Seoul International Writers’ Festival banner (image courtesy of the Literatrature Translation Institute of Korea)

What is the Seoul International Writers’ Festival?
The Seoul International Writers' Festival (SIWF) is a literary event hosted by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, which invites writers from Korea and from around the world to celebrate sharing and exchange through literature. Held biennially in the last week of September, the SIWF brings writers together in discussion of each other’s work,in  readings and in a varied program of cultural events that celebrates literature across the boundaries of genre and country.

History of the SIWF

• 2006 Seoul Young Writers’ Festival: Begun with the aim of creating a friendly venue for communication among writers worldwide and to share Korean literature with the world, the first SIWF was held in Seoul and in Yeongju from May 8 to 13, 2006. We invited 36 young writers from around the globe -- 20 Korean and 16 from overseas -- who commanded new visions and created new voices in literature.
  
• 2008 Seoul Young Writers’ Festival: The second festival was held in Seoul and in the Yeongju/ Andong area from May 18 to May 24, 2008, under the theme of, “Communication + Inspiration.” Living out the festival’s concept of “Young Writers,” 40 young writers -- 20 Korean and 20 from overseas -- all under the age of 45, gathered in Hongdae, a youth mecca in Seoul.
   2010 Seoul International Writers’ Festival: Under the theme of, “Fantasy + Empathy,” the third SIWF was held in Literature House Seoul and in the Jeonju Hanok Village from May 10 to 14, 2010. Twenty-four writers from around the globe -- 12 Korean and 12 from overseas -- gathered together to give public readings and to participate in a free talk session, in which they conversed about, “fantasy in my literary works.”
  
• 2012 Seoul International Writers’ Festival: The 2012 SIWF was held from October 29 to November 2 on the beautiful Jeju Island and in the Daehak-ro area of Seoul, the main theater district in Seoul, under
  the theme of, “Reality + Imagination.” Overall,  20 writers -- 10 Korean and 10 from overseas -- were invited to the festival to talk about reality and imagination in their literary works. Through public reading sessions, they had the chance to interact with their Korean readers.

2014 Seoul International Writers’ Festival
 

Seoul International Writers’ Festival programs (image courtesy of the Literatrature Translation Institute of Korea)

 

***All events are free and open to the public. You can make free reservations for each day’s reading session. The 2014 Seoul International Writers’ Festival will be held in Bukchon, the heart of Old Seoul. Here are maps and directions.
 
Festival map @ LTI Korea
Free Talks; at W Stage World Culture Open: http://wcoseoul.org/xe/where
 
@ LTI Korea
Address: 4th floor, Anguk-building, 39, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel. 02-734-9118
 
Directions
- Subway line No. 3, Anguk Station, Exit 1
- Bus No. 109, 151, 162, 171, 172, 272, 7025. Get off at the "President Yun Po-sun’s House" bus stop.
Please note: Parking can be hard to find. Please use public transportation.
Reading; at the Bukchon Changwoo Theater  http://www.bcchangwoo.com/
 
@ LTI Korea
Address: 
Bukchon Changwoo Theater, 158-2, Wonseo-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel. 02-747-3809
 
Directions
- Subway line No. 3, Anguk Station, Exit 3. Walk straight until you see the stone wall of Changdeokgung Palace. Turn left and pass the Wonseo Park. The theater is located in the left-hand alley.
- Bus No. 109, 151, 162, 172, 272, 7025. Get off at the “Changdeokgung Palace” bus stop.
Please note: Parking can be hard to find. Please use public transportation.
Gallery NaMu: http://www.namucontemporary.com/
 
@ LTI Korea
Address: 21-15, Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel. 02-745-2207
 
Directions
- Subway line No. 3, Anguk Station, Exit 2. Please enter the alleyway between the Constitutional Court of Korea and Sinhan Bank.
- From the Jeongdok Library: Pass the library and enter the “To Go Coffee” alley.
Please note: Parking can be hard to find. Please use public transportation.
Source: http://siwf.klti.or.kr/english/

Written by Sinem Betul on August 8, 2014 in a Special Report for Worldwide Korea Bloggers