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David Tizzard
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I'm currently reading Hwang Sok-yong's memoirs. He talks about his life as a political dissident in Seoul and Berlin, his trips to North Korea, and his subsequent imprisonment. It's incredibly well translated into English and also fascinating to regularly be bumping into characters like Park Won-soon, Park Nohae, and Isang Yun while reading.
I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on the book, his literary career, his politics, or his position in modern Korean society?
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Yi San
To me, he is a plagiarist who still believes he deserves a Nobel prize in literature. He did not write a single line of 죽음을 넘어 시대의 어둠을 넘어 although the book was credited to him in 1985 to protect activists who actually wrote the book. Still he has a co-byline with them on the latest edition published by 창비. He also attempted to steal the English title of the book, Gwangju Diary which I coined for my English translation with Nick Mamatas, when a new English edition, bankrolled by Korean government and PEN funds, was published by Verso this year. I read his two-volume memoir. I would like to advise that you should focus on who, or what agency, helped him to move to the US from Germany while reading them. Hwang is a con artist. https://www.donga.com/.../article/all/20110603/37746566/1
DONGA.COM
황석영 씨, 소설 ‘강남몽’ 표절 인정황석영 씨, 소설 ‘강남몽’ 표절 인정
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Alec Porter
Yi San what is the title of 죽음… in English and has it been translated? Thx
Yi San
You can download it here: https://libcom.org/.../gwangju-diary-beyond-death-beyond...
As for Verso’s edition, I am not interested in promoting a book involving a con artist.
LIBCOM.ORG
Gwangju Diary: Beyond Death, Beyond the Darkness of the Age – Lee Jae-euiGwangju Diary: Beyond Death, Beyond the Darkness of the Age – Lee Jae-eui
Alec Porter
Yi San thank you. Do you have a link to an article etc about him and his work/plagiarism? I can google of course but if you have one handy.
Yi San
https://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20101027000795
M.KOREAHERALD.COM
Novelist Hwang accused of plagiarismNovelist Hwang accused of plagiarism
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Bei Rei Ming
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Jacco Zwetsloot
I want to read this memoir. Barry Welsh once did a Q&A with Hwang at the Seoul Book Club close to a decade ago. That got me to buy and read Hwang's "The Guest," which was great.
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Yi San
Jacco Zwetsloot You should ask Hwang how he came to the US from Germany during his self-imposed exile in the 1990s--while I agree that The Guest is a good book.
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Jacco Zwetsloot
Peter Schroepfer
Jacco Zwetsloot
Video of Hwang at the Seoul Book Club here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist...
YOUTUBE.COM
Hwang Sok-yong at Seoul Book and Culture Club hosted by Barry WelshHwang Sok-yong at Seoul Book and Culture Club hosted by Barry Welsh
Micki Han
Read it
Micki Han
This is my first book I read in Korean. Never read the English translation .. the book was extremely long drawn and melodramatic and a lot of name dropping from leftist intellectuals both Korean and non Korean
David Tizzard
Author
Micki Han definitely agree with the name-dropping of intellectuals haha
Alec Porter
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Melanie Lee
Ill have to add it to my list! Thanks!
David Tizzard
Author
The full review here for anyone interested
https://www.nknews.org/.../book-review-grappling-with.../
NKNEWS.ORG
Book review: Grappling with the personal and political toll of Korea’s division | NK NewsBook review: Grappling with the personal and political toll of Korea’s division | NK News
Andrew Salmon
Thanks, I'll borrow your copy when you are done
David Tizzard
Author
Sure. Was done with it a while ago, tbh. I'll bring it to you next time we meet. Next North Korean book I'm reading/reviewing is Bradley Hope's The Rebel and the Kingdom...
David Tizzard
Author
Andrew Salmon
David Tizzard WT actual F is this about?????
Andrew Salmon
The 9th Corps rebellion? The Frunze Academy coup attempt? Those would be "Tell me more!" The Adrian Hong Madrid Embassy brouhaha? Not so much...
David Tizzard
Author
Andrew Salmon Let you when I start it haha
Currently on Zuboff's Age of Surveillance Capitalism
Steve Shields
RAS needs him for a book talk.
David Tizzard
Author
Steve Shields He does talks in Korean through a translator. If you can get him, would be a great event. I don't have a direct link but perhaps someone in our circle might...
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