Actor Cha Inpyo: "Life Is Like a Novel"... Wins Hwang Sunwon Literary Award's New Writer Prize

Ju Suja and Kim Guseul Among the Awardees

Novelist Joo Suja (from left), poet Kim Guseul, novelist Cha Inpyo. Hwang Sunwon Memorial Association Yonhap News Agency

Actor and novelist Cha Inpyo has been selected as the recipient of the Hwang Sunwon Literary Award's New Writer Prize.

The Hwang Sunwon Memorial Society announced the list of winners for the 14th Hwang Sunwon Literary Award on August 4. Cha Inpyo's novel "Mermaid Hunting" was chosen for the New Writer Prize. The Writer Award went to Ju Suja for the novel "In Search of the Hae Rye Bon," the Poet Award was given to Kim Guseul for the poetry collection "Island of Shadows," and the Yangpyeong Literary Award Grand Prize was awarded to Kang Jeongrye for the poetry collection "A Ghost Lives in Our House." The Excellence Prizes were given to poet Noh Sunhee and essayist Kim Eunhee.

Through his social networking service (SNS) account, Cha Inpyo stated, "It is already more than I deserve that there are people who read my novel, and now that I have even received an award, I feel apologetic and humbled toward all those walking the path of literature." He added, "I will take this award not as praise for 'writing well,' but as encouragement to 'write well from now on,' and I will continue to strive." He also wrote, "I published my first novel at 42, and now at 58, I am receiving a new writer award. It makes me think that life is like a long novel?you only know the ending if you read to the very end."

His wife, actress Shin Aera, also posted on her social networking service (SNS), "He would disappear every day with his bag, saying he was going to write, and then come home at 5 p.m. saying he was hungry, and now he has received such an overwhelming award." She congratulated her husband on his achievement, adding, "I received the New Actor Award just before turning thirty, and now he is receiving the New Writer Award just before turning sixty. I think dreams should never be given up."

Cha Inpyo debuted in 2009 with the novel "Goodbye Hill," and has published a total of three novels, including "Today's Forecast" (2011) and "Mermaid Hunting" (2022). "Goodbye Hill," which deals with the issue of comfort women, was selected as required reading at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

The Hwang Sunwon Literary Award was established to honor the literary spirit of Hwang Sunwon (1915-2000), the author of "Sonagi." The award ceremony will be held on September 12 at Sonagi Village in the Hwang Sunwon Literature Village, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province.