Plants, Pepperoni and the Past: In Conversation with Author Kim Keum Hee

Join us for a conversation with the celebrated author to discuss her extensive body of work.

Kim Keum Hee is a beloved South Korean writer known for her flawless prose, sharp wit and uplifting, fiercely insightful narratives, led by casts of offbeat characters who never fail to capture the hearts of her readers. As one of the country's most decorated contemporary women writers, her status is no short of legendary. Kim's numerous publications include short story collection We Come from Pepperoni (2021), as well as novels To Bokja (2020), First Summer, Wanju (2025) and the critically acclaimed The Grand Greenhouse Repair Report (2024). Her debut full-length publication in English, essay collection Diary of a Plant Parent is upcoming in 2027.

On her first ever visit to Canberra, she will be in conversation with Aditi Dubey and Destiny Harding to talk about her inspirations, the symbolic role of the past in her writings, and her love of plants, among many other things. She will also share excerpts from her books. The event will be interpreted by Yerin Park.

This event is a part of the Korean Literature Festival.

Books by Kim Keum Hee

We come from Pepperoni: A collection of stand-alone short stories that contrast recollections from the past with the present, each with flawed, human characters reflecting on their youth and  their experiences with love. Grounded in the realities of contemporary Korea, the stories have resonated with many readers for their realistic portrayal of the ambiguities and complexities of life.

Diary of a Plant Parent: A life-affirming and personal exploration of love and loss, and how caring for plants season after season can enrich your life. Following the rhythms of the year, the book is a charming invitation to welcome more wonder into our lives through the growth and resilience that the plants around us naturally embrace.

The Grand Greenhouse Repair Report: Set in the real life Grand Greenhouse of Seoul’s magnificent Changgyeong Palace, protagonist Yungdu’s quest to uncover the secrets buried under this colonial vestige takes us on a journey through time, into Japanese-occupied Korea an then to the war-ravaged 1950s. A sprawling, intricate tale of love, loss, and the scars of history, this is what many newspapers have called a ‘masterpiece’.

To Bokja: A story of healing and comfort set against the beautiful backdrop of the Jeju islands. Chorong and Bokja become close friends as teenagers, but they fall out due to a misunderstanding. Fast forward 20 years, and Bokja is now a judge in a case where Bokja is the victim. The novel follows these two female protagonists as they navigate the ups and downs of life and their friendship with each other.

First Summer, Wanju: Yeolmae, a voice actor, travels to the village of Wanju, the hometown of a once-close friend who betrayed her. Here, Yeolmae spends an interesting summer in the company of the village’s colourful cast of residents. The novel was released as an audiobook as part of a unique project by actor Park Jeong-min's publishing company, Muze, and has found immense popularity among the public.

About Aditi Dubey

Aditi Dubey is an emerging linguist and literary translator. She co-translated Kim Ryeoryeong’s The Trunk (2024, HarperCollins), and is working independently on Kim Yudam’s Women at Ease (이완의 자세). An affiliate of the Korea Institute (ANU), she teaches translation for the Korean Literary Translation Workshop, and is an experienced Korean language teacher. She is currently pursuing a PhD in linguistics at ANU, researching multilingualism and language contact.

About Yerin Park

Yerin Park is a student studying English and history at ANU. She is currently working on a translation of Kim Keum Hee's We Come from Pepperoni as a member of the 2025 Korean Literature Translation Workshop.

About Destiny Harding

Destiny Harding is an ANU alum who studied Digital Humanities and Linguistics with a minor in Advanced Korean. She is currently working on a translation of Kim Keum Hee's We Come from Pepperoni as a member of the 2025 Korean Literature Translation Workshop.