January 17, 2007, VOICES Program

Drawing from his recently published translations of Pak's poetry, Enough to Say It's Far: Selected Poems of Pak Chaesam, McCann described Pak as a singular figure in Korean literature: a poet who stood resolutely outside the artistic mainstream of his time, but who in retrospect seems to embody the transitions that took place in Korean poetry from the 1970s into the ‘80s.

Born in the 1930s, Pak reached the pinnacle of his career on Seoul's literary scene during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Park Chung Hee's repressive rule, and popular discontent with it, made for a highly politicized arts scene. Nearly all the notable poetry of the time, McCann explained, was engaged with current events and thick with polemical attitude. But not Pak's. His work reflects a rich, almost secluded, inner life; a preference for natural imagery and a fascination with other worlds. In his aloofness from contemporary politics, Pak resembles Emily Dickenson who, during the turbulence of America's Civil War, explored the universe of experience within a single room.

"[Pak] was a poet who explored the liminal worlds, the spaces between," McCann explained. In "Enough to Say It's Far," Pak attempts a metaphorical understanding of the distance between himself, his feelings of love, and the object of his love, through reference to the distance between the earth and the stars.

While the topics he addressed were deeply figurative and amorphous, the language Pak used to address them is exceptionally precise and illuminating. "In some ways," McCann added, "[reading Pak Chaesam] is like looking at an MRI of the Korean language."

As the 1970s marched on, Korean literature-and music, and filmmaking-drifted away from its earlier, stridently political content, towards the more varied contemplation that Pak wrote about. Pak continued to write and McCann met with him, though briefly, several times over the years. During the mid-1990s, McCann called Pak, who was in poor health, and suggested they get together. Alluding, perhaps, to the other worlds that so fascinated him, Pak replied simply "next time" and died shortly thereafter.

The program concluded with readings of a dozen of Pak's best poems, including "Brightness," "Place," and "As for Love."

December 5, 2006

As the Swedish ambassador to the DPRK since mid-2005, Mats Foyer has an insider's view of developments inside North Korea. During his lecture, Foyer shared a firsthand account of daily life in Pyongyang before moving on to discuss the country's political situation, economic reforms, food stability and openness to foreign NGOs. Ambassador Foyer's presentation was followed by a Q&A session.

The 2006 midterm elections transformed the political dynamic in Washington and in the near term, they may also shake-up the U.S. government's approach to North Korea. A change from the current standoff would be welcome, and the panelists convened by The Korea Society and the Asia Society-including Don Zagoria, trustee for the National Committee on American Foreign Policy; Leon Sigal, director of the Northeast Asia Cooperative Security Project at the Social Science Research Council; Gerald Curtis, professor of Political Science at Columbia University and a top U.S. expert on Japan; Evans Revere, a Korea expert at the State Department and a Cyrus Vance Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; and Aleksandr Ilitchev, a senior political affairs officer at the United Nations-saw signs that Washington's approach may soon change. (co-sponsored by the Asia Society)

with

Arthur Westing
Conservationist and DMZ Forum Advisor

Friday, November 17, 2006
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM ♦ Registration and Reception
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM ♦ Presentation and Q&A

The Korea Society, 950 Third Avenue, Eighth Floor, New York City
(Building entrance on SW corner of Third Avenue and 57th Street)

Noted conservationist Arthur Westing will explore the unique political and environmental characteristics of the DMZ; its place as the world's most heavily fortified border, as well as its unique status as a trans-boundary nature reserve.  He will also examine the central role of the DMZ in the delicate relationship between a region's environmental needs and social demands.