A Swedish children's television show created quite a sensation worldwide when it was first broadcast in 1969.
The show was also a big hit in Korea when it was aired in the 1980s, gathering a lot of children in front of their television sets. It was the story of a nine-year-old girl with freckles and two red ponytails, Pippi Longstocking.

The "Pippi Longstocking" children's books were originally published in 1945, written by Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002), a world-renowned Swedish writer. The series of books, published in more than 60 countries, won great popularity among children and was later made into the TV series. Lindgren wrote about 110 works, including “Karlsson-on-the-Roof” and “Nils Karlsson Pyssling,” which have been translated into more than 90 languages. A collection of Lindgren's original manuscripts and records have been listed on UNESCO's list of World Heritage items.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the birth of "Pippi Longstocking," the Korean National Library for Children & Young Adults and the Swedish Embassy in Korea will jointly host a special exhibition, “Astrid Lindgren and Pippi Longstocking,” from March 26 to May 31 at the library in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu District, southern Seoul.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see original scripts written in Swedish of the author's 13 best-known books. The exhibition will also have on display books that won the literary award named after Lindgren in commemoration of her passing. The exhibition venue has been decorated as the Swedish village where Lindgren spent her childhood. It also includes a spacious book-reading area for children.



A celebration took place on March 25 at the library. Attendees included Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Prince Daniel, as well as First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism Park Min-gwon, Korean Ambassador to Sweden Son Sung-hwan, Swedish Ambassador to Korea Lars Danielson and Swedish Minister for Social Security Annika Strandhäll.

Vice Minister Park said, “This exhibition offers a good opportunity for Korea and Sweden to share their 'cultural DNA.' As Sweden is one of Korea’s traditional allies, I hope such cultural exchanges between our two countries can develop even further.”

Minister Strandhäll said, “I was so happy to learn that many Korean children regard Pippi Longstocking as almost a friend of the family. I hope that this Astrid Lindgren exhibition will bring joy and inspiration to many visitors over the weeks and months to come."
 


Article by Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon So-hywang, Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism, the National Library for Children & Young Adults
arete@korea.kr