"Let's Set Sail on the Munhakho to the Munhak Sea" Mokpo Literature Expo

Travel from Past to Future of Mokpo, Namdo, and Korean Literature at the Ship-Shaped Theme Pavilion

Image of the Literature Expo Theme Pavilion. Photo by Mokpo City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] Mokpo City, Jeollanam-do announced on the 24th that the ‘2021 Mokpo Literature Expo’ will showcase Korean literature that starts from regional literature and heads toward the world.

The Mokpo Literature Expo, the first nationwide literature-themed expo, will be held under the slogan “Mokpo, from the Beginning of Modern Korean Literature to the Cradle of Future Literature” from October 7 to 10. It will feature 109 diverse programs including exhibitions, events, and performances throughout Mokpo, including the Mokpo Literature Museum area, the old downtown, and Peace Square.

The main content of the Literature Expo is the theme pavilion, an exhibition hall that incorporates Mokpo’s identity as a port city. The concept of the theme pavilion is a literary journey sailing through four harbors?starting from Mokpo, the starting point of modern Korean literature, then Namdo literature, Korean literature, and future literature?aboard the ‘2021 Mokpo Literature Ship,’ shaped like a ship.

At the first harbor, under the theme “Mokpo, the Beginning of Modern Korean Literature,” the expo highlights Mokpo literature as the start of modern literature while exploring the footprints of Mokpo literature, representative writers, and literary spaces.

It examines Mokpo-born writers who illuminated Korean literary history such as Kim Woojin, Park Hwaseong, Cha Beomseok, and Kim Hyun, as well as the background of Mokpo’s modern literature development as a third-class port and sixth-largest city. In particular, it introduces the Mokpo Literature Database (D/B) materials in a touch table format.

Presenting Mokpo’s characteristics, it explores “the reasons why Mokpo literature developed” and looks back on the pillars of modern literature including Kim Woojin, Park Hwaseong, Cha Beomseok, Kim Hyun, Kim Jinseop, Jo Huigwan, Cha Jaeseok, Choi Harim, Hwang Hyunsan, Kim Jiha, and the footprints of Mokpo literature continuing since the port opening in 1897.

At the second harbor, under the theme “Namdo Literature, the Golden Fishing Ground Led by Mokpo,” it introduces writers who blossomed Namdo literature such as Ko Jeonghee and Kwon Ilsong, as well as Namdo, the background of the literature. Along with this, it holds a special exhibition of literary relics donated by the families of Mokpo-born literary figures including poet Choi Harim, playwright and novelist Cheon Seungse, and literary critic Hwang Hyunsan.

At the third harbor, it introduces “Korean Literature Sailing to the World.” Visitors can explore K-literature that has shone worldwide and Korean literature evolving into various genres such as film, drama, theater, musicals, and comics.

The fourth harbor is “The Sea of Future Literature Enjoyed through Digital Play,” a future culture playground concept where visitors can experience various digital technology-integrated activities such as large motion interactive displays, writing their own literature, making audiobooks, digital guestbooks, and creating literary luggage tags.

The city plans to operate the theme pavilion continuously for citizens and visitors even after the expo concludes.

A city official stated, “The theme pavilion of the Mokpo Literature Expo will be a great opportunity to sail the sea of literature aboard the Mokpo Literature Ship and learn about the past, present, and future of Mokpo literature and Korean literature.”