[HKILF 2026] Beyond Hallyu: The Global Rise of Korean Literature

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Korean literature has surged onto the world stage, captivating readers with its emotional precision, bold experimentation, and unflinching social insight.

In this intimate conversation, acclaimed authors Soyoung and Ho Yeon Kim explore how Korean storytelling has evolved and why it resonates so powerfully across borders today. They discuss the global momentum created by translated fiction, the role of women writers reshaping the canon, and how contemporary Korean narratives bridge tradition with the anxieties and aspirations of modern life. Through their own creative journeys, they reflect on craft, identity, and the opportunities and challenges that come with sudden international attention. A thoughtful, timely look at the next wave of voices defining Korean literature worldwide.

This event is conducted bilingually in Korean and English.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Soyoung Park is a New York Times bestselling author from Korea. Her debut novel, Snowglobe, is being published in 13 languages worldwide. With a background in media studies, she has long been fascinated by how the media shapes our values, which inspired Snowglobe and its vision of where we might be headed in the digital age. She listens to K-pop or plays her favorite American sitcoms in the background while writing.

Kim Ho-Yeon is a South Korean storyteller whose work spans novels, screenplays, and comics. His novel, The Second Chance Convenience Store (不便利的便利店), sold over 1.7 million copies in Korea, and has been published in 45 countries. It was named Book of the Year by major Korean bookstores and chosen as a “One Book One City” title in 38 regions. It remained a bestseller in Taiwan for three years and ranked 3rd in the 2024 Honya Taisho Award in Japan. His latest novel, My Don Quixote (尋找唐吉訶德), won the 2024 Booksellers’ Award.