Jangheung-gun Seeks Regional Development as a 'Nobel Literature City'

'K-Literature Hub City' Content Spotlight
Recipient of South Korea's Trusted Innovation Award

Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, received the Public Innovation Grand Prize at the ‘2024 Korea Trusted Innovation Awards’ ceremony held on the 2nd.

According to the county on the 3rd, the Korea Trusted Innovation Awards recognize institutions that have contributed to national development through creative innovation and challenges. The event was hosted by JoongAng Ilbo and supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and JTBC.

Jangheung-gun received the Public Innovation Award at the 'Korea Trusted Innovation Awards' ceremony. Photo by Jangheung-gun

At this award ceremony, the county introduced a new brand called ‘Nobel Literature City Jangheung,’ presenting a unique and distinctive vision for regional development, which received high praise. Jangheung is known as the hometown of writer Han Seung-won, the father of Han Kang, the first Korean Nobel Literature Prize laureate, and as a representative literary city in Korea that has produced over 120 modern writers including Lee Cheong-jun, Song Ki-suk, and Lee Seung-woo.

In 2008, it was designated by the government as a Literary Tourism Special Zone, and since then, efforts have been made to revitalize literature through the development of literary tour programs and the introduction of the Jangheung Literary Award. Following Han Kang’s Nobel Literature Prize win, Jangheung-gun presented a new vision in October under the name ‘Nobel Literature City Jangheung’ and is seeking to leap forward as a ‘K-Literature Central City.’

To this end, various projects are planned, including the restoration of the homes of Jangheung writers, the establishment of the Women’s Literature Walking Trail, the development of the Nobel Literature Walking Trail, the creation of the Nobel Literature Park, and the hosting of the Nobel Literature National Student Writing Contest.

County Governor Kim Sung said, “Han Kang’s Nobel Literature Prize win, rooted in Jangheung, is the finishing touch for the development of Jangheung literature,” and added, “We will brand Jangheung as the Nobel Literature City to accelerate regional development.”