-Highlighting the Global Reach of Korean Literature during Wimbledon’s First “Celebrating Korean Culture” Week

The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK), in collaboration with the Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency (KPIPA), successfully held a special literary talk titled “Korea: New Voices in Fiction” on Saturday, 18 October, at the Merton Arts Space, Wimbledon Library, as part of the Wimbledon BookFest’s first-ever “Celebrating Korean Culture” Week (16–26 October).

This marked the first time that Korean literature was presented as a standalone feature at Wimbledon BookFest, offering a meaningful platform to explore the narrative depth and social resonance of contemporary Korean fiction.

Exploring Contemporary Korean Literature through New Voices

The panel discussion shed light on the new wave of Korean contemporary literature that has been gaining global recognition.

Moderated by Joanna Lee—a literary curator specialising in East and Southeast Asian literature and co-founder of the ESEA Publishing Network—the event brought together three distinctive and thought-provoking authors: Ela Lee, Juhea Kim, and Park Seolyeon.

The session drew a large audience of British literature enthusiasts, critics, and publishing professionals, who engaged enthusiastically with the authors’ insights. Through their works, the three writers tackled themes such as race, gender, labour, migration, social structures, and memory—demonstrating the emotional precision and narrative experimentation that define modern Korean fiction. They discussed their creative processes, personal backgrounds, and how contemporary Korean literature continues to expand its narrative and thematic boundaries on the global stage.

Three Voices, Three Worlds

• Ela Lee, in her debut novel Jaded, addressed issues of race, power, and violence with unflinching honesty, depicting how hope can emerge even in the darkest of circumstances.
• Juhea Kim, author of City of Night Birds, set against the world of Russian ballet, explored love, redemption, ambition, and the sublime beauty of art—expanding the scope of Korean fiction into a truly international arena.
• Park Seolyeon, in Capitalists Must Starve, reimagined the life of Kang Ju-Ryeong, a real-life female labour activist and independence fighter, weaving a bold narrative that intertwined history, resistance, and solidarity.
•  

Readers responded with deep interest, particularly to the authors’ exploration of womanhood, labour, and memory—core themes that reflected the social questions and emotional landscapes shaping contemporary Korean literature today.

Celebrating Korean Culture at Wimbledon BookFest

In addition to the “New Voices in Fiction” panel, the Celebrating Korean Culture week featured a series of events highlighting the breadth of Korean creativity.

These included a performance by pansori artist Jung Eun-Hye, a book talk with author Jeong Bo-Ra on her new work Midnight Timetable, and a special exhibition in collaboration with “Geulwol,” a letter-writing shop from Seoul, offering audiences an immersive experience of Korean literary and artistic expression.

Building Bridges through Books

The KCCUK plans to continue expanding collaborative programmes with key institutions to promote the global visibility and value of Korean publishing and literary culture. Through events such as the Wimbledon BookFest’s Celebrating Korean Culture week, the centre reaffirmed its commitment to fostering creative dialogue and cross-cultural exchange between Korea and the United Kingdom.

Seunghye Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK, said, “In the literary heartland of the United Kingdom, we are witnessing the remarkable rise of Korean writers as powerful new voices in world literature. Their words are shaping the future of global storytelling with the spirit of Korean aesthetics that freely express their own visions. It was truly moving to see British audiences respond to these voices with such empathy and admiration.”

For more details, please visit https://kccuk.org.uk