Jeonju City to Hold 'Reading Festival' from September 5 to 7

To Be Held at Jeonju Hanbyuk Culture Center and Wanpanbon Culture Center Area

Jeonju City, North Jeolla Province, announced on May 14 that the 8th Jeonju Reading Festival will be held from September 5 to 7 at the Jeonju Hanbyuk Culture Center and the Wanpanbon Culture Center area.

The city stated that, after review by the Jeonju Reading Festival Promotion Council and the Working Planning Group, this year’s festival theme was set as “The Turning Moment.” This theme reflects the intention to focus on the essence of the Jeonju Reading Festival through keywords related to “books.”

Poster of the 8th Jeonju Reading Festival. Provided by Jeonju City

This year’s theme also signifies the aim to present a more distinctive festival based on the identity that the Jeonju Reading Festival has maintained.

The city expressed its commitment to meet citizens with a more developed festival that concentrates on books, which are at the core of the event. It also conveyed the hope that, just as one encounters new expectations and worlds by turning the pages of a book, everyone will achieve change and growth together.

The 8th Jeonju Reading Festival will feature a variety of book-related programs, including lectures, performances, competitions, hands-on activities, a book market, and experience booths.

In particular, this year’s festival will introduce new programs such as citizen-participation exhibitions, a public contest, and trendy book discussions, all in line with the theme “The Turning Moment.”

Unlike last year, this year’s festival will be held exclusively in the Jeonju Hanok Village area, which is expected to increase visitor engagement.

Additionally, this year’s festival will feature a diverse range of speakers, including Cha Inpyo, who is active as both an actor and writer; Go Eunji, an Instagram cartoonist; forensic scientist Professor Lee Ho; novelist Choi Eunyoung; poets Yoo Heekyung and Yoo Kanghee; and Kang Kyungsoo, Kim Geunhye, Lee Heeyoung, and Kim Soyoung, who were selected as “Jeonju Books of the Year.” These speakers will engage in dialogue with readers.

Choi Hyunchang, Director of the Jeonju City Library Headquarters, stated, “This year, we aim to continue the identity of the Jeonju Reading Festival while developing the event together with citizens by offering a wide range of book-related programs. We ask for the interest and participation of many citizens in the Jeonju Reading Festival, which will unfold a true book city landscape in September, the month of reading.”