Best Korean Literature Podcasts (2024)

1
Japanese Crime and Mystery Writing 53:56

4d ago53:56

53:56

Today, we’re talking about crime and mystery novels from Japan. We’ll start with the development of the crime and mystery genre in the English-speaking world. We’ll move on to Japanese crime and mystery writing—how it was inspired by Anglo-American crime and mystery writing and how it evolved in its own way. And we’ll end with the life and work of …

1
E48 Lost You Forever Season 2 (Episode 2 of 2): "He is a messy b**** who loves drama." 52:57

13d ago52:57

52:57

Welcome to our second episode on the Chinese Drama Lost You Forever, part 2! We jump right into Tushan Jing and Xiao Yao’s relationship as the ostensible OTP of the show. From there, we consider just how sad our snake demon man Xiang Liu made us in his determination to push Xiao Yao away, as well as A’Nian’s surprisingly poignant maturation arc. Li…

1
E47 Lost You Forever Season 2 (Episode 1 of 2): "A lot of sad weddings in this one..." 50:39

14d ago50:39

50:39

Your girls had a lot of feelings and a lot to say about the most recent installment of the Chinese drama Lost You Forever. So welcome to part one of our deep dive that starts with our overall reactions to the show. Then, we go into Cang Xuan and Xiao Yao’s complicated relationship, and especially how some of the changes in adaptation from the novel…

1
Atomic Bomb Literature 59:28

1M ago59:28

59:28

This episode is marked mature. In this episode, we take a look at Japanese writing about the American bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that killed as many as 215,000 people in August 1945. We’ll start with the history of the atomic bomb, its use, and its effects on the hibakusha who survived. Then we’ll take a look at atomic bomb literature itsel…

1
Two poems by Batool Abu Akleen - translated by Batool Abu Akleen and Cristina Viti 5:15

29d ago5:15

5:15

Published in MPT Salam to Gaza: Focus on Dissent and Resistance: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/salam-to-gaza-focus-on-dissent-and-resistance/By Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
sound of a jaw harp in the labelling factory: Jike Ayou, translated by Yě Yě 1:34

1M ago1:34

1:34

Published in MPT Salam to Gaza: Focus on Dissent and Resistance: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/salam-to-gaza-focus-on-dissent-and-resistance/By Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Two poems: Henri-Michel Yéré, translated by Todd Fredson 6:41

1M ago6:41

6:41

Published in MPT Salam to Gaza: Focus on Dissent and Resistance: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/salam-to-gaza-focus-on-dissent-and-resistance/By Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Politics’ Corpse Covered with the Morning Paper: Afrizal Malta translated by Daniel Owen 6:17

1M ago6:17

6:17

Published in MPT Salam to Gaza: Focus on Dissent and Resistance: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/salam-to-gaza-focus-on-dissent-and-resistance/By Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Salam to Gaza: Hussein Barghouthi, translated by Suneela Mubayi 10:56

1M ago10:56

10:56

Salam to Gaza: Hussein Barghouthi, translated by Suneela Mubayi. We are grateful to Suneela Mubayi for providing these recordings, featuring a live reading from the event "Nakba Then and Now: Refuse Silence" published on YouTube by The Radical Book Collective and the Polis Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfuqn34gY_I&t=5839, followed by an …

1
Destruction of Texts: Yi Sang, translated by Translated by Jack Jung from Korean 10:52

2M ago10:52

10:52

Destruction of Texts: Yi Sang, translated by Translated by Jack Jung from Korean by Modern Poetry in Translation MagazineBy Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Two poems by Amelia Rosselli, translated by Roberta Antognini and Deborah Woodard from Italian 3:35

1M ago3:35

3:35

Two poems by Amelia Rosselli, translated by Roberta Antognini and Deborah Woodard from Italian by Modern Poetry in Translation MagazineBy Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
The Seamstresses, Missak Manouchian translated by Jennifer Manoukian from Western Armenian 2:19

2M ago2:19

2:19

The Seamstresses, Missak Manouchian translated by Jennifer Manoukian from Western Armenian by Modern Poetry in Translation MagazineBy Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
E46 Summertime Sparking Joy: A Pop Culture Roundup (CDrama Brain Rot Edition): "I don't know how you live like this..." 1:05:41

2M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

Due to circumstances entirely within our control, we interrupt your regularly scheduled SLL programming for a special summer edition of our What’s Sparking Joy: Pop Culture Round Up. In addition to checking in about what we’ve been watching, reading, and listening to so far this year, we each share three pieces of media that continue to live rent f…

