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Category: Literature

New Narratives in Korea: Manhwa with Creators of Banned Book Club

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In this series, we take a dive into contemporary culture in South Korea.

In this second episode, we explore the world of “manhwa,” the world of Korean graphic novels and comic books, with the creators of just-published Banned Book Club: how was “manhwa” consumed by South Koreans in the past and present, how it is influencing and being adopted into different forms of entertainment, and how the new generation of writers and illustrators are using it to tell their own stories.

New Narratives in Korea: Manhwa with Creators of Banned Book Club

PREMIERES: Monday, August 3, 2020

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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About the Speaker:

Kim Hyun Sook is the co-author of the graphic novel memoir Banned Book Club and a contributor to The Nib.

Ryan Estrada is the author of Student Ambassador: The Missing Dragon and the co-author of Banned Book Club. He has also contributed to many comic series, including Star Trek, Popeye and Garfield.

Ko Hyung-Ju is a manhwa artist and college student who illustrated Banned Book Club as well as other stories for Lehzin Comics and SIS Comics.

 

Friend: A Novel & Popular Culture of North Korea

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First published in Pyongyang in 1988, Friend by Paek Nam-Nyong is one of the few North Korean novels that has reached an international audience. Professor Immanuel Kim, the translator of Friend and a specialist in North Korean literature and cinema, offers a glimpse into contemporary life in North Korea through this novel and other popular culture from Pyongyang.

“a beguiling introduction to the everyday, with none of the rockets and military parades that the words “North Korea” often bring to mind” – The New York Times

Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), this program will be conducted virtually. This live session will be provided free of charge at the specified date and time. A limited number of viewing links will be provided to the people who sign up through the form below. Those unable to view the live session will have the opportunity to watch the recorded video or listen to the podcast soon after.

 

To buy Friend, please visit: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/friend/9780231195614/

 

Friend: A Novel & Popular Culture of North Korea
with
Immanuel Kim

Thursday, July 9, 2020 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Immanuel Kim is Korea Foundation and Kim-Renaud Associate Professor of Korean Literature and Culture Studies at George Washington University. He is the author of Rewriting Revolution: Women, Sexuality, and Memory in North Korean Fiction (2018) and the translator of Friend by Paek Nam-Nyong.

 

 

Author Talks | You-Jeong Jeong 2020

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VIDEO RELEASE:

In this inaugural episode of the new video series Author Talks, Korea’s leading author of psychological thrillers You-Jeong Jeong discusses her career and award-winning novels, including Seven Years of Darkness and The Good Son.

 

To buy Seven Years of Darkness, please visit:
 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/604960/seven-years-of-darkness-by-you-jeong-jeong/

To buy The Good Son, please visit:
 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/557620/the-good-son-by-you-jeong-jeong/

Author Talks: You-Jeong Jeong

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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About the Author:

You-Jeong Jeong is the award-winning author of five novels, including the #1 international bestsellers The Good Son and Seven Years of Darkness, which was named one of the top ten crime novels of 2015 by the German newspaper Die Zeit. Her novels have been published in over 20 countries.

Frances Cha: If I Had Your Face

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A riveting tale of four women navigating contemporary Korea, If I Had Your Face is a debut novel from Frances Cha, a former travel and culture editor for CNN in Seoul. This utterly compelling novel follows the interconnected lives of four young women balancing on the edge of survival in contemporary Seoul, a world of strict social hierarchies, extreme plastic surgery and K-pop fan mania. Cha will discussed her debut novel and career as a journalist, always having a foot in both Korea and the US and writing about contemporary Korea in English.

“Parasite” meets “Crazy Rich Asians” meets “Big Little Lies.” – CNN

If you read one book this month, make it If I Had Your Face. – InStyle

Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), this program will be conducted virtually. This live session will be provided free of charge at the specified date and time. A limited number of viewing links will be provided to the people who sign up through the form below. Those unable to view the live session will have the opportunity to watch the recorded video or listen to the podcast soon after.

