Readers' Choice 'Wizdomhouse Children's and Youth Fantasy Literature Award'... 'Gamyeondongmul' & 'Biscuit'

The 1st ‘2023 Wisdom House Children and Youth Fantasy Literature Awards’ ceremony was held on the 31st of last month at the Wisdom House headquarters. The grand prize in the children’s category was awarded to Kim Si-gyeong’s ‘Gamyeomdongmul’ (Infected Animals), and the grand prize in the youth category went to Kim Seon-mi’s ‘Biscuit’.

From the left, teachers Yusuyeon and Park Mijeong serving as student judges / writers Kim Hyejin and Ibandi / awardees Kim Seonmi, Kim Sigyeong, and Kim Youngju / critics Song Suyeon, Kim Gyeongyeon, and Kim Seojeong


From the left, student judge supervisors teachers Yusuyeon and Park Mijeong_ writers Kim Hyejin and Ibandi_ awardees Kim Seonmi, Kim Sigyeong, and Kim Youngju_ critics Song Suyeon, Kim Gyeongyeon, and Kim Seojeong

According to the organizer, Wisdom House, a total of 256 works were submitted for this contest: 136 in the children’s category and 120 in the youth category.

The judging process involved not only writers and critics but also children readers who directly participated in selecting the works. Four professional writers (Kim Tae-ho, Kim Hye-jin, Song Mi-kyung, Lee Bandi) handled the preliminary screening, and four critics (Kim Gyeong-yeon, Kim Seo-jeong, Song Su-yeon, Oh Se-ran) judged the final screening. The final round included participation from 240 children and youth readers.

The excellence awards went to Kim Young-ju’s ‘Banryeo Yokai Surejigi’ (Companion Yokai Cart Keeper) in the children’s category and Jeon Hul’s ‘Murshible-ui Sonyeo’ (The Girl of Murshible) in the youth category.

The grand prize carries a cash award of 20 million won, and the excellence award is 5 million won. The winning works are scheduled to be published this coming fall.