[On Stage] General Director Song Seunghwan "Hope for a Sequel to 'Nanta' at Paju Fair"

'Paju Fair Book & Culture' to be held September 6-8

"Our writers continue to produce great books, providing a wealth of valuable content sources. We will develop these contents into plays, musicals, films, and music, and establish a foundation to distribute them to the global market."

Song Seung-hwan, the general director of 'Paju Fair Book & Culture,' said this at a press conference held at the Korea Press Center on the 28th. Paju Fair Book & Culture is a festival aimed at elevating Paju Publishing City into a complex city of books and cultural arts. It will be held from September 6 to 8 in the Paju Publishing City area.

Paju Fair has adopted the slogan "Stories of books reborn with new vitality." The goal is to enjoy cultural and artistic creative content derived from books with citizens and to create an environment that supports overseas performances and market entry of Korean content. During the three-day festival, a rich variety of attractions and activities such as a book market, art market, musicals, and plays will be available.

Song Seunghwan, General Director of Paju Fair Book & Culture (second from left), is answering reporters' questions at a press conference held at the Korea Press Center on the 28th.
[Photo by Publishing City Culture Foundation]

On the opening day, a musical gala concert will be held at the outdoor performance plaza in Publishing City. O Man-seok, Kim So-hyun, and Son Jun-ho will perform famous musical numbers from 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Jekyll & Hyde,' and 'The Moon Embracing the Sun,' and share stories. On the second day of the festival, outdoor performances based on books will continue. The family musical 'Jungle Book' and a musical of the same name based on novelist Choi In-ho's 'Winter Traveler' will be performed. Additionally, in the indoor performance hall set up in the annex of Leechae Shopping Mall, the play 'Mother's Home and 2 Nights 3 Days,' starring actors Kang Bu-ja and Yoon Yoo-sun, will be performed three times over two days on the 7th and 8th.

Other events include a reading performance featuring actors Yang Hee-kyung, Jung Dong-hwan, Seo Hyun-chul, and Gil Hae-yeon, as well as various side events and experiential programs. All performances at this year's inaugural festival are free of charge.

General Director Song Seung-hwan asked for attention to the Fringe Park Showcase, which will present eight works over two days on the 7th and 8th. This stage is prepared for domestic performance groups or individuals aiming for overseas expansion. The eight works to be showcased will be selected through document screening, and among them, two outstanding works will receive up to 20 million KRW for airfare and 30 million KRW for overseas promotional marketing, totaling up to 50 million KRW in support.

Regarding the Fringe Showcase, Song said he wanted to create a sequel to the globally popular 'Nanta,' but it was difficult, so he wants to provide opportunities for juniors. He said, "A program is needed to support juniors in creating works that surpass Nanta and advancing overseas. That is why the Fringe Showcase is the most emphasized project at Paju Fair."

Song added, "We will start a program that solicits entries in two categories: book-based original works and a free category, creating new content and supporting it financially through the showcase. I do not expect great results immediately this year, but I hope people will watch patiently."

Actors Son Jun-ho and Kim So-hyun, Executive Producer Oh Jang-hwan, General Director Song Seung-hwan, Kang Bu-ja, National Assembly member Yoon Hu-deok, actors Gil Hae-yeon, Oh Man-seok, and Ko Young-eun, chairman of the Paju Book City Cultural Foundation, are taking a commemorative photo at the press conference for the '2024 Paju Fair Book & Culture' held on the 28th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Paju Book City Cultural Foundation

Song also expressed his determination to sustain Paju Fair for at least five years despite financial difficulties and to achieve results within five years to make Paju Fair a long-term sustainable festival.

In this regard, Ko Young-eun, chairman of the Paju Publishing City Cultural Foundation, stated that the goal is to achieve financial independence within five years. The overall budget for Paju Fair will be prepared through ▲support funds from the central government and local governments ▲corporate and individual sponsorships ▲costs borne independently by the Paju Publishing City Foundation and organizations, with the burden ratio of these three sources evenly divided into thirds. She also mentioned that performances might become ticketed starting next year to secure funding.

Chairman Ko emphasized that the festival will be operated with a mid- to long-term plan of at least three years and that efforts will be made to ensure that the proportion of Paju local residents among Paju Fair participants exceeds 20%.