I009: Literature and Literary Studies of the Korean Diaspora in Yanbian

Organizer(s)

• 

  Barbara Wall

  University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Chair(s)

• 

  Barbara Wall

  University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Paper Presenter(s)

• 

  Seong-Su Kim

  Sungkyunkwan University, Republic of Korea
• 

  Jerome de Wit

  University of Tubingen, Germany
• 

  Barbara Wall

  University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Discussant(s)

• 

  Seong-Su Kim

  Sungkyunkwan University, Republic of Korea
• DZ

  Dafna Zur

  Stanford University, United States

Session Abstract: The Korean autonomous province Yanbian in China is in the unique situation of being strongly influenced by both Koreas, while geographically situated outside of them.This panel utilizes Yanbian's unique situation to explore new approaches to Korean literature by examining literary activities of the Korean diaspora in Yanbian.

The first two presenters of our panel analyze Korean literary journals, which form the foundation of Korean literature in Yanbian. While Kim Seong-Su lays the fundament of the panel by exploring the influence of North and South Korean literature on Korean literary journals published in Yanbian from 1951 until today, Jerome de Wit will zoom in on the 1990s to discuss how essays in the journals use humor as a way to cope with the problems of the newly implemented capitalistic system. Cui Min from Yanbian University will then carry us over to the field of literary studies in Yanbian and present his research on the changing portrayal of women in North Korean literature. Barbara Wall finally investigates the role of translation for the Korean diaspora in Yanbian by focusing on various Korean translations of The Journey to the West published in Yanbian.

Having invited Dafna Zur, a scholar with deep expertise in literature from the north and the south of the Korean peninsula, as discussant, we hope to spark a lively discussion on ways to shed new light on Korean literature by approaching it from the perspective of the Korean diaspora in Yanbian.

Presentations:

• The Media History of Literary Journals in Yanbian and the Opportunity to Restructure the Korean Literatures in South Korea, North Korea and China
  

  Paper Presenter: Seong-Su Kim – Sungkyunkwan University
• Coping with Capitalism: The Function of Humor in Korean-chinese Literature of the 1990s
  

  Paper Presenter: Jerome de Wit – University of Tubingen
• Korean translations of The Journey to the West in Yanbian
  

  Paper Presenter: Barbara Wall – University of Copenhagen