1
E45 Bridgerton, Season 3: "I do hope he washed his hands..." (Episode 2 of 2) 57:15

3M ago57:15

57:15

Welcome to our second episode on Bridgerton, season three! Picking up where we left off, we jump right into close reading Polin’s main sex scenes. From there, we think about what made us adore the side plots through discussion of Benedict, Francesca, and Violet’s storylines this season. Note: there are Bridgerton book spoilers from (37:36 - 38:14) …

1
E44 Bridgerton, Season 3: "I need some f*replay, okay?!" (Episode 1 of 2) 47:42

3M ago47:42

47:42

Members of the ton rejoice! Both halves of Bridgerton, season three have finally dropped. We had so many thoughts about this latest installment of the regency romance series that–just like Netflix–we split our conversation in two. In this first episode, we consider the season as a whole, break down Pen and Colin’s long awaited transition from frien…

1
Zainichi Literature—Koreans Writing in Japan 55:16

3M ago55:16

55:16

In this episode, we take a look at the history of Koreans writing in Japan. We’ll start with the history of Koreans in Japan, including anti-Korean prejudice before and after WWII. We’ll move on to Zainichi Korean writing. And we’ll finish with a look at Kazuki Kaneshiro’s Go, translated into English by Takami Nieda. Notes and sources on the episod…

1
E43 Queen of Tears (Korean Drama) (Divorce Comedy Mini-Series, Part 3) 1:09:46

4M ago1:09:46

1:09:46

Time for the third installment of our divorce comedy mini-series! While we didn’t initially plan to include this show, we’re talking about the recently concluded Korean drama Queen of Tears. We consider whether or not the show is actually a divorce comedy at all, how it deploysdivorce in the development of the main relationship, and what about this…

1
When Spring Comes, Najwan Darwish Tr. Kareem James Abu-Zeid 2:00

4M ago2:00

2:00

When Spring Comes, by Najwan Darwish, translated by Kareem James Abu-Zeid.This recording made by Kareem James Abu-Zeid. Featured in MPT Bearing the Burden of Sameness: Focus on Care.Read this poem and more: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/bearing-the-burden-of-sameness-focus-on-care/By Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Miss River Snail, Xinyang Wu, tr Tuoya Wulan 1:11

4M ago1:11

1:11

Miss River Snail by Xinyang Wu, translated by Tuoya Wulan.This recording was made by Tuoya Wulan. Featured in MPT Bearing the Burden of Sameness: Focus on Care. Read this poem and more: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/bearing-the-burden-of-sameness-focus-on-care/By Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
E42 Dr. Cha (Korean Drama) (Divorce Comedy Mini-Series, Part 2) 48:14

4M ago48:14

48:14

Welcome to the second installment of our divorce comedy mini-series! This episode, we’re talking about the 2023 Korean Drama Doctor Cha. We get into her messy, maddening marriage, why her husband belongs in the trash, and the rewards of watching our leading lady find herself again. Content warning: brief mention of s*icidal ideation @ 32:03 Show No…

1
A Song, Rabindranath Tagore, Tr Adrija Ghosh 1:53

4M ago1:53

1:53

This recording made by Adrija Ghosh.Audio recording of the poem featured in MPT Bearing the Burden of Sameness: Focus on Care. Read this poem and more: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/bearing-the-burden-of-sameness-focus-on-care/By Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Care Advice, Ester Naomi Perquin, Tr David Colmer 2:42

4M ago2:42

2:42

Care Advice, Ester Naomi Perquin, translated by David Colmer. This recording made by David Calmer and Ester Naomi Perquin.This poem is featured in MPT Bearing the Burden of Sameness: Focus on Care. Read this poem and more: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/bearing-the-burden-of-sameness-focus-on-care/…

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The Garden Must Tend Me, Abdullah O. Jimoh, Tr By The Poet 2:33

4M ago2:33

2:33

This recording is by Abdullah O. Jimoh.Audio recording is of the poem featured in MPT Bearing the Burden of Sameness: Focus on Care. Read this poem and more: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/bearing-the-burden-of-sameness-focus-on-care/By Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
The End of the World! Japanese Apocalypse, Part 3 56:58

5M ago56:58

56:58

In part three of this episode, we’ll finish our story of Japanese apocalyptic and dystopian fiction. First, stories from the mid-90s and 20-aughts. Then, stories from after the March 2011 Triple Disasters. We’ll end with a look at the life and work of author Yoko Tawada who has written several apocalyptic stories, including one of the most importan…

