Author Talk - Mother's Daughter: Kim Yudam and the K- daughter Narrative

“I often see women crying in the bathhouse.”  

The Korean title of Kim Yudam’s 이완의 자세 literally translates to ‘posture of relaxation’, but the women of this novel are distinctly unable to attain this posture. When Yura, the book’s protagonist, sees women crying in the bathhouse, she sees herself and her mother in them. Raised at the bathhouse because her mother works as a ttaemiri (scrubwoman), Yura has had a unique, but fraught childhood under a cold, unforgiving mother. The book takes us through both of their lives, showing us how the baggage they carry shapes them as people.  

The author of five published books and featured in several edited collections, Kim Yudam often writes stories of young women navigating complex lives. Join us as we sit down with the author to discuss 이완의 자세, as well as her other works, and catch a few glimpses into the story as we listen to selected excerpts from the book, read out loud by the author herself. The Korean excerpts will be accompanied by translations in English. While her books are currently only available in Korean, a translation of 이완의 자세 is currently underway by members of the ANU community. This event offers an exclusive preview of the translation, and the exciting opportunity to learn more about the translation project.  

A special part of the event includes a live session where you can read aloud selected passages with the author herself. Also, some of Kim Yudam’s books will be available for purchase and for signing by the author at the venue.  

About the Author

Kim Yudam is an award-winning author, recognised with the Shin Dong-yup Literary Award and the Kim Yu-jeong Writers' Award. She made her literary debut in 2016 through the Seoulshinmun Daily Literary Contest. Her works often explore the lives of women at critical junctures, such as daughters leaving home for university, young adults entering society after losing sight of their dreams, and women balancing the demands of motherhood, caregiving, and careers. Her notable publications include the short story collections <탬버린 Tambourine> and <돌보는 마음 The Caring Heart>, as well as the novels <이완의 자세 The Posture of Relaxation>, <스페이스 M Space M> and <커튼 콜은 사양할게요 No Curtain Call for Me>. 

About the Moderators

Aditi Dubey is a PhD student in Linguistics at the ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. An active member of the Korean learning and teaching community at ANU, she worked on the English translation of The Trunk by Kim Ryeoreyong, published recently by HarperCollins. She is currently working on a translation of Kim Yudam’s 이완의 자세. She is the instructor for the 2024 Korean Literature Translation Workshop, where participants learn literary translation skills through hands-on practice with 이완의 자세. 

Joseph Oh is a final year student studying law and political science at ANU. He is currently working on a translation of Kim Yudam’s 이완의 자세 as a member of the 2024 Korean Literature Translation Workshop.  

This event is a part of the Overseas Translation Workshop funded by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea and is supported and hosted by the ANU Korea Institute and the ANU School of Culture, History & Language.