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Monash University Korean Studies Research Hub (MUKSRH) presents:

 

Monash Beyond Borders Korean Studies Seminar Series 2024

Seminar 3

"Gold Rush: Writing about the Lives of Korean diasporas"

Seo Sujin (Author of multiple books on Korean diasporic community of Australia)

 

 Via ZOOM, 8th May, 4pm Melbourne time

Abstract: 

In the short story Gold Rush, a young Korean couple moves to Australia on a Working Holiday visa, facing challenges such as unfair treatment by a Korean business owner and scams from fellow immigrants. Despite these hardships, they persist, clinging to their dream of a bright future in Australia. After registering their marriage to secure a visa, their relationship faces unexpected struggles, leading them to question the Gold Rush they once dreamed of. The author discusses the process of writing Gold Rush, highlighting how the story was perceived differently by Korean readers in Australia and Korea, revealing a gap in emotional experiences. The narrative of Korean immigrants’ struggles has often been overlooked. Drawing from interviews with Korean immigrants, the author reflects on the changing perceptions of immigration across generations and the ongoing struggles that many immigrants still face. The author explores the question of why immigrants, despite facing hardships, choose to remain in their new countries.

Bio: 

Seo Su-Jin is a Korean novelist, Seo Su-jin’s debut novel Korean Teachers won the 25th Hankyoreh Literature Prize in 2020. Korean teachers clearly reveals the absurdities of Korean society, such as women, race, labor, and class, behind the Korean Wave while detailing the scene of Korean language education. Korean teachers has been translated into English in 2022 and it was said to be “one of the most hyped and discussed Korean translations of the year” in the media. Since 2021, She published new novels Yujin and Dave and Oleander, and a short story collections Gold Rush, which won the 13th Munhakdongne Young Writer’s Award in 2022. She focuses on the lives of Korean immigrants in Australia throughout her work.

Register above for a ZOOM link.

Please contact Monash University Korean Studies Research Hub Coordinator, Ms Sandy Nguyen for further details: Sandy.Nguyen1@monash.edu