[Korean Literature Club] 'Red Sword' by Bora Chung; Trans by Anton Hur

Dear Friends,

For the June meeting of 2025, we will read and discuss ‘Red Sword’ authored by Bora Chung and translated by Anton Hur.

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

*Feel free to arrive early, starting at 6:30pm, and chat, look around the vast English-book collection, have a drink.

WHEN_ Thursday. June 12, 2025. 7:30PM (Seoul)

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

LEADER_Jeremy Seligson

READ_ ‘Red Sword’ by Bora Chung (Tran by Anton Hur)

BOOK PURCHASE:
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/.../1915829070/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 |
Kyobo https://product.kyobobook.co.kr/detail/S000216376824

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Amid a literal fog of war on a disputed planet, a woman is thrust into battle, forced to fight in her captors’ war. With an empire at her back, ready to kill her at the slightest hesitation, this slaveturned- reluctant hero must battle through an unknown enemy, scientific abominations, and truly alien terrain to uncover the truth about her identity and that of her enslaved companions.Chung’s novel—told in sparse, evocative prose and expertly translated by Anton Hur—draws on the real history of Korean soldiers who fought and died in a war against Russia on behalf of the Qing Dynasty. Red Sword combines stunning world-building with a thought-provoking challenge to readers: what does it mean to wield power over others?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bora Chung has written three novels and three collections of short stories. She has an MA in Russian and East European area studies from Yale University and a PhD in Slavic literature from Indiana University. She currently teaches Russian language and literature and science fiction studies at Yonsei University and translates modern literary works from Russian and Polish into Korean.

ABOUT THE TRANSLATORS:
Anton Hur made his debut on Words Without Borders with his translation of “Genesis” by Jeon Sam-hye. He has been nominated for the International Booker Prize, the National Book Award, the National Critics Circle Awards Barrios Prize, the Dublin Literary Award, and the Firecracker Award for his work in translating Kyung-Sook Shin, Bora Chung, Sang Young Park, Lee Seong-Bok, and others. He is the author of the novel Toward Eternity and resides in Seoul.

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.