Join the London Review Bookshop for an evening of poetry with Kim Hyesoon, one South Korea’s foremost poets. Her groundbreaking and radically feminist poetry – ‘a transnational collision of shamanism, Modernism, and feminism’ (Griffin Prize Judges) – has been translated into English by poet Don Mee Choi for over a decade. We celebrate the latest … [Read More]
Books and literature (page 2)
EDITH × Yoon Dong-ju: Poetry Reimagined through Electronic Sound
Edith is a musician who reinterprets the poetry of Yoon Dong-ju through electronic and rock music. Her work bridges classical literature and contemporary sound, transforming Yoon Dong-ju’s writing into an immersive auditory experience. Her notable single, “Gongsang” (Imagination), inspired by the poet’s poem of the same name, reimagines the Tower of Babel as a symbol … [Read More]
Failed Summer Vacation: Heuijung Hur in conversation with Barry Pierce
To mark the UK release of Failed Summer Vacation, the Korean Cultural Centre UK invites you to an evening of literary conversation with acclaimed author Heuijung Hur, in dialogue with editor and literary critic Barry Pierce. Failed Summer Vacation is Hur’s award-winning debut collection of short stories, first published in Korea and now introduced to … [Read More]
Korea: War Without End – book launch at National Army Museum
Join the National Army Museum for a special launch event for this groundbreaking new history of the 1950-53 conflict with the book’s authors, Lord Richard Dannatt and Dr Rob Lyman. ‘Korea: War Without End’ examines the stand-off between East and West, formed during the Korean War, that would go on to be define the second … [Read More]
This Part Is Silent: A Life Between Cultures with SJ Kim
SJ Kim probes her experiences as a writer, a scholar, and a daughter to confront the silences she finds in the world. With curiosity and sensitivity, she writes letters to the institutions that simultaneously support and fail her, intimate accounts of immigration, and interrogations of rising anti-Black and anti-Asian racism. She considers the silences between … [Read More]
Balli Balli book launch: Da-Hae West in conversation with Hanguk Hapa
To celebrate the release of Balli Balli, her latest cookbook of simple and speedy Korean recipes, the Korean Cultural Centre UK invites you to a vibrant evening with Da-Hae West, chef, author, and expert on Korean cuisine and culture. In conversation with Hanguk Hapa, Da-Hae will delve into the inspiration behind Balli Balli—a lively collection of quick and flavour-packed … [Read More]
Luminous: Author Silvia Park in Conversation with Ela Lee
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]
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]
Exhibition visit: Bestselling and beloved – Korean Literary Treasures
While primarily envisaged as a home for temporary displays of visuals arts, the KCC exhibition space over the years has hosted a number of exhibitions featuring historical or literary themes. 2024 started, for example, with an exhibition looking at the early relations between the UK and Korea, celebrating 140 years of diplomatic relations, and later … [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]