Check It Out

Diving into every genre of Korean Literature, from the classics to the modern masterpieces. Reading excerpts that bring the pages to life, we find out about the books, authors, translators and culture all at once.

Kim Young-ha/Your Republic Is Calling You, Bae Suah/North Station, Kim Hoon/The Song of the Sword (김영하/빛의 제국, 배수아/올빼미의 없음, 김훈/칼의 노래)

Today, filling in for Paul, we're joined by [No Korean Summary] writer Colin Marshall, who will introduce his top 3 favourite Korean books.- Kim Young-ha [Your Republic Is Calling You]- Bae Suah [North Station]- Kim Hoon [The Song of the Sword]

07-16
33:47

Hwang Sun-won/My Tale of the Bamboo Wife (황순원/나의 죽부인전)

Introducing Hwang Sun-won's short story [My Tale of the Bamboo Wife], we talk about the loneliness and sorrow of men as they age and lose their grip on youth.Translated by Bruce and Ju-chan Fulton

07-09
33:59

Heuijung-Hur/Ruined Winter Holiday-Failed Summer Vacation (허희정/망가진 겨울여행-실패한 여름휴가)

Introducing the short story [Ruined Winter Holiday] from Heuijung Hur's collection of novels [Failed Summer Vacation], we talk about the loneliness and isolation of single-person households.Translated by Paige Aniyah Morris

07-02
32:04

Jeong I-Hyeon/Sampung Department Store (정이현/삼풍백화점)

Introducing Jeong I-Hyeon's short story [Sampung Department Store], we talk about the 1995 Sampoong Department Store collapse and safety.Translated by Brother Anthony

06-25
34:57

Kim Chang-gyu/Sentinel (김창규/파수)

Introducing Kim Chang-gyu's short story [Sentinel], we talk about equality and anti-discrimination law.Translated by Charles La Shure

06-20
32:37

Park Min-gyu/Castella (박민규/카스테라)

Introducing Park Min-gyu's short story [Castella], we talk about change and a new future.Translated by Sora Kim Russell

06-11
36:03

Bora Chung/Red Sword (정보라/붉은 칼)

Introducing Bora Chung's novel [Red Sword], we talk about resistance against oppression and violence.Translated by Anton Hur

06-04
32:24

Ku Sang/Even the Knots on Quince Trees Tell Tales (구상/모과 옹두리에도 사연이)

Introducing three poems from Ku Sang's poetry collection [Even the Knots on Quince Trees Tell Tales], we explore the life of the poet who lived through key historical events in Korea.Translated by Brother Anthony of Taize

05-28
34:46

Ha Tae-wan/Every Moment Was You: Notes on Loving and Parting (하태완/모든 순간이 너였다)

Introducing Ha Tae-wan's essay [Every Moment Was You: Notes on Loving and Parting], we meet messages of courage and hope that will comfort us in difficult times.Translated by Shanna Tan

05-21
31:57

Heinz Insu Fenkl/Memories of My Ghost Brother (하인즈 인수 펜클/고스트 브라더)

Introducing Heinz Insu Fenkl's autobiographical novel [Memories of My Ghost Brother], we talk about the life of mixed-race children after the Korean War.

05-14
35:03

Korean Fairy Tales/The Magic Peach (한국 전래동화/마법 복숭아)

Introducing [The Magic Peach] from Korean Fairy Tales, we talk about the power of the story.Adapted by William Elliot Griffis

05-07
32:34

Kye Yong-muk/Like a Chicken on a Folding Screen (계용묵/병풍에 그린 닭이)

Introducing Kye Yong-muk's short story [Like a Chicken on a Folding Screen], we talk about in-laws in Korea.Translated by Eugene Larsen-Hallock

04-30
34:54

Lee Seong bok/Indeterminate Inflorescence: Notes From a Poetry Class (이성복/무한화서(無限花序))

Introducing Lee Seong bok's a collection of meditations on poetry [Indeterminate Inflorescence: Notes From a Poetry Class], we talk about contradictions and paradoxes in life.Translated by Anton Hur

04-23
33:35

Songgang Jeong Cheol/Songgang Kasa: A Sjijo Poet at the Court of King Sonjo (송강 정철/송강가사(松江歌辭))

We introduce poems from [Songgang Kasa: A Sjijo Poet at the Court of King Sonjo], a collection by 'Songgang Jeong Cheol', a renowned scholar-official and poet of the mid-Joseon Dynasty, and explore the significance of poetry as a vessel for history and culture.Translated by Kevin O’Rourke

04-16
33:13

Cheon Seon-ran/A Thousand Blues (천선란/천 개의 파랑)

Introducing Cheon Seon-ran's novel [A Thousand Blues], we talk about artificial intelligence (AI).Translated by Chi-young Kim

04-09
37:01

Ku Hyo-so/A Bale of Salt (구효서/소금가마니)

Introducing Ku Hyo-so's short story [A Bale of Salt], we talk about the sacrifices of mothers.Translated by Brother Anthony

04-02
35:49

Jeong Do-sang/Spring at Silsangsa Temple (정도상/봄 실상사)

Introducing Jeong Do-sang's novel [Spring at Silsangsa Temple], we talk about Buddhism and temples.Translated by Jeon Seung-hee

03-26
32:37

Hwang Sok-yong/The Prisoner (황석영/수인)

Introducing Hwang Sok-yong's memoir [The Prisoner], we explore the author's life as he personally experienced key moments in modern Korean history, including the Korean War, the April 19 Revolution, and the May 18 Gwangju Uprising.Translated by Sora Kim Russell and Anton Hur

03-19
37:01

Christine Newell/Five Seasons in Seoul

Introducing Christine Newell's memoir [Five Seasons in Seoul], we look back on Korea 20 years ago that the author experienced.

03-12
32:31

Kim Ae-ran/The Utility of Landscapes (김애란/풍경의 쓸모)

Introducing Kim Ae-ran's short story [The Utility of Landscapes], we talk about 'Goose Father'.Translated by Brother Anthony

03-05
36:50

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