Korean Quarterly

Sejong Cultural Society free zoom book club
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
The Sejong Book Club is a Zoom-based free series designed for the average adult reader to learn more about Korean literature in translation.
The next meeting will be a discussion of Sky, Wind, Stars, and Poems (by Don-Ju Yun with translation by Jongho Park) on Thursday, May 14, 7 p.m. (Central), moderated by Sarah Petrovic (professor at Emmanuel University, Franklin Springs, Georgia).
Despite the oppressive political climate of his time, Dong-ju Yun fearlessly spoke out against Japanese colonial rule of Korea (which began and 1911 and lasted until the end of World War II in 1945). Yun used his poetry as a powerful tool of resistance. In 1943, he was arrested for his anti-Japanese activities and imprisoned in Fukuoka, Japan. He died at age 27 under mysterious circumstances while in captivity.
Each discussion in the series will include guided reading notes and discussion points. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and discussion outline. Registration is at this link.
The Sejong Book Club invites readers from around the world to explore Korean literature in English translation. Led by distinguished professors of literature, the online discussions offer a welcoming space to connect through reading, reflection, and cultural exchange.
Each session highlights a major Korean work translated into English, examining its themes, historical background, and artistic vision. Discussions are held several times a year, and all sessions are conducted in English.
The book club is one offering of the Sejong Cultural Society, a Chicago-based non-profit organization that offers annual music and sijo (Korean poetry) competitions for adults and youth, along with other cultural events. Its programs are targeted to a wide audience and designed to teach Korean music, literature and culture through fun and interactive events, workshops and performances.
Future Sejong Book Club meeting dates and titles:
Thursday, July 23 The Plotters by Un-Su Kim
Thursday, September 24 The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Thursday, November 19 Hello Baby by Eui-Kyung Kim
More information on the Sejong Cultural Society is available at the link.

Transnational adoptees' Walk for Health
2026-05-30 10:30 - 13:00 | Long Lake Regional Park, 1500 Old Highway 8, New Brighton, MN, 55112, United States
A Walk for Health will be held for all transnational adoptees on Saturday May 30 at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton.
The walk is to raise awareness about the benefits of regular exercise in improving mood, boosting energy, and relieving stress.
The event, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., will include an Asian lunch and a free t-shirt. Registration is required, and must be submitted on or before May 17.
The walk is a collaboration of AdopteeHub, Korean Adoptee Ministries, and the Minnesota Department of Health.
For registration and further information, see the registration form at the Adoptee Hub website at this link.

Sejong Cultural Society free virtual book club series
2026-07-23 19:00 - 20:00
The Sejong Book Club is a Zoom-based free series designed for the average adult reader to learn more about Korean literature in translation.
The upcoming meeting will be a discussion of Un-Su Kim’s novel The Plotters (translated by Sora Kim-Russell) to be held Thursday, July 23, 7 p.m. (Central). The novel describes a dystopian Seoul where asassination guilds compete for dominance. Kim blends descriptions of the workings of a criminal underworld with dark comedy and psychology in a persuasive alternative reality.
Each session in the series will include guided reading notes and discussion points. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and discussion outline. Registration is at this link.
The Sejong Book Club invites readers from around the world to explore Korean literature in English translation. Led by distinguished professors of literature, the online discussions offer a welcoming space to connect through reading, reflection, and cultural exchange.
Each session highlights a major Korean work translated into English, examining its themes, historical background, and artistic vision. Discussions are held several times a year, and all sessions are conducted in English.
The book club is one offering of the Sejong Cultural Society, a Chicago-based non-profit organization that offers annual music and sijo (Korean poetry) competitions for adults and youth, along with other cultural events. Its programs are targeted to a wide audience and designed to teach Korean music, literature and culture through fun and interactive events, workshops and performances.
Future Sejong Book Club meeting dates and titles:
Thursday, September 24 The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Thursday, November 19 Hello Baby by Eui-Kyung Kim
More information on the Sejong Cultural Society is available at the link.

Free virtual book club explores Korean fiction in translation
2026-09-24 19:00 - 20:00
The Sejong Book Club is a Zoom-based free series designed for the average adult reader to learn more about Korean literature in translation.
The upcoming meeting will be a discussion of Han Kang’s novel The Vegetarian, to be held Thursday, September 24, 7 p.m. (Central).
Originally published in 2007, The Vegetarian was translated by British translator Deborah Smith in 2015, and then received international acclaim. It won the Man Booker Prize for Literature in 2016. Author Han Kang was conferred the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2024.
The three-part novel tells the story of a young woman, Yeong-hye, who lives in modern day Seoul. After a nightmare about the depths of human cruelty, she decides to stop eating meat, which causes devastating consequences in her personal and professional life. The novel is allegorical, and represents womens’ quest for autonomy, psychologically and bodily, and what happens when those on the margins challenge the power structures of society.
Each session in the series will include guided reading notes and discussion points. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and discussion outline. Registration is at this link.
The Sejong Book Club invites readers from around the world to explore Korean literature in English translation. Led by distinguished professors of literature, the online discussions offer a welcoming space to connect through reading, reflection, and cultural exchange.
Each session highlights a major Korean work translated into English, examining its themes, historical background, and artistic vision. Discussions are held several times a year, and all sessions are conducted in English.
The book club is one offering of the Sejong Cultural Society, a Chicago-based non-profit organization that offers annual music and sijo (Korean poetry) competitions for adults and youth, along with other cultural events. Its programs are targeted to a wide audience and designed to teach Korean music, literature and culture through fun and interactive events, workshops and performances.
Future Sejong Book Club meeting dates and titles:
Thursday, November 19 Hello Baby by Eui-Kyung Kim
More information on the Sejong Cultural Society is available at the link.
