[KS] Book Announcement - Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature & Culture, Volume 16

[Young Jun Lee]

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce that Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature and
Culture, Volume 16, is now available in print (currently in Seoul only) and
in eBook (PDF) format.

(*The eBook is now live on Project MUSE*:* https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/51166
<https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/51166>* )

ISSN: 1939-6120

ISBN: 978-0-9993138-4-8

Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature & Culture Volume 16 (2023)
[image: Azalea 16 표지 .jpg]

*Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature and Culture: Volume Sixteen*
Edited by Young-Jun Lee, Professor, Kyung Hee University, South Korea

*Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature & Culture* is currently one of the
most popular Korean culture texts in English-speaking universities. It
reached 10,000 downloads in 2022. Each issue may include works of
contemporary Korean writers and poets, as well as essays and book reviews
by Korean studies professors in the United States. *Azalea* introduces to
the world new writers as well as promising translators, providing the
academic community of Korean studies with well-translated texts for college
courses. Writers from around the world also share their experience of
Korean literature or culture with wider audiences.

Editor’s Note

South Korea, currently a favorite topic among young people worldwide, is
renowned for its continuous production of popular works in the realm of pop
culture, known as Hallyu
or the Korean Wave. Spanning two decades, the Korean Wave has reached its
zenith, evident in the resounding success of its music, dramas, and movies.
This cultural triumph aligns with other societal indicators such as
political democratization and the country’s commendable progress in per
capita disposable income. While claims of South Korea surpassing Japan in
these regards may be slightly exaggerated, they do provide compelling
evidence of the nation’s current capabilities.

However, despite these positive aspects, South Korea faces numerous
challenges within its own borders. Rapid economic growth is overshadowed by
alarmingly high rates of divorce and suicide and one of the world’s lowest
birth rates. Efforts have been made to identify and address the causes of
these unfortunate conditions, but success has thus far been elusive. The
lack of hope among South Korea’s younger generation is apparent in their
use of the satirical term “Hell-Chosŏn.” Despite overall improvement, the
question remains: why does such discontent persist?

Often overshadowed by the country’s brighter side, the dark underbelly of
South Korean society demands attention. In this issue’s feature, “The Long
Korean War in Recent Korean Literature,” we shed light on the powerful and
ominous forces that shape South Korean society. While the Korean War may appear
as a distant historical event to younger generations, seventy years after
the armistice, its impact persists in the lives of South Koreans in
ever-changing and menacing forms. The legacy of the war lies at the root of
enduring ideological confrontations, provides the rationale for past
dictatorships, and fuels present-day social tensions. Korean literature
serves as a potent platform for preserving the memory of these historical
legacies that continue to reverberate in the present. We extend our
gratitude to Professor Seung Hee Jeon for guest-editing this special issue.

Renowned artist Kang Yo-bae, whose paintings grace the pages of this issue,
has been widely acknowledged for his groundbreaking work in bringing
attention to the Jeju Island massacre through his art. Through his
depictions of the tragic events of 1948, readers will witness the power of
Korean culture to breathe life into historical experiences, ensuring that
the victims of
erasure are remembered and that voices will be heard once more.

This issue also includes a collaborative feature. Dennis Wuerthner, a
Korean literature professor, shares his experiences of reading and
co-translating a story by Ch’oe Inhun with his students. Ch’oe’s work,
“Kŭmo sinhwa (New Tales of the Golden Turtle),” seamlessly fits into the
Korean War section of this issue with its focus on an oppressed man who is
strong-armed into becoming a spy by North Korean officials. The resulting
translation, born out of a Boston University course, stands as an excellent
example of bridging the language divide and fostering cross-cultural
understanding.
Additionally, we showcase the works of the winners of the Sejong Society’s
writing contest, a long-standing initiative that also promotes Korean
literature. These talented individuals, who present their winning sijo and
essays in English, offer delightful perspectives reflective of their unique
sensibilities.

The different styles of poetry by Song Kyung-dong and Lee Jenny exemplify
the broad spectrum of contemporary Korean verse. Song’s poetry embodies a
living tradition of engagement literature (literature that confronts social
issues of the past and present) by actively grappling with class conflicts
in Korea. Lee’s poems represent a new transformation and expansion of the
Korean language itself.
Two stories, “A Guide to Insects” by Gu Byeong-mo and “You Would Know, Mom”
by Cheon Un-yeong, each cross boundaries at the heart of traditional Korean
society in unique ways. Gu’s grotesque science fiction narrative, in which
people are injected with insects as a punishment for sex crimes, explores
moral dilemmas of the new era. Cheon Un-yeong’s “You Would Know, Mom” is
the story of a middle-aged man whose extreme grief and sentimentality
compels him to revisit his lost childhood and become his own dead mother.

Through the literary works presented in this issue, readers will gain a
vivid and multifaceted understanding of Korean society, in which light and
darkness, past and future coexist in an ever-evolving tapestry.
May 2023
Young-Jun Lee

Published by the Korea Institute, Harvard University


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이영준
경희대학교 서울캠퍼스 후마니타스 칼리지 교수
서울 동대문구 경희대로 26
경희대학교 청운관 208호
우편번호 02447
전화 02-961-9311 (연구소)
셀폰 010-6211-7012
youngjun.lee at gmail.com
youngjunlee at khu.ac.kr

Editor-in-Chief,
Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature and Culture
Korea Institute, Harvard University
1730 Cambridge St #228
Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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