A Conversation with Sang Young Park, Author of Love in the Big City
Co-Presented by the Korean Cultural Center New York, the Korean Language Program at Princeton University, and the Korean Language Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
In Partnership with the New York Public Library and Air Premia
Saturday, April 12, 2025, 5:00 PM
Korean Cultural Center New York
(122 E. 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016)
Admission: Free (Pre-registration is required)
* RSVP and seating are on a first-come, first-served basis.
* Limited same-day standby tickets will be available.
The Korean Cultural Center New York invites you to an engaging discussion with internationally acclaimed author Sang Young Park and Professor Jenny Wang Medina on the award-winning novel Love in the Big City. This conversation will explore themes from Park’s work, including contemporary Korean literature, the celebration of diversity, and the novel’s film and television adaptations. The discussion will also delve into the art of literary translation, highlighting the global reach of Korean literature and how Park’s writing has resonated with readers beyond Korea.
Sang Young Park is a writer who has rekindled the joy of reading Korean fiction and is widely recognized as one of the defining authors of the 2020s. With his distinctive style, sharp humor, and keen insight, he explores modern life and identity in ways that deeply resonate with readers, blending empathy with profound storytelling. As a leading voice in the future of Korean literature, Park has gained international recognition. His novel Love in the Big City was longlisted for the International Booker Prize and the Dublin Literary Award, further cementing his place as a globally celebrated literary talent.
Following the discussion and audience Q&A, there will be a meet-and-greet book signing with Sang Young Park. Copies of Love in the Big City will be available for purchase (limited quantities), and attendees are welcome to bring their own copies as well. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with one of Korea’s most vibrant literary voices and explore the stories that resonate with readers worldwide!
About Love in the Big City
Young is a cynical yet fun-loving Korean university student who pinballs from home to class to the beds of recent Tinder matches. He and Jaehee, his female best friend and roommate, frequent nearby bars where they suppress their anxieties about their love lives, families, and money with rounds of soju and freezer-chilled Marlboro Reds. Yet in time even Jaehee settles down, and Young is left alone to care for his ailing mother and look for companionship in his relationships with a series of men, including one whose handsomeness is matched by his coldness, and another who might end up being the great love of his life.
Author Sang Young Park
Sang Young Park was born in 1988 and studied French at Sungkyunkwan University. He worked as a magazine editor, copywriter, and consultant before debuting as a novelist. The title story of his bestselling short story collection, The Tears of an Unknown Artist, or Zaytun Pasta, is one of Words Without Borders’ most read pieces. He is the author of the Booker International-longlisted Love in the Big City (translated by Anton Hur). He lives in Seoul.
Moderator Jenny Wang Medina
Jenny Wang Medina is an Assistant Professor of Korean Literature at Emory University, specializing in contemporary Korean literature, media, and cultural studies. Her work focuses on the intersections of literature, popular culture, and social issues, and she is dedicated to fostering cross-cultural understanding through her research and public engagements.