The festival’s inaugural guest is Cha In-pyo, a novelist and actor whose works include the novels “Today’s Forecast” (2011), “One Day if We Look at the Same Star” (2021), and “The Mermaid Hunt” (2022). (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL & LONDON, Jun. 6 (Korea Bizwire) –Korean literature is stepping into the global literary scene as Oxford University launches an annual festival to celebrate the works of prominent Korean authors and introduce them to European audiences.
The Korean Literature Festival, organized by Cho Ji-eun, a professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Oxford, will hold its inaugural event on June 28, the university announced on June 4.
Each year, the festival will invite a notable Korean writer to discuss their literary world, with plans to translate major works into English, German and French.
“While K-pop, K-dramas, K-movies and K-food have gained global recognition, Korean authors have not received the same level of attention in Europe, despite the popularity of Korean culture,” Cho explained as the impetus behind the festival.
Indeed, Korean literature is emerging as the next frontier of the “K-culture” phenomenon. In March, The Guardian reported on the global rise of Korean cultural influences, noting an increasing number of people learning the Korean language and a growing interest in Korean literature.
Moreover, Korean novels have been shortlisted for three consecutive years for the International Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Britain, including “Cursed Bunny” by Bora Chung, “Whale” by Cheon Myeong-kwan and “The Diaspora” by Hwang Sok-yong.
Oxford University (Rawpixel/CCL)
The festival’s inaugural guest is Cha In-pyo, a novelist and actor whose works include the novels “Today’s Forecast” (2011), “One Day if We Look at the Same Star” (2021), and “The Mermaid Hunt” (2022).
“One Day if We Look at the Same Star,” a retitled re-release of Cha’s 2009 debut “Goodbye, Hill,” poignantly examines the unresolved trauma of Korea’s “comfort women” during Japanese colonial rule, offering a mature perspective on healing and reconciliation.
Cho’s research team is supporting the translation of this novel into English, German and French. “This work sublimates the ‘comfort women’ issue into a story of reconciliation, capturing Korea’s modern historical tragedy while proposing a mature path forward,” Cho said. “Translators in English, German and French have expressed keen interest in the novel.”
Cha, accompanied by his wife, actress Shin Ae-ra, will visit Oxford to deliver a lecture introducing his literary world, centered around ” One Day if We Look at the Same Star,” and engage in a question-and-answer session with the audience.
Through the research team, Cha expressed his delight at the rediscovery of his decade-old work, saying, “I will make the most of this opportunity to connect with more readers and dedicate myself to new creative endeavors.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
