First Korean Literature Festival 2025 to Launch Nationwide
- Mann_ Ritzz
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
The "2025 Korea Literature Festival" will take place from September 12 to 25 at the National Korean Literature Museum in association with nine provincial literature museums.
The first-ever Korean Literature Festival will take place across various venues nationwide, as announced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on September 10.
The event is a collaborative effort involving the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, Arts Council Korea, the National Museum of Korean Literature, and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea.
The festival opens on September 12 at Ground Seoul, a cultural venue in Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, with a special conversation between Korean author Hyun Ki Young and acclaimed Chinese novelist Yan Lianke. Hyun is known for his 1978 novel 'Uncle Suni', which sheds light on the tragic 1948–54 Jeju Island massacre. Yan, recognized for his sharp social satire, has received honors such as China’s Lu Xun Literary Prize and Austria’s Franz Kafka Prize.
The festival brings together 10 international writers from eight countries, including Victoria Mas (France), Sarah Pinsker (U.S.), Jonas Hassen Khemiri (Sweden), and Yan, who will engage in Q\&A sessions and collaborative discussions with Korean authors.
Featured author pairings for book talks include Lee Suzy, the first Korean recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, and Adrien Parlange, a French picture book author; Jonas Hassen Khemiri, known for exploring themes of diaspora, with Kim Juhea, a Korean American author and Yasnaya Polyana Literary Award winner;
Korean short story writer Seong Haena, author of 'Honmono', alongside Japanese writer Yumi Fuzuki.
A notable dialogue on September 13 at Artist’s House in Daehangno will feature Park Chun-hue (Hue Park), lyricist and creator of the Tony Award-winning musical 'Maybe Happy Ending' , in conversation with poet Kim Hyun, exploring the theme: “The art world is more difficult than thought and as happy as thought.”
Another highlight is on September 19, when internationally acclaimed poet Kim Hyesoon, winner of the International Prize for Literature from Germany’s Haus der Kulturen der Welt, will read her new poetry collection 'Synchronized Sea Anemone' in full at the ARKO Arts Theater Small Theater, accompanied by poets Kim Sang-hyeok and Shin Hae-uk.
For full program details and event updates, visit the official websites of the
Comments