Seoul International Book Fair Unites Writers, Publishers, and Readers
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Loading... - Ling Guang
- 15 Jun 2023
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The Seoul International Book Fair, the largest literary event in the country, commenced on Wednesday at Coex in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul.
This year's book fair marks a significant milestone as it is the first one held since the complete lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. A total of 530 companies, including 170 foreign companies from 36 different countries, are enthusiastically participating, demonstrating a nearly triple increase compared to last year's attendance of 195 companies from just 15 nations.
During the opening ceremony, South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee expressed her admiration for the remarkable influence of culture, with books serving as a fundamental catalyst. She emphasized that flipping through the pages of a book with our fingers expands our imagination and thoughts limitlessly, thereby becoming a powerful force that can shape our lives.
Distinguished figures from the Korean and international publishing industries also graced the occasion. Among them were Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon, Korean Publisher Association President Yoon Chul-ho, International Publishers Association President Karine Pansa, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority, and the acclaimed Canadian novelist Yann Martel.
This year's SIBF has designated Sharjah, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, as the guest of honor country. Additionally, Canada has been chosen as the spotlight country to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Korea. To introduce the literature and culture of Sharjah, approximately 100 speakers from 17 organizations and companies are participating, while 30 Canadian publishers are actively engaged in the book fair.
Reflecting on the theme of "inhuman, beyond human, into a human," Pansa expressed her thoughts on the modern fascination with technology and artificial intelligence. She acknowledged that the gathering in Seoul also revolves around the essence of humanity, emphasizing the importance of personal connections in comprehending one another, our societies, and the world we inhabit.
The five-day annual book fair, centered on the theme of "Nonhuman," aims to shift away from an anthropocentric perspective, encouraging active engagement and participation with the nonhuman. Esteemed literary figures, including Viet Thanh Nguyen, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Sympathizer," Korean American novelist Kim Ju-hea of "Beasts of a Little Land," Anton Hur, the double-nominated translator for the 2022 Booker Prize, and Nicolaj Schultz, a doctoral fellow in sociology at the University of Copenhagen, are all actively involved in this literary event.