 

To buy If I Had Your Face, please visit: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/610610/if-i-had-your-face-by-frances-cha/

 

Frances Cha: If I Had Your Face

Thursday, May 28, 2020 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Frances Cha is a former travel and culture editor for CNN in Seoul. She grew up in the United States, Hong Kong, and South Korea. A graduate of Dartmouth College and the Columbia University MFA writing program, she has written for The Atlantic, The Believer, and the Yonhap News Agency, among others, and has lectured at Columbia University, Ewha Womans University, Seoul National University, and Yonsei University. She lives in Brooklyn.

 

 

Reading in Translation: Korean Novels in the U.S.

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South Korean literature in translation has been experiencing a global efflorescence in recent years. There are at least 6 Korean novels being released in the United States in the first half of 2020, with more to follow. Professor Jae Won Chung will discuss the commercial and critical success of Korean novels in the United States, the types of Korean novels that appear to be popular in the international market, and the range of new styles, genres, and voices that soon-to-be published titles will offer English-language readers.

Korean Novels Coming in 2020

Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), this program will be conducted virtually. This live session will be provided free of charge at the specified date and time. A limited number of viewing links will be provided to the people who sign up through the form below. Those unable to view the live session will have the opportunity to watch the recorded video or listen to the podcast soon after.

 

Reading in Translation: Korean Novels in the U.S.
 with
Jae Won Edward Chung

Tuesday, May 19, 2020 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Jae Won Edward Chung is assistant professor at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, where he teaches Korean literature and culture. Before entering academia, he worked as a writing teacher and a literary translator. Professor Chung holds a Ph.D. in Korean Studies from Columbia University, and has taught at Ewha University and University of Colorado Boulder. His work has appeared in Boston Review, Azalea, Asia Literary Review, Apogee Journal, and Journal of Asian Studies.

 

Hong Gildong, the Invincible and Righteous Outlaw by Professor Minsoo Kang

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Hong Gildong, who is sometimes referred to as the Korean Robin Hood, is by far the most famous literary character from classic Korean literature. His story as a maverick outlaw, powerful magician, and a wise king is told in the Joseon dynasty novel The Story of Hong Gildong. Unfortunately, there has been a great deal of miscomprehension about the origin and nature of the famous work, the complexity of which has only recently been explored by scholars. In this lecture, Professor Minsoo Kang offer detailed examination of the history and literary significance of the novel and reveal little-known facts behind its authorship.


Hong Gildong, the Invincible and Righteous Outlaw

by
Professor Minsoo Kang

 

Thursday, September 12, 2019 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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About the Speaker

Minsoo Kang is associate professor of history at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is the translator of the Penguin Classic The Story of Hong Gildong, the first book in the series to be rendered from Korean, and the author of Invincible and Righteous Outlaw: The Korean Hero Hong Gildong in Literature, History, and Culture, the first book-length study of the novel in English.

The Nine Cloud Dream with Heinz Insu Fenkl

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Korea’s most prized literary masterpiece: a Buddhist journey questioning the illusions of human life—presented in a vivid new translation by PEN/Hemingway finalist Heinz Insu Fenkl

Often considered the highest achievement in Korean fiction, The Nine Cloud Dream poses the question: Will the life we dream of truly make us happy? Written in 17th-century Korea, this classic novel’s wondrous story begins when a young monk living on a sacred Lotus Peak in China succumbs to the temptation of eight fairy maidens. For doubting his master’s Buddhist teachings, the monk is forced to endure a strange punishment: reincarnation as the most ideal of men.

On his journey through this new life full of material, martial, and sensual accomplishments beyond his wildest dreams, he encounters the eight fairies in human form, each one furthering his path towards understanding the fleeting value of his good fortune. As his successes grow, he comes closer and closer to finally comprehending the fundamental truths of the Buddha’s teachings. Like Hesse’s Siddhartha, The Nine Cloud Dream is an unforgettable tale that explores the meaning of a good life and the virtue of living simply with mindfulness.

The Nine Cloud Dream
 with
Heinz Insu Fenkl

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection with Haemin Sunim

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Begin 2019 with renowned Buddhist teacher and writer Haemin Sunim. Born in Korea and educated in the United States, he has more than a million Twitter and Facebook followers. His books The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down–published in thirty languages–and Love For Imperfect Things have sold more than four million copies. Join Haemin Sunim for an hour of insightful conversation and reflection.

