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Category: Arts & Culture

K-pop Confidential with Stephan Lee

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In K-pop Confidential, the YA novel from journalist Stephan Lee, a Korean-American girl plunges into the complex world of an idol factory and K-pop trainees in South Korea while staying true to herself in the process.

Join us for a lively conversation with Stephan Lee about his debut novel and everything K-pop, including its ever-increasing popularity in the U.S., the challenges the K-pop trainees face, and the issues Korean Americans grapple with as they find their own heritage.

 

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 order K-pop Confidential, visit
 https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/k-pop-confidential-9781338639933.html

K-Pop Confidential Excerpt

 

K-pop Confidential with Stephan Lee

Thursday, December 10, 2020 | 6 PM (EST)

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Stephan Lee is a YA enthusiast, ardent K-pop fan, and journalist. He currently works as Senior Editor at Bustle after a five-year stretch covering books and movies at Entertainment Weekly. At EW, he traveled to Seoul for three weeks to write a feature about Korean entertainment’s world domination, interviewing K-pop idols Ailee, Tablo, and Tiffany Young of Girls Generation. He earned an MFA in Creative Writing at The New School.

 

 

Cold War Cosmopolitan: Han Hyung-Mo & Korean Cinema of the 1950s

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South Korea in the 1950s was home to a burgeoning film culture, one of the many “Golden Age cinemas” that flourished in Asia during the postwar years. One of the most important filmmakers of the time was Han Hyung-Mo, director of the era’s most glamorous and popular women’s pictures including the blockbuster Madame Freedom (1956).

Christina Klein provides an illuminating analysis of Han’s career and films with careful attention to key issues of modernity—such as feminism, cosmopolitanism, and consumerism.

 

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.

Cold War Cosmopolitan: Han Hyung-Mo & Korean Cinema of the 1950s
 with
Christina Klein

Thursday, December 3, 2020 | 6 PM EST

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Christina Klein is Associate Professor of English and Director of American Studies at Boston College. She is the author of Cold War Cosmopolitanism: Period Style in 1950s Korean Cinema and Cold War Orientalism: Asia in the Middlebrow Imagination, 1945-1961.

 

 

A Conversation with David Yoon

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When David Yoon’s debut novel Frankly In Love hit shelves last year, it was an instant New York Times bestseller and a William C. Morris Award finalist. With his sophomore novel Super Fake Love Song, David Yoon offers another contemporary YA must-read where a case of mistaken identity kicks off a string of (fake) events that just may lead to (real) love.

Join us for an in-depth conversation with David Yoon as he discusses his career and highly-anticipated second novel.

“Yoon captures the humor, the heart, and the universal anxieties—and possibilities—of trying on new identities in high school . . . A clever, hilarious, and empathetic look at diverse teens exploring authenticity, identities, and code-switching.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Yoon’s fresh and nuanced approach to Frank’s struggle to navigate cultural tensions amplifies both the vulnerabilities and the strengths that can come with being a child of immigrants. As Frank learns to balance his parents’ desires with his own, Yoon underscores the value of honoring both who you are and where you come from.” – TIME

 

Sign up here to receive the viewing link

 

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 pre-order signed copies of Super Fake Love Song, please visit:
 http://www.thelitbar.com/superfakelovesong

 

A Conversation with David Yoon

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 | 6 PM EST

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

David Yoon grew up in Orange County, California, and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife, novelist Nicola Yoon, and their daughter. He drew the illustrations for Nicola’s #1 New York Times bestseller Everything, Everything. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Frankly in Love, which was a William C. Morris Award finalist and an Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature Honor book.

 

 

K-Drama Fever: Global TV in the US

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Television as we know it has transformed in the last two decades, away from network television mainly produced in the form of sitcoms, police procedurals, and medical or courtroom dramas, towards serial narratives, with clear storylines developed across episodes. At the same time, the notion of “quality television” has changed the way we evaluate TV content, from intentionally mindless entertainment to innovative cultural works. These shifts have been fortuitous for the rise in popularity of Korean television shows in the US, since Korean narrative television has long been formatted as stand-alone, complete series, with clearly defined beginnings and endings.

Dr. Michelle Cho will introduce you to the characteristics of Korean television serials (K-dramas) that account for their intense binge-ability, and contextualize the place of Korean television content in our increasingly global media landscape.

 

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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.

