Irish author Danielle McLaughlin on exchange with Korean students and compelling visit to Jeju
When Irish writer Danielle McLaughlin received an invitation to visit Korea, she was deep into Nobel laureaute author Han Kang’s “We Do Not Part” (2021), a novel whose reckoning with the Jeju April 3 massacre had unsettled and moved her. The timing felt like an invitation within an invitation. “The minute I was invited, I knew I wanted to go,” she said during an interview with The Korea Times…
Irish author Danielle McLaughlin was in the midst of reading Nobel laureate Han Kang's "We Do Not Part" (2021) when she received an invitation to visit Korea. She felt the timing was perfect, as the novel's exploration of the Jeju April 3 massacre deeply affected her. Upon being invited to Korea, McLaughlin knew immediately that she wanted to accept the opportunity.
Speaking with The Korea Times after leading a creative writing workshop at Korea University on Monday, the Cork-based author said, "The minute I was invited, I knew I wanted to go."
McLaughlin, known for her award-winning short-story collection "Dinosaurs on Other Planets" (2015) and the novel "The Art of Falling" (2021), embarked on her visit as part of the Irish Embassy's initiative to bring contemporary Irish writers to Korea. This exchange program began in 2024 with the support of Literature Ireland, the country's state-funded organization dedicated to promoting Irish writing abroad.
During her visit, McLaughlin held a two-hour creative writing workshop at Korea University, where over 50 students gathered to participate. Many of these students had never encountered McLaughlin's work before, and the room was filled with enthusiasm for the opportunity to engage with a renowned Irish writer.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
