The Royal Asiatic Society’s Korea Branch is holding a lecture on Park Ji-won’s short stories, especially how he uncovered the world of ordinary people on Jan. 17.

Park Ji-won, a nobleman, was a powerful advocate of a more open society in the late 18th century. He wrote short stories about people in Korea’s lowest class, who created their own cultural space in Joseon’s rigid society, and suggested new prospects for the future.

The lecturer will be Emanuel Pastreich, a professor of humanities at Kyung Hee University.

The lecture will start at 7:30 p.m. in the residents’ lounge at Somerset Palace near Anguk Station in Seoul. There will be a short AGM of the RASKB before the lecture. Entry is free for RAS members and 5,000 won for non-members.

For more information and further details, visit www.raskb.com.

(rabbite2@nate.com)