Prompted by #NICEWEATHER and the book it’s based on: Any recommendations on Korean fiction translated into English? Literary fiction, preferably. I want something new to read. 🙂
Thank you for the recommendation! Poetry is always lovely. I actually came across this YT channel which has some nice poetry in translation: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL-LWCFs53daozkd2ku3RPw I feel I also should do some general Korean mythology reading, because a lot of the references in shows are lost on me (in When the Weather is Fine, for example)
Nice. Lots of Han Kang. Seems like mostly dark stuff. I wonder if the literature is generally dark. I read Pachinko by Lee Min Jin recently – it’s originally in English, by an American author, so not really a Korean novel. It was a Forsyte-Saga style novel, although highly condensed in comparison, but interesting for the cultural context (set in Korea/Japan) over the course of the twentieth century.
I haven’t read it myself, aside from the preview available on Amazon, which includes a dandy introduction chock full of Korean metaphysical goodness, and interesting translator’s notes. It is mentioned in MY LOVE FROM THE STAR, which I watched last fall.
2. Romantic Tales from Old Korea (2016)
[Includes “Chunhyang” — the first Korean story published in the West — which has a surprising connection with the Gapsin Coup of 1884.]
For fans of MR. SUNSHINE and NOKDU FLOWER, the introduction is worth the price of admission for the surprising historical information it contains. Joseon yangban Hong Jong-u went to study in Paris after working in Japan, and later returned there. He befriended Korean reformist Kim Ok-gyun (a leader of the Gapsin Coup), and later assassinated him when they arrived in Shanghai, per King Gojong’s orders. While in Paris, he was involved in the publication of Chunhyang in French. I discovered this translation while watching DELIGHTFUL GIRL CHOON HYANG last May.
Thank you! This is a great set, which I will look into further. Cloud Dream of the Nine looks especially interesting. And the Translations page is awesome! This will keep me occupied for a bit. 🙂
I had a feeling that you would enjoy them, @pickleddragon. I first discovered Brother Anthony’s translating work when looking for the short story “Sonagi” (“Rain Shower”). It is very famous, and contributes some iconic scenes in the film THE CLASSIC. It has been filmed under its own title more than once. Have fun. 😉
@pickleddragon,
I wanted to mention that the novel The Cloud Dream Of the Nine may also dovetail nicely with some of the Korean metaphysics material cited in Greasy Kishotenketsu I posted over in the recaps for A PIECE OF YOUR MIND eps. 1-2. I think it has to do with “death record,” but I may be confusing it with another classical story. Sheesh, I’m slipping my clutch again.
Beanie @liina contributed an amazing amount of information from the novel to the discussions in the recap threads for REBEL: THIEF WHO STOLE THE PEOPLE, in which I participated. IIRC, she mentioned that Journey to the West ties in with HGD
Heh, heh, heh. That ought to keep you out of trouble for a spell. 😉
Oh wow – this is definitely going to keep me busy indeed! The interview was a fascinating read – the reference to the North Korean movie piqued my interest – I didn’t even know they made movies there. I’d have thought everything was only for propaganda. Must explore all this further. Thank you again!! This is exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for!
pickleddragon
March 19, 2020 at 11:33 PM
Prompted by #NICEWEATHER and the book it’s based on: Any recommendations on Korean fiction translated into English? Literary fiction, preferably. I want something new to read. 🙂
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
March 20, 2020 at 12:13 AM
The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Hwang Sun Mi!!! Idk if it counts cos it’s really short but I loved it. It was beautiful.
pickleddragon
March 20, 2020 at 12:39 AM
Thank you! I’ve seen blurbs of this book before. Will explore further.
earthna
March 20, 2020 at 11:44 PM
I was just about to comment that! Loved that book.
Rumi~
March 20, 2020 at 1:00 PM
There’s this blog – https:/jaypsong.blog which has translations of some Korean poetry.
Also look through articles including the word poem from Koreatimes to get to know more poetry.
Try this link 😅https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-samsung-gs-rev1&sxsrf=ALeKk03nsS1JVj9QGBKWFmB2IEbKrtWL5g%3A1584734279727&ei=RyB1XqrvK_fZz7sPzqaTyAo&q=Celebrated+Korean+poems+site%3Am.koreatimes.co.kr&oq=Celebrated+Korean+poems+site%3Am.koreatimes.co.kr&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-serp.3…75507.78656..79089…0.0..0.354.1191.2-2j2……0….1.9AvlPjd630Y
pickleddragon
March 21, 2020 at 12:51 AM
Thank you for the recommendation! Poetry is always lovely. I actually came across this YT channel which has some nice poetry in translation: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL-LWCFs53daozkd2ku3RPw I feel I also should do some general Korean mythology reading, because a lot of the references in shows are lost on me (in When the Weather is Fine, for example)
Beverly
March 20, 2020 at 7:32 PM
I dont have any recs but was curious and Book Riot has this list:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/bookriot.com/2020/03/02/korean-books-in-translation-like-parasite/amp/
pickleddragon
March 21, 2020 at 12:54 AM
Nice. Lots of Han Kang. Seems like mostly dark stuff. I wonder if the literature is generally dark. I read Pachinko by Lee Min Jin recently – it’s originally in English, by an American author, so not really a Korean novel. It was a Forsyte-Saga style novel, although highly condensed in comparison, but interesting for the cultural context (set in Korea/Japan) over the course of the twentieth century.