1
E41 Divorce Comedies: An Introduction (Mini-Series, Part 1) 41:33

5M ago41:33

41:33

Welcome to our mini-series on Divorce Comedies! Over the next 4-ish episodes, we’re exploring this genre that caught us off guard with how much its makes us laugh, cry, and yell divorce! In this introductory episode, rather than focus on any one show, we get into the defining features of divorce comedies, why we wanted to talk about them, and wheth…

1
The End of the World! Japanese Apocalypse, Part 2 50:16

5M ago50:16

50:16

In part two of this three part episode, we're looking at the apocalyptic and dystopian fiction of Japan. We'll begin with the evolution of the idea of "the end of the world" in Japan, especially after Japan started importing American and European science fiction. We'll move on to Japanese apocalyptic stories, especially between 1945 and the 1970s a…

1
The End of the World! Japanese Apocalypse, Part 1 40:14

6M ago40:14

40:14

In part one of this three part episode, we're looking at apocalyptic and dystopian fiction as genres. Their origins in Western and Central Asia. Their evolution in Western Europe. And a history of English-language apocalyptic and dystopian storytelling that will provide us with context and a basis for comparison when we turn to Japanese stories in …

1
EP40 Hadestown 1:37:44

6M ago1:37:44

1:37:44

"See, on the road to Hell there was a railroad line..." It's time for a deep dive into the Broadway musical, Hadestown. We get into how the musical adapts the Grek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice & Hades and Persephone for a modern setting; the love stories–and tragedy–of the two core relationships; and the productive ambiguity of seeing it all happe…

1
Contemporary Literature and Translation in South Korea 38:38

6M ago38:38

38:38

On episode 110 hosts Andre Goulet and Gennie Pimentel welcome Shanna Tan, translator of the smash hit book WELCOME TO THE HYUNAM-DONG BOOKSHOP by Hwang Bo-reum. In this conversation Shanna explains why a slice of life novel about a high-flying career woman in Seoul who leaves a life of burnout and marital misery to open a book shop outside of the c…

1
E39 Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2024) with Dr. and Mr. Cooper 1:09:42

7M ago1:09:42

1:09:42

Corinne wasn’t feeling well this week, so Ayanni called in the cavalry. This episode, she's joined by her spouse (and friend of the show) Andrew Cooper to talk about the new action-dramedy series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They give their general impressions, think about the series’ adaptation choices, and muse about the show’s depiction of married life.…

1
Misogyny and Yukio Mishima, Part 2 39:40

7M ago39:40

39:40

In part two of this two-part episode on misogyny in Japanese literature, we're talking about the life and work of Yukio Mishima, especially by way of his I-Novel, Confessions of a Mask. Check out part one for 400 years of attitudes about women in Japan Woman in modern Japanese literature, especially in the work of some of its most important writers…

1
Misogyny and Yukio Mishima, Part 1 46:38

7M ago46:38

46:38

In part one of this two-part episode, we're talking about misogyny in Japanese literature. 400 years of attitudes about women in Japan Woman in modern Japanese literature, especially in the work of some of its most important writers Check out part two (coming soon) for the life and work of Yukio Mishima, especially by way of his I-Novel, Confession…

1
E38 Sparking Joy in 2024: A Pop-Culture Roundup 1:26:24

8M ago1:26:24

1:26:24

Happy New Year, y'all! We continue our annual tradition of checking in about what pop-culture is "sparking joy” in January, our favorites of 2023, and what we’re looking forward to in 2024. (CW: discussion of parental and sibling death.) Oh, and did we mention we have a tumblr now? www.tumblr.com/sexlovelitpodcast Show Notes: Check out Charcooll--t…

1
Kenji Miyazawa 44:44

8M ago44:44

44:44

There is no one quite like Kenji Miyazawa. Born into wealth, he longed to be “a real peasant”. One of Japan’s most influential children’s writers, he sold only one story during his lifetime. Read Japanese Literature takes a look at Miyazawa's colorful biography through three of his beloved stories. Miyazawa produced the artwork for this episode. It…

1
Malta Focus - Khairani Barokka speaks with Adrian Grima and Albert Gatt 46:18

8M ago46:18

46:18

This Podcast accompanies MPT Call the Sea A Poet: Focus on Malta. Khairani Barokka speaks with contributors Adrian Grima and Albert Gatt. Find out more about this issue on the MPT website: https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/magazine/call-the-sea-a-poet-focus-on-malta/A full transcript is available at https://modernpoetryintranslation.com/podcast…

1
Motherhood, Revolution and Fairytales in North Korea 33:46

9M ago33:46

33:46

On episode 109 Dr. Theresa Hyun, a York University professor and the author of “Writing Women in Korea: Translation and Feminism in the Colonial Period”, joins hosts Andre Goulet and Gennie Pimentel to talk about children’s literature, fairy tales and the role of mothers in the North Korean revolution. Plus: a surprising data set on the number of i…

