Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Missile Command Kid]

I'm wondering if anybody here can make some recommendations for me on Korean literature in translation. I'm very interested in reading Korean literature but don't have the language skills to go and pick up any old novel at Kyobo.

I've been working through the Korean Portable Library of Literature, have read Peter Lee's Columbia Anthology of Traditional Korean Poetry, have Lee's The Record of the Black Dragon Year on order, and have read a few translated poems by Kim So-Wol and Go Un online, but I'd like to pick up some more. Specifically, I'd love to read more short stories and translated novels by influential and important Korean authors. Can anybody make any suggestions as to 1) what works to pick up, and 2) where to get them from? What little the Kyobo here in Daegu has I've been through, and they have no novels in translation.

[Hosub]

Have you considered the Shadow of Arms by 황석영? There is a translation released with his name under "Hwang Suk Young.

Vietnam War novel. Although I hear that his English translations are not on par with the original Korean. Can you read French or German? They're supposed to be better than the English translations.

In that case, you're better off looking for a "Hwang Sok-Yong, or Hwang Sok Yong."

[Missile Command Kid]

[Missile Command Kid]

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[Missile Command Kid]

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[Ya-ta Boy]

You aren't getting many responses because there isn't very much Korean lit translated.

I think you'd get more information by going to Kyobo Bookstore and browsing the 'Books on Korea' section and talking to a clerk.