Poster for the exhibition “K-Book: The Origin of K-Culture,” running in Paris, in conjunction with the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, from June 5 to Aug. 30 / Courtesy of MCST By Park Jin-hai In a bid to showcase Korean literature on the global stage, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) is kicking off a three-month-long Korean book promotion event coinciding with the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Partnering with the Korea Publishers Association, the initiative will introduce over 110 Korean books to European audiences through exhibitions and author events.
This initiative mirrors the growing interest in Korean literature in France, witnessed by novelist Han Kang winning the Prix Medicis and the Emile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature and the publication of "Anthologie des poètes coréens contemporains," a collection of poetry by 100 Korean poets, in French for the first time. Cover of "The Disappeared Dinner" (2022) by Kwon Jung-min / Courtesy of Changbi Publishers As a starter, the Korean Cultural Center in Paris is holding the exhibition “K-Book: The Origin of K-Culture,” which runs from June 5 through Aug. 30.
During the event, award-winning Korean picture books, Korean books published in France, online novels adapted into webtoons and dramas will be available for literature fans. They include eight winners of the 2023 Korea Picture Book Award, such as “The Disappeared Dinner” (2022) by Kwon Jung-min and “A Round of Tightrope Walking” (2022) by.
