South Korea has long known for the production of great writing presses in history and while that might be the case, in more recent times, it is the production of great writers that is capturing the eyes of the world.  Today, with students becoming more than adept at the English language, of course this helps with the dissemination of literature across borders. Yet, it is the passion of intensely, artistic individuals that is creating the wave of literature sweeping the world off its feet!  Lilit Marcus writing for Vanity Fair enlightens the world with this awesome collection.  

This October, Korean books will be on display and of course, for sale in eight select countries, as part of an international, joint-presentation conducted by the Korean Culture Ministry - in collaboration with the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea and Korean Cultural Centers in the following eight countries: France, Mexico, Argentina, Vietnam, Egypt, Poland, Indonesia and the United Kingdom.

In each of the cultural centers - readers will be able to meet Korean authors and their translators, who will deliver seminars, discussions and specific book exhibitions from October through until December 2022.  

K-book events began in late September, initially in Warsaw, Poland at the Cultural Centre.  Authors such as Bora Chung participated in the ‘Meet an Author’ presentation, ahead of her Korean book’s Polish publication of the ‘Cursed Bunny’ – which was short-listed for the 2022 International Booker Prize.  Chung will also deliver a lecture for literature students of the SWPS University of Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw.  The University is proud to have recently launched a Korean Studies Program.
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The Cultural Centre in Cairo will deliver a similar structure of events with visiting Korean authors and their translators conducting talks and book-related presentation sessions.
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This all coincides with the UK’s ‘Korean Cultural Month’, celebrated at Foyles bookstore in Charing Cross Road in London, where Korean books will be on display and available for purchase, at the venue.  Author Fiona Bae, who recently published the book - ‘Make Break Remix: The Rise of K-Style and her book designer – Kim Young-Na will be participating in Korean Cultural discussions.

Cho Chang-In author of – ‘Gasigoki’ will visit Vietnam in October, while Sohn Won-Pyung author of ‘Almond’ will visit Argentina, in November.
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Indonesia, France and Mexico will hold related book events, at their Korean Cultural Centres - details of which will be announced in the coming weeks, on their respective official websites.

Asia is a wealth of knowledge, but not just for cultural  or heritage-oriented things.  Literature is one of the oldest loved forms of relaxation in Asia (apart from the furthering of education) and finding a good book to settle down with during the monsoon season, is a must.  Great authors can be found all over Asia, they are not restricted to just Korea, so you need to open you mind and prepare to be amazed at the depth of artistic and literary abilities these authors possess. 

Here are only ten of the best highlighted by the Tribune.  Don't forget to get yourself at least one book; well, maybe two...three and you'll be on a roll.  :) 

It is not every day that esteemed authors visit Seoul, but from May 23-25, 2017, if you're in the vicinity of the Kyobo Convention Hall in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, then pop into the forum 'Literature and Its Readership in the Changing World'. 

Hosted every five years by Daesan Foundation and Arts Council Korea,  the Seoul International Forum for Literature (SIFL), you'll get to see, listen and mull over the thoughts of over fifty great authors from Korea, and thirteen esteemed writers~scientists from overseas.    

Of course, the event is in delivered in both Korean and English and will be the highlight of your literary calendar.  So, you need to be there.  Check out all the details, register at seoulforum.org and then book your plane ticket!  Enjoy!