Friday 19 May, 2023: Korean Cultural Centre in London. Moderating author Cheon Myeong-kwan and his translator Chi-young Kim for the novel WHALE, shortlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize. Details in the link below:

Cheon Myeong-kwan : Whale | KCCUK

April 19, 2023: Korean Cultural Centre in London. Interviewed author and literary agent Barbara Zitwer for her standing-room-only book launch for The Korean Book of Happiness

June 29, 2022: The Photographers’ Gallery in London. Moderating the book launch for The Hard Road Out with authors Jihyun Park and Seh-Lynn Chai

The harrowing story of a woman who escaped famine and terror in North Korea, not once but twice.

An unlikely but empowering partnership between two women from different sides of the Korean divide who come together to convey a tale of struggle, reconciliation and triumph.

 

October 2021: London: In conversation with translator Janet Hong about the thriller ‘Lemon’ by Kwon Yeo-sun

The Korean Literature Night (KLN) is a monthly discussion group that explores various themes and topics relating to that month’s chosen book.

The focus of the October group will be the novel ‘Lemon’ by Kwon Yeo-sun.

The translator Janet Hong and the moderator Phillip Kim will join the group for a live virtual talk about her novel ‘Lemon’ . Following the talk, Janet Hong will respond to questions from the audience.

Kwon Yeo-sun is an award-winning Korean writer. She has won the Sangsang Literary Award, Oh Yeongsu Literature Award, Yi Sang Literary Prize, Hankook Ilbo Literary Award, Tong-ni Literature Prize and Lee Hyo-seok Literary Award. Lemon is her first novel to be published in the English language.

2019: Gothenburg Book Fair (Sweden): Moderator and Panelist for ‘South Korea – Guest of Honour’ program

South Korea (The Republic of Korea) was the Guest of Honour and the theme country for the 2019 Book Fair.

The country’s literature, publishing and culture was presented through several of the foremost South Korean authors.

Moreover, the following year South Korea and Sweden celebrated sixty years of diplomatic relations. The collaborative partners for this endeavour were the South Korean ministry of culture, the Korean Publishers Association, the Writers Association of Korea, and the Literature Translation Institute of Korea.

 

2018: Wasafiri Co-Guest Editor, together with author Krys Lee, of special issue dedicated to writing from Korea

Interviews with Chang-rae Lee, Jang Jin-sung, Jung Yewon with Jung Young Moon, Sora Kim-Russell with Pyun Hye-Young

Articles Private Life of the Nation, Between Tradition and Modernity, Representing Seoul

Art Heashin Kwak: Division and Diaspora

Fiction by Yun I-hyeong, Jung Jidon, Ha Seong-nan, Ch’ŏn Un-yŏng, Jung Young Moon

Poetry by Pak Jeong-dae, Han Kang, Kim Ki-taek, Song Gyeong-don, Kim Seung-Hee, Kim So-yeon, Sin Yong-Mok

2017: Moderator for book launch of the ‘Hidden Words, Hidden Worlds‘ anthology of fiction from Myanmar

Panelists included author Letyar Tun and the BBC’s Fiona Ledger.

May 2016: Panelist for ‘Hong Kong State of Mind’ at China Exchange

Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival.

May 2016: Moderator for panel on Korean literature

Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival, featuring award winning authors and translators – Cheong Myeong Kwan, Deborah Smith, and Han Yujoo

November 2014: Hong Kong International Literary Festival with Pultizer Prize winning author Junot Diaz

The festival featured a formidable selection of international authors, including BBC conflict journalist Kate Adie (with her ‘An Evening With Kate Adie’ talk) and Pulitzer Prize winning author Junot Diaz (responsible for ‘Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao’ and ‘This Is How You Lose Her’).

It also showcased mainland authors Chan Koon-chung and Chang Rae Lee and local writers like Dorothy Tse and Xu Xi.