Failed Summer Vacation: Heuijung Hur in conversation with Barry Pierce

To mark the UK release of Failed Summer Vacation, the Korean Cultural Centre UK invites you to an evening of literary conversation with acclaimed author Heuijung Hur, in dialogue with editor and literary critic Barry Pierce.

Failed Summer Vacation is Hur’s award-winning debut collection of short stories, first published in Korea and now introduced to English-language readers. Featuring seven genre-defying stories—dreamy, dark, lyrical, and wry—the collection explores the oddness of how we live and how we might come to live, often blurring the line between the real and the surreal.

In this special conversation, Hur will reflect on the inspirations behind her writing, her choice to work in the short story form, and how Korean literature speaks in dialogue with English-language traditions. She will be joined by Barry Pierce, a widely published literary critic and editor known for his work across both print and digital media.

The evening will centre on Hur’s creative inspirations, her use of the short story form, and the ways in which Korean literature can engage with English-language readers. Through conversation and storytelling, audiences can expect a thoughtful and engaging look at Korean fiction—its themes, forms, and how it resonates across languages and cultures.