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

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

Author Talks: Kim Soom

Thursday, January 7, 2021 | 6:00 PM
One Left is a provocative, extensively researched novel constructed from the testimonies of dozens of "comfort women." Kim Soom tells the story of a woman who was kidnapped at the age of thirteen while gathering snails for her starving family. The horrors of her life as a sex slave follow her back to Korea, where she lives in isolation gripped by the fear that her past will be discovered. Yet,… Read More

K-pop Confidential with Stephan Lee

Thursday, December 10, 2020 | 6:00 PM
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… Read More

A Conversation with David Yoon

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 | 6:00 PM
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… Read More

Korean Art from 1953

Thursday, October 15, 2020 | 5:00 PM
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… Read More
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