“Encountering Korea Through Books” KSI Poznan, Poland, Hosts Second Meeting of Korean Literature Club
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작성일 2026-05-27
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“Encountering Korea Through Books”
KSI Poznan, Poland, Hosts
Second Meeting of Korean Literature Club
Second Meeting of Korean Literature Club
> Discussion centered on Kang Ji-young’s 2010 novel Mrs. Shim Is a Killer (Mordercza pani Shim)
> Participants explored perceptions of middle-aged Korean women through thriller novel
On March 28, the Korean Literature Club at KSI Poznan, Poland, held its second meeting at Adam Mickiewicz University, one of Poland’s national universities. The inaugural meeting was held on February 27, and this second session welcomed many new participants, underscoring the strong interest in Korean literature among locals.
The Korean Literature Club was jointly organized by KSI Poznan, Poland, and the Korean Cultural Center in Poland with the aim of illuminating the cultural significance of Korean literature and fostering a vibrant intellectual community among its readers. The first session focused on Pachinko by Lee Min-jin, a novel chronicling the experiences of multiple generations of ethnic Koreans in Japan.
The Korean Literature Club was jointly organized by KSI Poznan, Poland, and the Korean Cultural Center in Poland with the aim of illuminating the cultural significance of Korean literature and fostering a vibrant intellectual community among its readers. The first session focused on Pachinko by Lee Min-jin, a novel chronicling the experiences of multiple generations of ethnic Koreans in Japan.
Mrs. Shim Is a Killer (Mordercza pani Shim) by Kang Ji-young
The second session focused on the 2010 novel Mrs. Shim Is a Killer (Mordercza pani Shim) by Kang Ji-young. This story follows Shim Eun-ok, a 51-year-old woman with only a middle school education who once operated a butcher shop. Under the mistaken impression that she is joining a mundane errand agency, she is inadvertently recruited as a contract killer, and ultimately establishes herself as a formidable and highly proficient “problem-solver.”
Participants noted the author’s deliberate choice to place socially marginalized figures at the center of the narrative and engaged in in-depth discussions about the perceptions of middle-aged women in Korean society that are intricately woven beneath the fast-paced conventions of the thriller genre.
Participants noted the author’s deliberate choice to place socially marginalized figures at the center of the narrative and engaged in in-depth discussions about the perceptions of middle-aged women in Korean society that are intricately woven beneath the fast-paced conventions of the thriller genre.
Participants engaging in discussion during the 2nd meeting of the Korean Literature Club
While everyone agreed that the novel’s narrative structure could at times feel complex and somewhat disorienting, there was broad praise for the author’s distinctive sense of humor, which infused the story with a unique vitality. The dialogue further expanded into cross-cultural comparisons, with a debate on whether the novel and its core themes would resonate as powerfully if transposed to a setting outside of Korea.
Daniela Berkowska, a first-year student in the Department of Korean Studies at Adam Mickiewicz University, reflected on the experience, saying, “I enjoyed being able to freely express my opinions about the book, and listening to other people’s perspectives helped me understand it better.”
Daniela Berkowska, a first-year student in the Department of Korean Studies at Adam Mickiewicz University, reflected on the experience, saying, “I enjoyed being able to freely express my opinions about the book, and listening to other people’s perspectives helped me understand it better.”
Participants taking part in a Kahoot! quiz
Participants sharing traditional Korean rice snacks and
tangerines
tangerines
The discussion was complemented by a fun Kahoot! quiz, where participants revisited key narrative arcs using their smartphones and continued their conversations about the novel. Lim Choon-sil, the operations officer at KSI Poznan, Poland, remarked, “This event provided a meaningful opportunity to deepen understanding of Korean society through literature while strengthening bonds within the local community.” She concluded by encouraging continued interest and participation in future gatherings.
Article by Kang Hee-jin, Correspondent at KSI Katowice, Poland
Article by Kang Hee-jin, Correspondent at KSI Katowice, Poland
