ID :
60445
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/60445
The shortlink copeid
Seoul book fair opens with cross-cultural aim
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- World-renowned literary figures, publishers and
scholars flocked to southern Seoul Wednesday as South Korea's annual
international book fair opened under the slogan "Start Over Again with a Book."
Up to 836 publishing houses from 20 different countries will be participating in
the Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF), which aims to accelerate cross-cultural
sales and translations of copyrighted books during its five-day run.
Commemorating its 15th anniversary this year, the Seoul book fair will display
thousands of novels, poetry collections, graphic novels and children's books,
many of which will be introduced to Korean readers for the first time through the
event.
The SIBF has prepared a special session to boost interaction between publishing
houses from different countries and seminars on copyrighted books. About 60
publishers, including Thailand's Nanmee Books and Japan's Owl's Agency, will be
participating in the session, organizers said.
The event will also feature various programs joining literature with other
cultural themes including art and film.
The sixth Seoul International Book Art Fair will run simultaneously with the book
fair, featuring works of artists and illustrators from nine countries. The Cinema
Book Library session will screen 16 film adaptations of novels including "The Da
Vinci Code" and "The Devil Wears Prada."
As this year's guest of honor, Japan will be exhibiting the largest number of
some 2,800 books in the event, with big name novelists including Kaori Ekuni,
Hitonari Tsuji, Riku Onda and Shuichi Yoshida flying to Seoul to meet with fans.
Hitonari, the co-author of "Between Calm and Passion," held an open discussion
session with South Korea's Kong Ji-young on opening day Wednesday. Ekuni, one of
the most popular Japanese novelists here for her bestselling "Twinkle Twinkle"
and several other works published in Korean, will give a lecture on women's work,
love and literature, with emerging Korean author Jung E-hyun on Thursday.
Established in 1954 as a local event, the SIBF has since grown into an
international fair promoting Korean literature to overseas publishing houses and
critics since 1995. In 1996, the festival was officially recognized as one of the
28 world book fairs by the International Publishers Association.
The 2000 SIBF marked the largest event of its kind, drawing some 1,500 publishers
attentive to South Korea's role and views on the e-book and e-publishing market.
Organized by the Korea Publishers Association and sponsored by the culture
ministry, this year's book fair will be held at the COEX Convention Center in
southern Seoul through Sunday. Tickets are 3,000 won (US$2.5) for adults.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- World-renowned literary figures, publishers and
scholars flocked to southern Seoul Wednesday as South Korea's annual
international book fair opened under the slogan "Start Over Again with a Book."
Up to 836 publishing houses from 20 different countries will be participating in
the Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF), which aims to accelerate cross-cultural
sales and translations of copyrighted books during its five-day run.
Commemorating its 15th anniversary this year, the Seoul book fair will display
thousands of novels, poetry collections, graphic novels and children's books,
many of which will be introduced to Korean readers for the first time through the
event.
The SIBF has prepared a special session to boost interaction between publishing
houses from different countries and seminars on copyrighted books. About 60
publishers, including Thailand's Nanmee Books and Japan's Owl's Agency, will be
participating in the session, organizers said.
The event will also feature various programs joining literature with other
cultural themes including art and film.
The sixth Seoul International Book Art Fair will run simultaneously with the book
fair, featuring works of artists and illustrators from nine countries. The Cinema
Book Library session will screen 16 film adaptations of novels including "The Da
Vinci Code" and "The Devil Wears Prada."
As this year's guest of honor, Japan will be exhibiting the largest number of
some 2,800 books in the event, with big name novelists including Kaori Ekuni,
Hitonari Tsuji, Riku Onda and Shuichi Yoshida flying to Seoul to meet with fans.
Hitonari, the co-author of "Between Calm and Passion," held an open discussion
session with South Korea's Kong Ji-young on opening day Wednesday. Ekuni, one of
the most popular Japanese novelists here for her bestselling "Twinkle Twinkle"
and several other works published in Korean, will give a lecture on women's work,
love and literature, with emerging Korean author Jung E-hyun on Thursday.
Established in 1954 as a local event, the SIBF has since grown into an
international fair promoting Korean literature to overseas publishing houses and
critics since 1995. In 1996, the festival was officially recognized as one of the
28 world book fairs by the International Publishers Association.
The 2000 SIBF marked the largest event of its kind, drawing some 1,500 publishers
attentive to South Korea's role and views on the e-book and e-publishing market.
Organized by the Korea Publishers Association and sponsored by the culture
ministry, this year's book fair will be held at the COEX Convention Center in
southern Seoul through Sunday. Tickets are 3,000 won (US$2.5) for adults.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