K-Drama Fever: Global TV in the US
 with
Michelle Cho

Thursday, November 12, 2020 | 6 PM

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Michelle Cho is Assistant Professor of East Asian Popular Culture at the University of Toronto. She’s published on Asian cinemas and Korean wave television, video, and pop music in such venues as Cinema Journal, the International Journal of Communication, The Korean Popular Culture Reader, and Asian Video Cultures. She’s currently at work on a book about gender, media, and fandom in Korean-wave popular cultures

 

 

Korean-American Directors: A Roundtable

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After the success of Crazy Rich Asians and Parasite, the demand for representation of Asians and Asian-Americans on screen is rising. But what about behind the camera? Listen to our conversation with three Korean-American directors – Andrew Ahn, So Yong Kim, and Lee Isaac Chung– as they discuss their films and careers, their experience of working within and outside of the Hollywood system, and the challenges they face when they try to bring their own story to the screen.

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.

 

Korean-American Directors: A Roundtable
with
Andrew Ahn, So Yong Kim and Lee Isaac Chung 

Thursday, October 29, 2020 | 6 PM (EDT)

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Andrew Ahn is a Korean-American filmmaker born and raised in Los Angeles. An alumnus of Film Independent’s Project Involve, Ahn participated in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and the Film Independent Screenwriting Lab with his feature screenplay Spa Night, which received the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award. His latest film, Driveways starring Hong Chau and Brian Dennehey, was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards. 

Lee Isaac Chung was born in Colorado and grew up on a small farm in Lincoln, Arkansas. His debut feature Munyurangabo was an Official Selection at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. His latest film, Minari, won both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

So Yong Kim was born in Busan, Korea, and grew up in Los Angeles. Kim received the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for her debut feature In Between Days. Since then Kim has directed three feature films (Treeless Mountain, For Ellen, and Lovesong) and countless television series episodes, including Transparent, American Crime, The Good Fight, and On Becoming a God in Central Florida.

 

 

Artist Talk: Soonchoel Byun

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Soonchoel Byun‘s solo exhibition at the Korea Society Gallery, his first one in New York in two decades, showcases nine photographs from his 2015 series Eternal Family which records and digitally creates a reunion between family members separated by the Korean War. Created with utmost sensitivity and respect for the personal and historical tragedy, Byun’s art is a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of the war that still remains today.

Byun recorded his artist talk in Seoul, Korea, where he lives and works. He is joined by Professor Young Min Moon of University of Massachusetts Amherst, painter and art critic.

Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), our gallery is open only by appointment. The appointment must be made at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled visit. To make an appointment, please contact info@koreasociety.org. All visitors will be required to wear a mask as well as complete the safety questionnaire upon arrival.

 

Artist Talk: Soonchoel Byun
with Soonchoel Byun and Young Min Moon

PREMIERES: Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday 10 AM-4:30 PM
By Appointment Only

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Soonchoel Byun studied at the School of Visual Art in New York, and he has exhibited widely since then. Known for his vivid portraits of people from diverse backgrounds, Byun presents a candid yet sincere depiction of contemporary Korean life as it evolves with time.

Young Min Moon is Professor in the Department of Art, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Moon’s art and art criticism reflect his migration across cultures and his awareness of the hybrid nature of identities forged amid the complex historical and political relationships between Asia and North America. His most recent publication is a chapter on contemporary Korean art history in A Companion to Korean Art (Wiley, 2020). He is a recipient of 2014 Guggenheim Fellowship.

 

 

Korean Art from 1953

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Korean Art From 1953: Collision, Innovation, Interaction is a richly illustrated book containing fourteen essays written by leading Korean art historians and scholars, topics range from the 1950s avant-garde to the feminist scene in the 1970s, the birth of the Gwangju Biennale in the 1990s and the lesser known North Korean art scene, and many Korean-born artists who have emerged to secure a place in the international art world. Yeon Shim Chung and Kimberly Chung, two of the four co-editors of this monumental volume, explore the complex and fascinating history of contemporary art in Korea.

“Korean Art From 1953,” a lavish new book, is the most significant English-language overview yet of modern and contemporary art on the peninsula. – The New York Times

From Lee Bul to Nam June Paik, Do Ho Suh and Park Seo-Bo, the roots of Korea’s thriving contemporary art scene are deeply embedded within the country’s complex historical narratives. A new book by Phaidon chronicles these developments, largely omitted from western art history, combining contributions from leading Korean scholars alongside works that reflect the country’s tumultuous recent history.” – HERO magazine

 

To buy Korean Art from 1953: Collision, Innovation, Interaction, please visit:
 https://www.phaidon.com/store/art/korean-art-from-1953-collision-innovation-and-interaction-9780714878331/

Korean Art from 1953
with Yeon Shim Chung and Kimberly Chung

PREMIERES: Thursday, October 15, 2020

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Yeon Shim Chung is Professor in the department of Art Studies (Art History and Theory) at Hongik University in Seoul. She received her Ph.D. in Art History at The Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. She has authored several articles and monographs on Korean artists, including Lee Yil, Lee Bul, Nam June Paik, Park Hyun-Ki and Korean experimental avant-garde artists.