 

Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection
with Haemin Sunim

Thursday, January 10, 2019 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

 

 

 

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New York Insiders by Korean Outsiders

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Three Korean authors, Seongmin Ahn, Christina Kang, and Katie Bomi Son, shared their respective experiences as an artist, an art advisor/consultant, and art-event organizer, as well as the inspirations behind writing books on New York’s art scene.

 

 

New York Insiders by Korean Outsiders

with
Seongmin Ahn, Katie Bomi Son, and Christina Kang 

 

Members: FREE | Nonmembers: $10

If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Tyberg  or (212) 759-7525, ext. 321.

About the AuthorsAbout the Moderator

Seongmin Ahn

Seongmin Ahn received her B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Asian traditional painting from Seoul National University in Seoul Korea and her second M.F.A from Maryland Institute College of Art. With practical experience and a deep understanding of tradition, her work takes Asian traditional painting as a starting point and transforms it into something experimental with her own interpretation bridging tradition and modern, East and West. She is a recipient of the Pollock Krasner Foundation grant and the top prize from AHL Foundation. She has also been reviewed on Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, NY Arts magazine, Baltimore Sun, Plain Dealer, and others. Her national and international exhibitions include solo shows including, but not limited to Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts (Wilmington, DE), Queens College Art Center (Flushing, NY), Gallery Ho (New York, NY), White Wall Gallery (Seoul, Korea) and Gomez Gallery (Baltimore, MD). She also has taught Asian traditional painting at different institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Queens Museum of Art, Art Students League, and Korean Cultural Service.

 

Katie Bomi Son

CEO & Founder of Project AA * Asian Arts, Katie Bomi Son specializes in art & culture collaboration, branding and contents marketing company for Asian artists based in Asia & New York. She graduated from Seoul National University with B.F.A in Business Administration, Science, and English. While she worked as an enthusiastic marketer at Johnson & Johnson, Katie Bomi Son was selected as a member of World Economic Forum, Global Shapers Community (GSC, since July 2012) in Seoul, Korea. She is also an optometrist, author, volunteer, traveler, blogger, and active lecturer. Her first book The Greatest Selfish Global Volunteer Trips (세상에서 가장 이기적인 봉사여행, 2011) is a book about her experience in traveling around 25 countries and volunteering in 6 countries. Her most recent book, New York Artists (뉴욕 아티스트, 2014), is a story about meeting and interviewing more than 100 people in the art industry, especially in New York City. As a passionate supporter of the global art & culture, healthcare, and youth sides of development, Katie Bomi Son believes making a better world is one of the most valuable things we can do.

 

Christina Kang

Christina H. Kang attended College du Leman International School in Geneva, Switzerland and obtained her B.F.A in Textile Design from the Rhode Island School of Design. Ms. Kang completed her M.A in Visual Arts Administration at New York University and has worked in the primary and secondary markets in both Korea and New York, with affiliations to Christie’s, Museum of Arts and Design and several leading New York City galleries. In Seoul, she is an art advisor in the art and design divisions of major corporations and art institutions where she collaborated with artists, designers and architects. She is also an avid art collector. Currently, Kang is an adjunct professor at Ewha Womans University Graduate School of Design and an author of The Collectors (2014) and The Artists (2015). She successfully launched 2015 Design Art Work (DAW Fair) in Seoul, Korea.

 

 

 

Liz Yisun Kwon is a New York-based curator, writer, and art consultant. Kwon’s exhibitions, writings, and publications have been introducing the artists in New York to the Korean art communities, bridging New York and Seoul. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Korea University, and Master’s degrees in Art Theory and in Arts and Cultural Management from Seoul National University and the Pratt Institute, respectively. Beginning her career at the Noguchi Museum and the Guggenheim in New York, her involvement in the art community inspired her to expand her works into diverse projects. While serving as the director of the Yace Gallery and the Project Manager at NY Projects Inc., an international art advisory company, Kwon organized a wide range of international art and design projects. In addition to her current title as the Director of Gallery HO in Chelsea, she is an avid art critic and writer whose publications include Museums Make New York Peculiar (뉴욕의 특별한 미술관, 2012). She is also a board member of uJung Art Center and uJung Foundation in Seoul.

