Hyun, I always find it incredible when a non-native English speaker writes so well in English. I'm almost certain that what you write in Korean is amazing as well, because being able to write well in your second language is insanely difficult. I speak Spanish every day with my wife and I couldn't dream of writing anything halfway decent in Spanish. So, good on you. I'm subscribing.
Hi, Thomas, and thank you! I get what you said regarding Spanish. I have given many private English lessons as my side gig (it's funny to put it this way since I often lacked a main job), read books in English and reviewed them in Korean before they got translated, and could even quote a few lines from Longfellow or Percy Shelley if I wanted to impress someone with my snobbism... In short, I knew my English was good. However, there was definitely a psychological hurdle that I had to jump over before I began to write in English. It just felt so different from merely knowing English. This is something that I want to write about in the near future.
Hi Hyun Woo! I just wanted to let you know that it's been totally fun reading your posts in English. As a Japanese-Chinese, I empathize with you. I know and understand the struggles of switching in between languages. There are times I feel restricted with just one language. The way you write is dazzling. It's a breath of fresh air. You don't need to be the next Nabokov. Be the first Hyun Woo Kim.
I really love it, Hyun Woo. Your writing in English is beautiful, so I can only imagine how extraordinary your Korean pieces must be. As someone who is not a native English speaker, I can feel the struggle to be able to write that well in both languages. Keep going 😊
Thank you for the kind words, Everly. Regarding your work, I can't imagine how hard it must be to write in Vietnamese and English at once. I can write in English and Korean, but when I try to write the same thing in both languages or translate a piece in one language to another, one of them always turns out not so good.
Exactly my thought 🙌 If I write solely in Vietnamese or English, one version will always turn out to be better than the others. There are so many more nuances to one language. Also, it's a part of the culture. When I write in English, I need to be more direct, but if I maintain the same directness in my Vietnamese posts, it will be kind of rude. The struggle is real. 😅
So glad you found me again! I wasn't sure about coming to substack but this really made it worth it. I'm excited to go back and read the works you have published. :)
Hyun, I always find it incredible when a non-native English speaker writes so well in English. I'm almost certain that what you write in Korean is amazing as well, because being able to write well in your second language is insanely difficult. I speak Spanish every day with my wife and I couldn't dream of writing anything halfway decent in Spanish. So, good on you. I'm subscribing.
Hi, Thomas, and thank you! I get what you said regarding Spanish. I have given many private English lessons as my side gig (it's funny to put it this way since I often lacked a main job), read books in English and reviewed them in Korean before they got translated, and could even quote a few lines from Longfellow or Percy Shelley if I wanted to impress someone with my snobbism... In short, I knew my English was good. However, there was definitely a psychological hurdle that I had to jump over before I began to write in English. It just felt so different from merely knowing English. This is something that I want to write about in the near future.
Hi Hyun Woo! I just wanted to let you know that it's been totally fun reading your posts in English. As a Japanese-Chinese, I empathize with you. I know and understand the struggles of switching in between languages. There are times I feel restricted with just one language. The way you write is dazzling. It's a breath of fresh air. You don't need to be the next Nabokov. Be the first Hyun Woo Kim.
You're a wonderful writer. Never forget that.
Thanks, Hanna. To my surprise, I have never doubted it!
I really love it, Hyun Woo. Your writing in English is beautiful, so I can only imagine how extraordinary your Korean pieces must be. As someone who is not a native English speaker, I can feel the struggle to be able to write that well in both languages. Keep going 😊
Thank you for the kind words, Everly. Regarding your work, I can't imagine how hard it must be to write in Vietnamese and English at once. I can write in English and Korean, but when I try to write the same thing in both languages or translate a piece in one language to another, one of them always turns out not so good.
Exactly my thought 🙌 If I write solely in Vietnamese or English, one version will always turn out to be better than the others. There are so many more nuances to one language. Also, it's a part of the culture. When I write in English, I need to be more direct, but if I maintain the same directness in my Vietnamese posts, it will be kind of rude. The struggle is real. 😅
That's interesting. Too bad I can't contrast your styles in the two languages!
So glad you found me again! I wasn't sure about coming to substack but this really made it worth it. I'm excited to go back and read the works you have published. :)
And encountering you again made me feel Substack worth it too! Can't wait to read your poems and other works
this made me laugh out loud: "or if South Korean society as a whole is so bad a judge of literature."
Just read the story and it’s wonderful
Finding almost immediate acceptance from an English language source after years of nothing in Korea reminds me of an old saying:
The definition of an expert is someone from out of town.
Discovering your comment after months is such a happy occurrence! I will have to check out Wang Zengqi. Thanks.