Beverly
March 21, 2020 at 7:27 AM
That is what I noticed too, but they did base the list off of Parasite.
So, I havent read it yet, bit a few years ago a Swedish romance trilogy was translated and I was shocked that she is one of the only romance authors in Sweden. I just assumed that everywhere had the same genres and their own writers for those genres.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/67880-swedish-romance-the-next-hot-trend.html
pickleddragon
March 21, 2020 at 9:37 PM
Hah yes, that’s what I meant. I guess it depends on what the market wants. And maybe the Swedish/Korean markets are demanding such content.
PakalanaPikake
March 27, 2020 at 12:19 PM
@pickleddragon,
Here are two Korean classics you might enjoy.
1. New translation of Cloud Dream of the Nine (2019)
https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Cloud-Dream-Kim-Man-jung-ebook/dp/B074S67XVP#reader_B074S67XVP
I haven’t read it myself, aside from the preview available on Amazon, which includes a dandy introduction chock full of Korean metaphysical goodness, and interesting translator’s notes. It is mentioned in MY LOVE FROM THE STAR, which I watched last fall.
2. Romantic Tales from Old Korea (2016)
[Includes “Chunhyang” — the first Korean story published in the West — which has a surprising connection with the Gapsin Coup of 1884.]
https://www.amazon.com/Romantic-Tales-Korea-Brother-Anthony-ebook/dp/B01H5QN3R8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1585331472&sr=8-1-fkmr1
For fans of MR. SUNSHINE and NOKDU FLOWER, the introduction is worth the price of admission for the surprising historical information it contains. Joseon yangban Hong Jong-u went to study in Paris after working in Japan, and later returned there. He befriended Korean reformist Kim Ok-gyun (a leader of the Gapsin Coup), and later assassinated him when they arrived in Shanghai, per King Gojong’s orders. While in Paris, he was involved in the publication of Chunhyang in French. I discovered this translation while watching DELIGHTFUL GIRL CHOON HYANG last May.
– – – –
Translations of Korean literature by Brother Anthony of Taizé
http://anthony.sogang.ac.kr/Trans.htm
http://anthony.sogang.ac.kr/KoreanFiction.htm
http://anthony.sogang.ac.kr/KoreanPoems.htm
pickleddragon
March 27, 2020 at 9:27 PM
Thank you! This is a great set, which I will look into further. Cloud Dream of the Nine looks especially interesting. And the Translations page is awesome! This will keep me occupied for a bit. 🙂
PakalanaPikake
March 28, 2020 at 12:04 PM
I had a feeling that you would enjoy them, @pickleddragon. I first discovered Brother Anthony’s translating work when looking for the short story “Sonagi” (“Rain Shower”). It is very famous, and contributes some iconic scenes in the film THE CLASSIC. It has been filmed under its own title more than once. Have fun. 😉
PakalanaPikake
March 28, 2020 at 12:47 PM
@pickleddragon,
I wanted to mention that the novel The Cloud Dream Of the Nine may also dovetail nicely with some of the Korean metaphysics material cited in Greasy Kishotenketsu I posted over in the recaps for A PIECE OF YOUR MIND eps. 1-2. I think it has to do with “death record,” but I may be confusing it with another classical story. Sheesh, I’m slipping my clutch again.
Now that I think of it, in 2016 a new translation of Hong Gil-dong was published by Penguin Classics. Here’s an interview with the translator:
http://vol1brooklyn.com/2016/04/05/minsoo-kang-on-translating-the-story-of-hong-gildong/
Beanie @liina contributed an amazing amount of information from the novel to the discussions in the recap threads for REBEL: THIEF WHO STOLE THE PEOPLE, in which I participated. IIRC, she mentioned that Journey to the West ties in with HGD
Heh, heh, heh. That ought to keep you out of trouble for a spell. 😉
pickleddragon
March 29, 2020 at 6:38 AM
Oh wow – this is definitely going to keep me busy indeed! The interview was a fascinating read – the reference to the North Korean movie piqued my interest – I didn’t even know they made movies there. I’d have thought everything was only for propaganda. Must explore all this further. Thank you again!! This is exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for!
PakalanaPikake
March 29, 2020 at 7:25 AM
@pickleddragon,
I’m pleased that these pointers were for the kinds of things you wanted. I’m glad to be useful as well as ornamental. 😉