The Korea Culture & Information Service (KOCIS) is hosting the Korean Literature Showcase in Seoul from June 20 to 24, an event that introduces the charms of Korean literature to non-Korean publishers. (KOCIS)
By Lee Yoonseo and Kim Young Shin
The Korea Culture & Information Service (KOCIS), part of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is inviting non-Korean publishers to the Korean Literature Showcase, an event that introduces them to some excellent Korean literary works.
KOCIS, together with the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI), is hosting the event at the COEX convention center in Seoul from June 20 to 22 to celebrate the “year of books” this year.
KOCIS invites prominent figures who work in the culture and arts sectors around the world to Korea every year and hosts the event for them, giving them a chance to interact with Korean artists and to experience Korean art first-hand. This year, the event is co-hosted by the LTI and focuses on fine arts, especially literature.
At this year’s event, 12 publishers, including editors from renowned publishers such as Simon & Schuster in the U.S., Gyldendal in Denmark and Shobunsha Publications in Japan, are the main guests.
On June 20, the guests will participate in an international symposium to discuss published pieces of Korean literature in markets overseas. Some of the guests from English-speaking countries, French-speaking countries and Japan will offer workshops to mentor local translators.
On the second and third day of the showcase, non-Korean editors will share their experience publishing translated works and discuss trends in Korean literature published overseas.
“We hope that his event leads to a deeper interaction and exchange between local and international publishers and that it helps more Korean literary works to be exported,” said an official from KOCIS.