The 35th Manhae Literature Award Goes to Choi Jin-young's Novel 'Ijeya Eonni-ege'

Novelist Choi Jin-young [Photo by Changbi]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Changbi announced on the 25th that this year's 35th Manhae Literary Award winner is novelist Choi Jin-young (photo) for her full-length novel "Finally to My Sister." The prize money is 30 million won.

"Finally to My Sister" was praised for its piercing awareness of reality by addressing the subject of intrafamilial sexual assault. The judging committee stated, "Although it deals with a familiar incident, neither the circumstances of the incident, the progression afterward, nor the author's technique is predictable. The proactive nature of the high school victim who immediately reports to the police is also remarkable, and this character trait is impressively revealed in the depiction of life before the incident and in the novel's opening where the protagonist decides to start writing a diary again for the first time after the incident. The truth discovered through the protagonist's arduous struggle to preserve her own strong vitality is the piercing reality awareness that this work has achieved."

Choi Jin-young debuted in 2006 with the New Writer Award from "Silcheon Munhak." She has published full-length novels such as "The Name of the Girl Who Passed By Your Side," "The Never-ending Song," "Why Did I Not Die," "Proof of the District," and "To Where the Sun Sets," as well as short story collections like "Top" and "Winter Vacation." She has received the Shin Dong-yup Literary Award, Hankyoreh Literary Award, and Baek Sin-ae Literary Award.

The Manhae Literary Award was established by Changbi in 1973 to honor the achievements of Manhae Han Yong-un and to carry on his literary spirit. It is awarded to writers with at least ten years since debut or equivalent experience, recognizing their literary achievements in Korean over the past two years.

This year's final round included "Finally to My Sister," Kim Geum-hee's short story collection "Only One Person's Possession," Ko Hyung-ryeol's poetry collection "When Thinking of Old Things," Park Ki-young's poetry collection "Song of the Displaced," Hwang Gyu-gwan's poetry collection "Let's Just Let This Ride Pass," and Kim Jong-cheol's literary criticism collection "Imagination of the Earth."

Late Critic Kim Jong-cheol [Photo by Changbi]

Changbi also announced that this year's special award went to Kim Jong-cheol's literary criticism collection "Imagination of the Earth."

The judging committee said about "Imagination of the Earth," "All the main judges agreed that the serious discussions on foreign authors, including English literature, written in a smooth and readable style, should serve as a model not only in academia but also in the literary world. Kim Jong-cheol's concept of 'Imagination of the Earth' and his insight and anger toward the existing social system that causes the destruction and loss of this earth were meaningful achievements that served as one of the criteria for this judging. We present the special Manhae Literary Award as recognition and respect for the recently deceased author."

Born in 1947 in Hamyang, Gyeongnam, Kim Jong-cheol graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of English Literature. He was active in literary criticism during the 1970s and 1980s and founded the bimonthly magazine "Green Review" in 1991. He retired from university teaching in 2004 to focus on editing and publishing "Green Review." He passed away in June at the age of 73. The special award, established in 2017, is given to works in genres different from the main award, with a prize of 10 million won.

The full judging comments and acceptance speeches will be published in the winter 2020 issue of the quarterly "Creation and Criticism," to be released in late November.

Changbi stated that the 35th Manhae Literary Award ceremony is scheduled to be held in mid to late November, following the guidelines of health authorities.