1
E37 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 3, Spoiler Filled) 1:16:22

9M ago1:16:22

1:16:22

CW: Discussion of s*xual assault, and brief mentions of drugging and s*icide, from 1:00:27 – 1:04:15 You’ve made it to the third and final installment of our semi-accidental mini-series on the Chinese Drama, Lost You Forever. (You either really like us, or you really like Lost You Forever, and we appreciate you either way.) We know you’ve been wait…

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E36 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 2, Spoiler Filled) 53:05

9M ago53:05

53:05

We’re continuing our three-part mini-series on Lost You Forever by diving right into a truck load of spoilers! In honor of the reverse harem-ness at all, we organized our discussion around leading lady, Xiaoyao, and her four suitors. This episode, we start with Xiaoyao herself–and her many abandonment issues. Then, we get into our complicated feeli…

1
Nadia López García, ‘The Way of the Deer’ - Tr. Gabriela Ramirez-Chavez & Whitney Devos from Spanish 3:18

10M ago3:18

3:18

Nadia López García, ‘The Way of the Deer’ - Tr. Gabriela Ramirez-Chavez & Whitney Devos from Spanish by Modern Poetry in Translation MagazineBy Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Sodïq Oyèkànmí, ‘river’ - Translated by the poet from Yorùbá 2:58

10M ago2:58

2:58

Sodïq Oyèkànmí, ‘river’ - Translated by the poet from Yorùbá by Modern Poetry in Translation MagazineBy Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Concha Méndez, 'This Must Be My Last Loss' - Translated by Harriet Truscott from Spanish 0:54

10M ago0:54

0:54

Concha Méndez, 'This Must Be My Last Loss' - Translated by Harriet Truscott from Spanish by Modern Poetry in Translation MagazineBy Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Jaku Mata, ‘Before the City Goes Under Water’ - Translated by Eric Abalajon from Filipino 1:27

10M ago1:27

1:27

Jaku Mata, ‘Before the City Goes Under Water’ - Translated by Eric Abalajon from Filipino by Modern Poetry in Translation MagazineBy Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

1
Kim Seon-Hyang, ‘Water Snake’ - Translated by Darcy Paquet and Sun Kyoung Yoon from Korean 2:25

10M ago2:25

2:25

Kim Seon-Hyang, ‘Water Snake’ - Translated by Darcy Paquet and Sun Kyoung Yoon from Korean by Modern Poetry in Translation MagazineBy Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine

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E35 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 1, Spoiler Free) 1:01:46

10M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

CW: Brief mention of s*icide @ 30:00. Welcome to the first installment in our three part mini-series on the Chinese drama, Lost You Forever (Season 1). If you haven’t seen this drama, don’t worry–the first part of our mini-series is spoiler free! We give some context about the show set up, share some spoiler-free reactions, and wrap up with a game …

1
The Stories of Studio Ghibli 48:10

10M ago48:10

48:10

To celebrate the overseas release of The Boy and the Heron (aka How Do You Live?) RJL delves into the stories that inspire animator Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, especially Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Howl’s Moving Castle My Neighbor Totoro We’ll end with a deep dive into Kiki’s Delivery Service—the Ghibli film and the novel by Eiko Kada…

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E34 Trope Spotlight: Demon Lovers with Dr. Sam Langsdale 1:29:19

11M ago1:29:19

1:29:19

Happy Halloween, SLL Listeners! This episode is a special spooky season treat: a Trope Spotlight episode on ~Demon Lovers~ 😈. We’re joined by comic-scholar, friend of the show, and fellow monster aficionado Dr. Sam Langsdale to tackle the deliciously demonic topic. Together, we parse through what makes a demon a demon-as well as what we want from a…

1
Haruki Murakami 43:10

11M ago43:10

43:10

In this episode, we're talking about one of the most important voices in modern Japanese literature, Haruki Murakami. His biography Why so many people have such strong feelings about his writing And his short story "TV People" We'll end with what I like best about this much loved (and much hated) author. Notes and sources on the episode page. Let R…

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E33 Rinko-San Wants to Try (Rinko-san wa shitemitai) 1:15:05

11M ago1:15:05

1:15:05

This episode, on the recommendation of an SLL listener, we’re excited to do a deep dive into the Japanese Drama, Rinko-San Wants to Try. We get into how the show complicates conceptions of virginity, plays with the friends with benefits trope, and maybe get in our feelings a lil bit about a second female lead who really got under Ayanni’s skin. As …

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