The KCC, in conjunction with the British Council, has announced its programme of films inspired by Korean literature. Two and a half of the films have their original stories available in English translation. The ones available in English are The Road to Sampo and Leafie. The half-film is The Scarlet Letter, which is based both … [Read More]
Category: Literature (page 4)
Kim Hyesoon’s I’m OK, I’m Pig! upcoming in time for London Book Fair
Kim Hyesoon is the latest author to benefit from the London Book Fair. Kim’s collection of poems I’m OK, I’m Pig! will be forthcoming in April from Bloodaxe Books (the same publishers who brought out Ko Un’s latest collection First Person Sorrowful last year). Kim will be at the London Book Fair, and is the … [Read More]
KCC launches its Korean Literature Night series
You’ve all read Please Look After Mother by now. What did you think of what is probably the most successful piece of translated Korean fiction ever? If you haven’t read it already, the KCC is granting an amnesty, giving you the opportunity to read it and then discuss it with like-minded people afterwards. It’s part … [Read More]
Shin Kyung-sook’s I’ll be Right There arrives in time for London Book Fair
Please Look After Mother was a huge hit, so people must be hopeful that Shin Kyung-sook’s forthcoming I’ll Be Right There will be equally as successful. Available on 10 April (according to Amazon) from Other Press, I’m sure we can expect a launch event linked to the London Book Fair (8-10 April). And as Shin … [Read More]
UK literary editors offer perspectives on Korean publishing
As part of the British Council’s engagement with Korea as focus country for the 2014 London Book Fair, six British literary editors went on a trip to Korea in November 2013. The objectives of the trip were to: Increase mutual understanding of publishing and literature sectors in the UK and Korea Create strong and enduring … [Read More]
Korean authors at the London Book Fair – the official press release
Here is the official press release from the British Council website: Leading Korean writers billed for market focus cultural programme at the London Book Fair 2014 The British Council, in partnership with The Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) is delighted to announce the Korea Market Focus Cultural Programme for The London Book Fair … [Read More]
Lee Jung-myung’s The Investigation to get UK publication
Coming in time for London Book Fair 2014: The Investigation by Lee Jung-myung. Inspired by a true story, the novel is described as “a captivating mystery and an epic lament for lost freedom and humanity in the darkest of times.” According to The List, the story is based on the life of “poet Yun Dong-ju … [Read More]
Radio 4 to feature Ko Un
News of an upcoming feature on Radio 4: Ko Un: The People’s Poet of Korea Sunday 29 December, 4:30pm, Radio 4 In South Korea, former Zen monk Ko Un is revered as a pro-democracy activist and the people’s poet. To mark his 80th birthday, Mike Greenwood explores his prolific output, in particular his epic masterwork, … [Read More]
An Introduction to North Korean Children’s Literature
There’s fascinating insight into North Korean children’s literature by Christopher Richardson over on SinoNK. Do give the article a read. And then try Sonia Ryang’s excellent Reading North Korea which looks at adult literature and film in North Korea. That’s a book I’ve now read three times in the hope that I’ll get around to … [Read More]
The challenges of marketing and translating Korean literature explored at the KCC
Shouvik Datta reports from the Korean Literature Forum at the KCCUK on 15 October. It was an interesting and well-attended discussion at the London Korean Cultural Centre on October 15, well chaired by the BBC journalist Samira Ahmed. My own knowledge of Korean literature is confined to the modern classic “Three Generations”, by Yom Sang-seop, … [Read More]
You’ve seen the film, now read the book
The Korean Film Council recently publicised on its website the new “Book to Film” initiative aimed at bringing together the film and the publishing industries. Of course, the practice adapting a book for the big screen is almost as old as the movie industry itself, and some of South Korea’s most successful movies have been … [Read More]
K-Lit in the Korean wave: a forum at the KCC
In the run-up to the London Book Fair in 2014, at which Korea is the focus country, we can expect more literature-themed events. Earlier this year, we had Krys Lee at Asia House; there are rumours that the London Korean Film Festival this year will have a literature-themed strand; and maybe in preparation for that … [Read More]
Dalkey Archive launches the Library of Korean Literature
A bit of exciting news for those interested in getting your hands on more Korean contemporary literature in English translation: Dalkey Archive Press have been working with the Literature Translation Institute of Korea to bring out a series of 25 titles over the next two years. The first ten will hit the shops and your … [Read More]
Talk, Tea & Books: KCC launches a new book club
An interesting new initiative from the KCC – a book discussion group. For discussion at its first meeting, Park Wan-suh’s Who Ate Up All the Shinga? in the translation by Yu Young-nan and Stephen Epstein, which many of you will remember as the subject of the KLTI’s second essay contest. The registration deadline for this … [Read More]
Miscellaneous Writings by Autumn Lamplight – John Frankl on Yi Sang at SOAS
On his way through London after the Alternative Modernisms conference at Cardiff, John Frankl tackles Yi Sang at SOAS: This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land: Negotiating between Physical Geography and Political State in Yi Sang’s “Miscellaneous Writings by Autumn Lamplight” John Frankl (Associate Professor of Korean and Comparative Literature, Yonsei University) … [Read More]
Kim Sung Ok: A Literature of and for the Self – Steve Capener at SOAS
On his way to a conference on Alternative Modernisms in Cardiff, Steve Capener gives a talk on one of my favourite authors. Kim Sung Ok: A Literature of and for the Self Steve Capener (Assistant Professor, Seoul Women’s University) 14 May 2013, 5:15 – 7:00 PM Russell Square Room 4421 Abstract After he took power … [Read More]