Korean writers are set to appear at the 2016 Paris International Book Fair that will run from March 16 to 21, as Korea is the Guest of Honor country this year.
The Paris book fair is marking the “Year of Korea-France Bilateral Exchanges” that is taking place in 2015 and 2016. The fair will bring together about 4,000 writers from around the world and host more than 800 events that focus on literature and writing.
During the festival, a total of 30 writers will represent Korean literature, children’s books, the humanities and comic books, both physical and online. In addition, a total of 47 programs to celebrate the year of mutual exchanges between Seoul and Paris will take place at the Korea Pavilion and at booths around the National Book Center.
The 2016 Paris International Book Fair has Korea as its Guest of Honor country this year.
The group of participating Korean writers includes Hwang Sok-yong, Lee Seung-u, Moon Chung-hee, Oh Jung-hi and Mah Chong-gi. These writers will be featured at a special event run in cooperation with the National Book Center and the Institut Francais, introducing a literature world of their own to Parisian readers and to those involved in the publishing industry there.
There will be discussions with some of France’s most-lauded literary figures under the theme of “Crossed Visions,” mainly about changes in Korean society that have taken place over the past few years, about women and families, about the globalization of literature and also about literature and religion.
There will be readings, where writers will read from some of their works, as well as signings and talks with readers.
During the fair, Paris and its suburbs will host a series of events to spotlight Korean literature. Starting in March, the Paris Bibliotheque has already brought Korean literature to the people of Paris by launching “Korea Week,” a week full of exhibitions, conferences, performances and other literary events all focusing on Korean books.
Le Printemps des poetes and the Festival d’Evreux, both major literary festivals in France, will invite a group of Korean writers to a series of recitals and signings, as well as to meetings with local readers.
Last year, the 2015 Paris International Book Fair has on exhibit a range of well-known Korean works, all translated into French.
Finally, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea will bring a select set of classical works of Korean literature and detective novels to a special exhibition to be held at the Korea Pavilion. There will be a round-table discussion among experts from both countries that centers on “Modern Interpretations of Korea’s Classical Works.” There will also be a symposium on strategies for the globalization of Korea’s traditional pansori epic singing held at Paris-Sorbonne University.
By Wi Tack-whan, Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: the Literature Translation Institute of Korea
whan23@korea.kr
