To celebrate the release of Luminous, the Korean Cultural Centre UK will host an online conversation between author Silvia Park and writer Ela Lee. Silvia Park is a Seoul-born writer whose acclaimed short fiction has appeared in Tor.com and Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. Luminous is their debut novel and is currently being adapted … [Read More]
Books and literature
Welcome to LKL’s books and literature section. Here you can find book news and reviews, and listings of events relating to literature.
If you’re new to Korean literature in translation, check out our recommended reading list. Or you can browse our list of reviews of fiction and non-fiction books. Our new Korea Book Database can be found here, and a listing of featured Korean authors here.
You might be interested in our coverage of the 2014 London Book Fair, at which Korea was the guest of honour. Ten Korean authors were flown over to London for the duration. You can find LKL’s reviews and coverage of these and other authors (and their translators) by clicking on the links in our Writers directory which can be found here.
Author Juhea Kim in conversation with Alice Robb
To celebrate the release of her new novel City of Night Birds— a Reese’s Book Club pick — the Korean Cultural Centre UK will host a special evening with Juhea Kim, international bestselling author of Beasts of a Little Land. In conversation with acclaimed author and journalist Alice Robb, Juhea will share the inspirations behind … [Read More]
Book talk: Sohn Won-Pyung’s Counterattacks at Thirty
In celebration of the UK publication of ‘Counterattacks at Thirty’ by Sohn Won-Pyung, the KCC is bringing you an online event featuring translator Sean Lin Halbert and Anton Hur, an award-winning translator of Cursed Bunny, Love in the Big City, and author of Toward Eternity. We’ll be diving into: – The art of translation … [Read More]
Snowy Day – a new collection of Lee Chang-dong short stories
I’ve been following Korean literature in translation now for around 25 years. Back in the day, I’d buy everything I could lay my hands on – after all, there wasn’t much of it around, so there wasn’t much financial commitment involved. At the time, most of the literature available was originally written more than thirty … [Read More]
2024 in review part 2 – the books that caught our eye
2024 was a busy year for Korea-related books in English. Over one hundred books from the year made their way into the LKL Korea Book DataBase, and there were many more that didn’t make the cut. As translated Korean literature becomes ever more prominent in our bookstores, 2024 was, of course, the year in which … [Read More]
Between Popular and Canonical Texts: Curating Korean Literature in Cross-Cultural Contexts
KCCUK are delighted to announce a distinguished event on 16th January, featuring Dr. Grace Koh from SOAS University of London. This special evening offers an exceptional opportunity to explore the beauty of Korean literature and its profound significance in the UK, through an engaging dialogue with Dr. Grace Koh. In this seminar, Grace Koh will … [Read More]
Bestselling and Beloved: Korean Literary Treasures
The Korean Cultural Centre UK is pleased to present ‘Bestselling and Beloved,’ a special exhibition that delves into the heart of Korean literature, showcasing both its enduring classics and its dynamic contemporary scene, with a spotlight on Nobel Laureate Han Kang. Exploring beloved Korean literature and contemporary classics, the exhibition illuminates the broader contours of … [Read More]
Meet the authors: Eun Hee-kyung and Lee Geum-yi
Two eminent novelists are making their way to England to meet Korean literature enthusiasts in London and Kingston: Eun Hee-kyung A renowned novelist representing Korea since the 1990s, Eun Hee-kyung is celebrated for her evocative depictions of everyday life and her insightful exploration of life’s subtle truths. Her works vividly portray the nuances of seemingly … [Read More]
Book talk: Return to the Dallergut Dream Department Store
Meet the author and the translator of the international bestseller ‘Dallergut Dream Department Store‘ returning with the English translated version of ‘Return to the Dallergut Dream Department Store’ this November. The author Miye Lee and the translator Sandy Joosun Lee will join us via video-link for a discussion about their captivating work. This is an … [Read More]
‘Korean Feminist Artists: Confront and Deconstruct’ – Book Launch & Panel Discussion
Explore the vibrant history and profound cultural resonance of feminist art from Korea and the diaspora at this panel discussion in celebration of Phaidon’s new publication Korean Feminist Artists: Confront and Deconstruct. Author Dr Kim Hong-hee and editor Michele Robecchi will be in conversation with scholar and curator Uta Meta Bauer, critic and theorist Rita, and … [Read More]
Joo Dong-geun (All of Us are Dead) at KCC and Foyles
To celebrate Korean Culture Month, Foyles are delighted to welcome Joo Dong-geun to Foyles, the artist behind the sensational webtoon All of Us Are Dead, for his debut appearance in the UK. Discover the mind-expanding world of his work, and the motivations and inspirations behind his much-loved stories. Joo Dong-geun is a South Korean webtoon … [Read More]
Foyles Korean Culture Month: Miye Lee in Conversation
The author and translator of international bestseller DallerGut Dream Department Store join us via video-link for a discussion about their captivating work, as part of the Korean Culture Month programme at Foyles. Miye Lee was born in Busan in 1990. After graduating from the Busan National University School of Materials Science and Engineering, she worked … [Read More]
Book talk: Anton Hur – Toward Eternity
Renowned translator of the International Booker Prize shortlisted novel Cursed Bunny, Anton Hur returns with his debut novel ‘Toward Eternity’. Toward Eternity explores the unexpected consequences of progress, imagining when technology is catching up with biology. It is a thought-provoking novel that challenges the notion of what makes us human—and how love survives even the end … [Read More]
KCC Literature Night: Kang Hwagil’s Another Person, with Clare Richards
KCCUK is delighted to announce an in-person talk with translator Clare Richards about her translated work, Kang Hwa-gil’s novel Another Person. Starting with Jina’s voice, the novel explores different viewpoints, building a full picture of the incident. A riveting and uncompromising campus novel, Another Person is a confronting and timely book exploring the long-lasting consequences of sexism … [Read More]
K-Poetry Melodies, at St James’s Piccadilly
Join us for a night of enchanting Korean poetry and music at St James’s Piccadilly. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Korean culture as talented poets and musicians take the stage to captivate your senses. Whether you’re a poetry enthusiast or simply looking for a unique cultural experience, this event promises to be a memorable … [Read More]
Book talk: The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre
KCCUK is pleased to announce the forthcoming author talk with Cho Yeeun about her novel ‘The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre’, published this month. This is an in-person event at the Korean Cultural Centre with the author Cho Yeeun joining via video-link. Join us to discover more about Yeeun’s inspirations and work. Set in a … [Read More]