London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Translator: Janet Hong

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Selected translations

A look back at our 2021 reading diary

posted updated 2 Jan 2023 by Philip Gowman 3 minute read

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]

Book review: Kwon Yeo-sun – Lemon

posted by Philip Gowman 3 minute read

Someone, somewhere, must have done a study of multi-person narratives in Korean fiction – novels which tell the same story (or different episodes involving the same characters) from two or more different perspectives. Two of the best-loved Korean novels in translation use the technique: Please Look After Mother and The Vegetarian. And this year, we’ve … [Read More]

Grass: Keum Suk Gendry-Kim in conversation with Janet Hong

event date Wed 28 Jul 2021 posted

July’s literature event organised by the KCCUK features a well-received graphic novel. Author Keum Suk Gendry-Kim and translator Janet Hong will give a live virtual talk about her novel ‘Grass’. Following the talk, author Kim will respond to questions from the audience. Grass by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, translated by Janet Hong Wednesday 28 July 2021 … [Read More]

Bluebeard’s First Wife: Ha Seong-nan in conversation with Janet Hong

event date Wed 24 Mar 2021 posted

March’s literature event sponsored by the KCC features Ha Seong-nan and her translator Janet Hong. As always, pre-registration is required. Bluebeard’s First Wife Wednesday 24 March 2021 12 noon -1:30pm (GMT) Venue: ZOOM (Online) Entrance Free – Booking Essential Apply to [email protected] with your name and contact details by 15th March. Disasters, accidents, and deaths … [Read More]

Literature and poetry in translation titles for 2021: more than a dozen to look forward to!

posted updated 7 Nov 2021 by Philip Gowman 8 minute read

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]

Book review: Han Yujoo – The Impossible Fairy Tale

posted updated 23 Jul 2022 by Philip Gowman 5 minute read

Han Yujoo: The Impossible Fairy Tale translated by Janet Hong Graywolf Press, MN, USA 192pp / Tilted Axis Press, UK 352pp / 2017 Originally published as 불가능한 동화 (pub 문학과지성사, 2013) Sometimes, I like having my brain stretched when reading a book: something to get stuck into, to make me think. But there are limits. I … [Read More]

Book review: Waxen Wings

posted updated 7 Apr 2021 by Philip Gowman 5 minute read

Waxen Wings: The ACTA Koreana Anthology of Short Fiction from Korea Edited by Bruce Fulton Koryo Press, 2011, 238pp There are plenty of anthologies of Korean translated fiction available, and many of them are edited and / or translated by Bruce Fulton, usually with Ju-Chan Fulton involved in the project too. I recently enjoyed the … [Read More]