THE KOREA SOCIETY

is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding, and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea. Learn more about us here.

Literature

Marie Myung-Ok Lee with Frances Cha

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | 6:30 PM
Author photo by Adrianne Mathiowetz “The Evening Hero is at once a hilarious, lacerating look at the American for-profit healthcare system and a profoundly moving examination of the long-term effects of war, trauma, and displacement on individuals, families, and cultures. I will never forget Marie Myung-Ok Lee’s evening hero, Dr. Yungman Kwak." —Ann Packer, New York Times bestselling author of The Children’s Crusade Chances are, you’ve read something you loved… Read More

A Conversation with Yoon Choi

Thursday, April 28, 2022 | 6:00 PM
Author Photo by Aaron Jay Young Maureen Corrigan/Fresh Air Top 10 Book of the Year ● Longlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection ● An NPR Book Best Book of the Year ● A Kirkus Best Book of the Year A long-married couple is forced to confront their friend’s painful past when a church revival comes to a nearby town … A woman in an… Read More

Beasts of a Little Land with Juhea Kim

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 | 6:00 PM
“An epic novel brings complex 20th-century Korean history to life…. Extraordinary…. Gorgeous prose and unforgettable characters combine to make a literary masterpiece.” -Kirkus Reviews (starred review) An epic story of love, war, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Korean independence movement, Beasts of a Little Land follows the intertwined fates of a young girl sold to a courtesan school and the penniless son of a hunter. From the… Read More

Author Talks: Sang Young Park

Tuesday, November 16, 2021 | 5:00 PM
“Park’s stunning English-language debut takes readers through the wild highs and lows of young adulthood . . . The strength of the narrator, notably his flexibility of voice and expansiveness, caries the narrative to great heights, making this a standout among queer literature.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) Love in the Big City is the English-language debut of Sang Young Park, one of Korea’s most exciting young writers. A runaway bestseller, the… Read More

Author Talks: Keum Suk Gendry-Kim

Thursday, October 21, 2021 | 5:00 PM
"How can black and white drawings do this, you might ask. But maybe only black and white drawings can do this—Gendry-Kim offers us here a glimpse of the heart of a woman who has lost more than some might ever find, and who has never given up her love, if not her hope. The Waiting is a stunning achievement, and a testament to the power of her artistry. Not a… Read More
Illustrator Wooh Na Young, also known by her pen name "Obsidian," has caught the eyes of people around the world with her distinctive style of reinterpreting Western characters in hanbok, Korean traditional clothing. Combining her training in both traditional style of Asian painting and game design, her illustrations have become a viral sensation and a unique way of promoting the beauty of hanbok. Meet the illustrator who has captivated the… Read More

Author Talks: Bae Myung-Hoon

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 | 5:00 PM
cover illustration: Jisu Choi One of the most popular science fiction writers in Korea, Bae Myung-Hoon explores the forces that shape modern life with wit and a sly wink at the reader. His writings are known for their inventive premises and clarity of language, and much of his work is also considered political satire. Tower is a series of interconnected stories set in a 674-story skyscraper and sovereign nation. Each… Read More

Power of Nunchi with Euny Hong

Thursday, June 10, 2021 | 12:00 PM
Author Photo by Victor G. Jeffreys II Nunchi is Korea’s superpower. A sixth sense for winning friends and influencing people, this time-honored skill helps you connect with others so you can succeed in everything from business to politics to love. In The Power of Nunchi: The Korean Secret to Happiness and Success, Euny Hong explains the practice of nunchi in a highly prescriptive guide for social success. Hong—whose “incisive and… Read More
The saga of King Sukjong, Queen Inhyeon, and Concubine Jang Hui-bin is one of the most famous episodes in the 500-year-long history of Joseon dynasty. Filled with palace intrigues and passionate love affairs, the story of the 19th king of Joseon, his virtuous queen, and one of the most infamous women in the history of Joseon dominates the popular culture and imagination even today. But what was the real story… Read More

The Magical Language of Others with E.J. Koh

Wednesday, January 13, 2021 | 6:00 PM
The Magical Language of Others is a powerful and aching memoir, a tale of deep bonds to family, place, and language. After living in America for over a decade, Eun Ji Koh’s parents return to South Korea for work, leaving fifteen-year-old Eun Ji and her brother behind in California. Overnight, Eun Ji finds herself abandoned and adrift in a world made strange by her mother’s absence. Her mother writes letters,… Read More
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