Suhyun J. Ahn: Queer Korean Poetry and Confucian Philosophy | Korea Deconstructed #032

This is definitely a conversation in two parts. For the first hour, we talk about LGBTQ literature and poetry in South Korea, particularly the work of Kim Hyun. We ask what it means to write queer poetry, who the leading figures in South Korea are, and what this says about society changing over time with the rise of institutions like Ding Dong. There is also a focus on the newly-published English version of Glory Hole, a collection of queer poetry which Suhyun co-translated. We then shift gears and address the focus of his doctoral work: Confucian philosophy. Suhyun is interested in the epistemological debates in the field and whether knowledge and values are transcendental or of internal origins. He charts some of the debates over the centuries, up to and including contemporary Korean philosophy. I push back in some ways and ask about the enslavement of large swathes of the population and the patriarchal system some say Confucianism created. It was a great discussion as the rain poured down outside our windows. Suhyun J. Ahn is a PhD candidate studying East Asian philosophy. When he is not researching, he translates Korean poetry. His works have appeared the award-winning documentary, Time to Read Poems. He recently translated Kim Hyun’s Glory Hole, the first Korean queer poetry collection. Until 2020, he was the founder and the editor-in-chief of Nabillera: Contemporary Korean Literature.

Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard

▶ Get in touch: datizzard@swu.ac.kr

▶ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62047873

▶ Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidTizzard