Overseas Publishers Set to Discover Korean Literature

'Online Exchange of Korean Literature Figures at Home and Abroad' until the 30th
Introducing SF Writers Including Hubble, Ajac, Greenbook Agency, and Kim Choyeop

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced on the 7th that they will hold the 'Online Exchange for Korean Literature Professionals at Home and Abroad' from the 8th to the 30th. This event, which has been held since 2018 to promote the overseas publication of Korean literature and share trends in the global literary market, has been conducted through online meetings since last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Ministry and the Translation Institute support the strategic overseas expansion of Korean literature so that the Korean Wave can extend to foundational arts such as literature. Overseas participants come from fifteen organizations across nine countries. These include Knopf Doubleday in the United States, which published the English version of "Please Look After Mom" (Shin Kyung-sook); Chikumashobo in Japan, which introduced "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982"; and Text Publishing in Australia, which was the first to acquire the English rights for "The Plotters" (Kim Un-su). Other participants include Other Press and Restless Books (both from the U.S.), Japan Uni Agency, Shodensha, Shueisha (all from Japan), Angry Robot Books (UK), Machul (China), Nha Nam Publishing (Vietnam), ?ditions Zo? (Switzerland), Aufbau, Deutschlandradio (both from Germany), and Temas de Hoy (Spain), who will hold meetings with domestic publishers and agencies to discover new Korean literary works.

Domestically, participants include Munhakdongne, Munhakgwa Jiseongsa, Sanjini, Eunhaengnamu, Changbi, Hankyoreh Publishing, Han Agency, and KL Management. Hubble, Ajac, and Greenbook Agency will also participate to introduce authors leading the science fiction (SF) wave in Korea, such as Kim Cho-yeop, Cheon Seon-ran, and Kim Bo-young. Among the overseas participants, Angry Robot Books and Shueisha specialize in SF publishing.

A Ministry of Culture official stated, "Even after COVID-19, we will support the export of Korean literature and the establishment of literary and publishing exchange networks worldwide through this online in-depth meeting to ensure smooth overseas expansion of Korean literature."