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]
Category: Fiction
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]
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]
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]
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]
Book talk: The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories
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 discussion: A Crane Among Wolves
The KCCUK is pleased to announce the forthcoming author talk about the novel A Crane Among Wolves with author June Hur. June Hur, the bestselling author of The Red Palace and The Silence of Bones (LKL review here) crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that feels relevant in today’s world. June’s novels are steeped in Korean … [Read More]
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]
Book talk: Yu Miri’s The End of August
Join bestselling writer Yu Miri and her translator Morgan Giles as they present Yu’s latest novel to be translated into English, The End of August. In 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea, Lee Woo-Cheol is a running prodigy and a contender for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics – but only if he runs under the Japanese flag. Nearly a … [Read More]