 

Korean-American Adoptee Voices

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2015 09 17 adoptee icon

 The Korea Society and KoreanAmericanStory.org presented an evening of readings by acclaimed Korean adoptee writers. Matthew Salesses, Milton Washington, Heather Schultz, and Kim Sunee shared their unique voices and powerful stories as they read works both new and old. A panel discussion moderated by Korean adoptee and KAS Board Chair Julie Young followed the readings.

Thursday, September 17, 2015 | 6:30 PM

 

If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Tyberg or (212) 759-7525, ext. 321.

 

About KoreanAmericanStoryAbout the Authors

korean-american-story KoreanAmericanStory’s mission is to capture and preserve the Korean American experience through personal stories. The organization wholly embraces the many different groups of Korean-Americans, including adoptees, the LGBTQ community and mixed race Korean-Americans. Signature projects, such as The Legacy Project video series, showcase the personal stories of members of the Korean American community from a first person perspective. All of the content created by and for KoreanAmericanStory is being permanently archived in the Korean Heritage Library of the University of Southern California.

2015 09 17 adoptee Matthew-Salesses Matthew Salesses was adopted from Korea. He is the author of The Hundred-Year Flood. His stories and essays have appeared in NPR, The New York Times, the Center for Asian American Media, Hyphen, Koream, Korean American Story, and others. His previous books include Different Racisms: On Stereotypes, the Individual, and Asian American Masculinity (essays) and I’m Not Saying, I’m Just Saying (a novel).

 

2015 09 17 adoptee Milton-WashingtonBorn in South Korea, Milton was adopted and brought to the states in 1979 where he learned English and the American culture. Today he lives in Harlem and operates a boutique production and photography business called Slickyboy Studios while completing his memoir by the same name—Slickyboy. His memoir, Slickyboy, tells the story of a fatherless black boy who was born to a Korean prostitute a decade and-a-half after the Korean War. Left to roam his camptown with a pack of homeless kids, little Milton-ah fights, steals, and drinks while his mother works long hours. All until the age of 8, when he’s adopted from the country that never claimed him, by a black military family from Texas, the Washingtons. Slickyboy is about the love and the loss of one mother, and a finding of another, with a lifetime of living in between.

 

2015 09 17 adoptee Heather-Schultz Heather Schultz is a Korean-American journalist based in Long Island. She received both a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and Master of Public Administration from CUNY Baruch College. Her articles have been published in The New York Times, NBC News, New York Daily News, St. Louis-Post Dispatch, WhoSay, Library Journal, Direct Marketing News and Law Technology News. She has also written columns on reproductive health for the Center for American Progress and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. As an avid spoken word lover, she has performed long-form poems in New York City based on her upcoming memoir regarding her experiences as an adoptee and domestic violence survivor in suburban Long Island. In addition, Heather is on the Board of Directors of Also-Known-As.

 

2015 09 17 adoptee Kim-SuneeKim Sunée was born in South Korea, adopted, and raised in New Orleans. She is the author of the national bestseller, Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home (Grand Central Publishing). Trail of Crumbs has been translated into Korean, Chinese, and Hebrew. Her cookbook, A Mouthful of Stars was published in May 2014 by Andrews McMeel. She has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Ladies’ Homes Journal, People, ELLE, and Glamour. She ate and lived in Europe–mostly France–for ten years before working as a food editor for Southern Living magazine and Cottage Living magazine. Her writing has appeared in Food & Wine, The Oxford American, Cooking Light, and Asian American Poetry and Writing. Sunée has appeared several times as a guest judge on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America. She is currently a food columnist for Alaska Dispatch and freelances as a recipe tester, editor, and food stylist. For more food and travel, please visit www.kimsunee.com.

 

 

 

 

Supported by Also-Known-As

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About Also-Known-As

The mission of Also-Known-As, Inc. is to empower the voice of adult international adoptees, build cultural bridges, transform perceptions of race, and acknowledge the loss of the birth country, culture, language and biological family experienced by international adoptees.

 

Sponsored by CJ

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