Kimberly Chung is Assistant Professor of Korean Literary and Cultural Studies in the East Asian Studies department at McGil University. She received her Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego. She has published her research on modern and contemporary Korean literature, art and visual culture in Journal of Korean Studies and Acta Koreana, and is currently working on her book Proletarian Sensibilities: Mass Culture of 1920s and 1930s Colonial Korea.

 

 

A Sacred Emblem: Trefoil in Early Korean Metalwork and Beyond with Dr. Minjee Kim

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Photo credit: Ruth Hogben for ABT

Trefoil or “three-leaved plant” is a stylized form found in artifacts and architecture across culture and time. Dr. Minjee Kim begins the story with her first encounter with a gold headdress ornament of the Balhae kingdom (698-926) and traces the migration of its trefoil form throughout the 4th-6th century across Asia. Then, she travels to France, where “fleur-de-lis” adorned French crowns, clothing, textiles, and furniture as a symbol of royalty, leading to its wide contemporary appropriation by many Western institutions. The journey ends with the long and rich tradition in Kyrgyzstan where the motif is still strongly embedded in various realms of material culture of the people.

While offering a view on Korean artifacts within a wider context of material resonance in human history, Dr. Kim highlights the way these artifacts adorned the body and how the craftsmanship was employed to articulate the social hierarchy.

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.

A Sacred Emblem: Trefoil in Early Korean Metalwork and Beyond
with Dr. Minjee Kim

Thursday, October 8, 2020 | 6 PM

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Minjee Kim is a historian and lecturer specializing in Korean dress and textiles, based in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2001. She received her PhD from Seoul National University, and formerly taught at Jeonju Kijeon College and Seoul National University in Korea, and Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is a co-editor of Korean Dress History: Critical Perspectives on Primary Sources  (London: Bloomsbury, forthcoming in 2021).

 

 

A Conversation with Hee Seo

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Photo credit: Ruth Hogben for ABT

Listen to our conversation with Hee Seo, the first Asian ballerina to be named principal dancer – ballet’s highest title – at the American Ballet Theatre, as she discusses her illustrious career and thoughts on the future of performing art.

Her dancing and fluid line exude an unhurried purity that sums up all that is lovely about ballet. – The New York Times

 

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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.

A Conversation with Hee Seo
Thursday, September 24, 2020 | 6 PM

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Hee Seo began her ballet training in her hometown at the Sun-hwa Arts Middle School. She continued her training at the Universal Ballet Academy in Washington, D. C.and at the John Cranko Ballet Academy in Stuttgart. She is the recipient of the 2003 Prix de Lausanne Award and the 2003 Grand Prix at the Youth American Grand Prix in New York. Seo joined the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in 2004 and the main Company as an apprentice in May 2005. Seo was appointed a Soloist in August 2010 and a Principal Dancer in July 2012. In 2015, Seo established Hee Seo Foundation in Korea to help underprivileged prospective ballet dancers.

 

 

East Goes West: Younghill Kang, His Life and Works

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Drawing by Karl Stevens for the New York Review of Books

What if the finest, funniest, craziest, sanest, most cheerfully depressing Korean-American novel was also one of the first? – Ed Park

Join Alexander Chee and Ed Park in their conversation on Younghill Kang, the first Korean-American novelist and a pioneer of Asian American literature. As they discuss the life and career of Kang and his novel East Goes West, the two eminent writers reflect on the emergence of Korean American literature in the 20th century and Kang’s legacy.

Central to it are the lives of the other Koreans….living in America, all waiting for their full humanity— and their intellectual and artistic gifts — to be recognized. – Alexander Chee

 

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 order East Goes West, please visit:
 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/606933/east-goes-west-by-younghill-kang-foreword-by-alexander-chee-afterword-and-notes-by-sunyoung-lee/

East Goes West: Younghill Kang, His Life and Works
with Alexander Chee and Ed Park

Thursday, September 17, 2020 | 6 PM

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

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Alexander Chee is the bestselling author of the novels The Queen of the Night and Edinburgh and the essay collection How to Write an Autobiographical Novel. The winner of a Whiting Award, he is an associate professor of English and creative writing at Dartmouth College.

Ed Park is the author of the novel Personal Days and the founding editor of The Believer. He has been a newspaper, magazine, and book editor, and his writings have appeared in the New York Times and the New York Review of Books.