[Korean Literature Club] 'On the Origin of Species and Other Stories'

Dear Members and Friends,

For the September meeting, we will read and discuss ‘On the Origin of Species and Other Stories’, a short story collection by Bo-Young Kim. We will discuss from page 145 to the end of the book.

The meeting will be led by Jeremy Seligson and held IN-PERSON only.

WHEN_Thursday. September 11, 2025. 7:30PM (Seoul)

WHERE_B1, North Terrace Cafe (near Anguk Station or Jongno-3ga Station (Subway Line 1, 3 or 5)

LEADER_Jeremy Seligson

READ_'On the Origin of Species and Other Stories (Page 146 to the end) authored by Bo-Young Kim

BOOK PURCHASE: Amazon | Kyobo

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Straddling science fiction, fantasy and myth, the writings of award-winning author Bo-Young Kim have garnered a cult following in South Korea, where she is widely acknowledged as a pioneer and inspiration. On the Origin of Species makes available for the first time in English some of Kim’s most acclaimed stories, as well as an essay on science fiction. Her strikingly original, thought-provoking work teems with human and non-human beings, all of whom are striving to survive through evolution, whether biologically, technologically or socially. Kim’s literature of ideas offers some of the most rigorous and surprisingly poignant reflections on posthuman existence being written today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bo-Young Kim (born 1975) won the inaugural Korean Science & Technology Creative Writing Award with her first published novella in 2004 and has gone on to win the annual South Korean SF Novel Award three times. In addition to writing, she regularly serves as a lecturer, juror and editor of sci-fi anthologies, and served as a consultant to Parasite director Bong Joon Ho’s earlier sci-fi film Snowpiercer. She has novellas forthcoming from HarperCollins in 2021. She lives in Gangwon Province, South Korea, with her family.

VENUE:

The ‘North Terrace Cafe (Basement)’ is located at 12 Yulgok-ro 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Go to Anguk Station on the Orange #3 Line. Go out Exit 4 and do an immediate U-turn on the sidewalk. Then take a right in front of the Japanese Cultural Center and walk towards Changdeok-gung, but on the opposite side of the main street (Yulgok-ro) from the palace.