fulton, Seal Press 1989
- Song Kijo: Debasement and Other Stories, Fremont 1983
A look back at the books we encountered in 2023
When it comes to fiction, 2023 was a year that defied my expectations. Those novels that I hoped or expected to enjoy turned out to be disappointments; those that I thought might be heavy going turned out to be enjoyable. It was a reminder to try better to abide by the maxim of approaching a … [Read More]
Upcoming literature and fiction titles for 2022
Last year was an amazing one for Korean literature in translation, with plenty of lively titles published. 2022 looks for the moment like it’s going to be a little quieter, but new publications sometimes pop out of nowhere, so this list of anticipated books for this year is almost bound to be proved incomplete. There … [Read More]
A look back at our 2021 reading diary
Looking back at this year, it’s been one of the best for new translations of Korean literature that I can remember. There have been at least ten new fiction titles, and unusually for me I managed to get through all the titles I was intending to. All of them are recommendable in their different ways. … [Read More]
Two recent resources on Korean literature in translation
First, very hot off the press — uploaded to the Taylor & Francis website yesterday — is the Translation Review Korea special. As with most academic publications, this title is phenomenally expensive, so best to consult it via your university library online resources. Here’s the table of contents: Introduction: They Like to Sing and Dance … [Read More]
Book review: Kim Soom – One Left
When the issue of comfort women has been with us since the Pacific War, to re-emerge in 1991 when Kim Haksun came forward as the first to announce herself as victim, it is astonishing that we had to wait until 2016 for what is, according to Bonnie Oh’s introduction (p ix), “the first Korean novel … [Read More]
Literature and poetry in translation titles for 2021: more than a dozen to look forward to!
This is now LKL’s fifth annual post that looks at the literature and fiction titles we’re looking forward to over the coming twelve months. Since last year we’ve made things easier for ourselves by investing some time building a book database that aims to catalogue all physical publications of Korean literature in translation, as well … [Read More]
A look back at our 2020 reading diary
Like many readers, we started the year with good intention of blitzing through the pile of new titles that were promised for the coming months, as well as making inroads into the backlog. And we genuinely got off to a good start with a string of fun K-thrillers, some of them new, some not: The … [Read More]
SOAS online seminar: One Left, by Kim Soom
It’s been a while since we last had a SOAS Friday evening seminar, but this should be worth the wait. One Left: A powerful tale of trauma and endurance that transformed a nation’s understanding of Korean comfort women Bruce Fulton and Ju-Chan Fulton (Translators) Friday 4 December 2020, 5 – 7pm Online. Register via Zoom … [Read More]
Book review: Cheon Un-yeong — The Catcher in the Loft
Cheon Un-yeong: The Catcher in the Loft Translated by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton Codhill Press, 2019, 191pp Originally published as 생강, Changbi Publishers, 2011 This book came almost out of nowhere. Cheon Un-yeong’s Ali Skips Rope was one of the short stories in the excellent collection The Future of Silence – very approachable, but not … [Read More]
Upcoming literature and fiction titles in 2020 [updated]
![Thumbnail for post: Upcoming literature and fiction titles in 2020 [updated]](https://i0.wp.com/londonkoreanlinks.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/upcoming-fiction.jpg?resize=120%2C120&ssl=1)
I’m hoping that, as in previous years, by posting my own list of upcoming literature and fiction titles – pulled together by some targeted searching on Amazon and a trawl through Barbara J Zitwer’s website – I might persuade others to supplement it from their own specialist knowledge. Whatever happens, books inevitably fall through the … [Read More]
Brief review: Kim Sagwa – Mina
Kim Sagwa: Mina Translated by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton Two Lines Press, 2018, 237pp Originally published as 미나, Changbi Publishers, 2008. Hell Joseon has become an increasingly familiar context for contemporary Korean literature. But the novels and stories I can think of all focus on the struggles of the poor or those who are just … [Read More]
Book review: The Future of Silence – Fiction by Korean Women
The Future of Silence: Fiction by Korean Women Translated and Edited by Bruce & Ju-Chan Fulton Zephyr Press, 2016, 193pp When an unexpected book-shaped package landed on my doormat in April 2016 I eagerly opened it, wondering what was inside. I was slightly less enthusiastic when I discovered that it was a collection of short stories … [Read More]
Book review: Hwang Sun-won — Lost Souls
Hwang Sun-won: Lost Souls Translated by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton Columbia University Press 2010, 354pp Having quite enjoyed two of Hwang Sun-won’s fuller-length stories – Trees on a Slope and Descendants of Cain – though without necessarily being enamoured of the characters of the stories they inhabited, I was looking forward to tackling Lost Souls, … [Read More]
Book Review: Cho Chongnae — How in Heaven’s Name
Cho Chongnae: How in Heaven’s Name Translated by Bruce and Ju-chan Fulton Merwin Asia, 2012, 141 pages. Originally published as 오 하느님 (O God) and renamed 사람의 탈 (Human Mask) How in Heaven’s Name is an appropriate title for the mind-boggling story of how a group of Korean country lads came to be fighting in … [Read More]
Book review: Haïlji — The Republic of Užupis
Haïlji: The Republic of Užupis Translated by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton Dalkey Archive 2014. 160pp Originally published as 우주피스 공화국, Minumsa, 2009. Imagine what Haruki Murakami might come up with in a collaboration with David Lynch, after watching a few monster-free episodes of Doctor Who, and you might get an inkling of what to expect … [Read More]